Rustic red beauty, gargantuan rock formations, and mysterious valleys can keep you trekking through the elusive Bryce Canyon for days.
However, unlike other national parks, this Southern Utah park is fairly compact and is accessible for travelers who only have a day to pass through, often before or after the neighboring Zion National Park.
We were able to take advantage of the nearly 9 PM sunset time in June and discovered the best way to spend one day in Bryce Canyon National Park in the Spring / Summer season. The views were stunning, colors struck a vibrant chord, and the golden hour saturated the skin and sky.
This spontaneous pit stop proved well worth the sunny day visit, though I will have to return again sometime in winter to experience the mystic icicles and snow-topped hoodoos, the eroded rock pillars that Bryce is famously abundant for.
Enjoy my guide on how to spend one day in Bryce Canyon National Park… and you don’t have to wake up at 6 AM to do it. We’re living life on mountain time now, baby!
Morning
Gaze from the perimeter of Bryce Amphitheater: Sunset to Sunrise Point.
Immediately upon entering the park, you are greeted by Bryce Amphitheater, the orchestral valley with red, orange, and yellow hoodoos stretching as far as the eye can see.
Jump out and stroll along the Sunset to Sunrise trail for one mile of epic photo opportunities along the entire perimeter.
Descend down into the Queen’s Garden / Navajo Loop for up-close encounters of Thor’s Hammer, Queen Victoria, and Wall Street formations.
Potentially the most popular trail in Bryce Canyon, this 2.9-mile combination loop welcomes visitors embarking from Sunset Point to witness surreal changes in the earth’s landscape with striking caverns and monstrous structures that possess these distinctive names.
Look for identifying hoodoos and wildlife as you continue along the scenic main road.
Highway 63 spans 18 miles of stunning viewpoints, the next being Inspiration Point and Bryce Point.
Look for the arches and windows formed by hoodoos that categorize each landscape unique.
Wildlife roams freely through the park, with dozens of species of bird, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. We spied mule deer, blue jays, ravens, lizards, squirrels and luckily, no Great Basin Rattlesnakes. If you are fortunate, you could even encounter porcupines, foxes, or even the endangered California Condor.
Afternoon
Switch up the scenery with an abridged visit to green Sheep Creek / Swamp Canyon.
While this hike through the quiet backcountry is 4 miles, you can briefly cruise through the tree-lined trail for as long as you desire before turning around, to steal a taste of the terrain.
Relax at Natural Bridge and Agua Canyon.
Natural Bridge became my favorite viewpoint of the entire day and features the attention-grabbing arch that steers your eyes into the valley. Agua Canyon is just a half mile down the road and full of imagery reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ timeless book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!…
Travel down to Rainbow Point, the highest elevation point in the park at over 9000 feet, and meander around the Bristlecone Loop Trail.
Rainbow Point earns its name from the myriad of colors emitted from its topography: dark green trees mixed with whites, reds, and orange natural amphitheaters.
Our jaws dropped at the panoramic view before we moseyed through the 0.8 mile Bristlecone Loop, a partially shaded walk decorated with fir forests and bristlecone pines, like a winter wonder dream in the Summer.
Offer a final farewell at Yovimpa Point, around the corner from Rainbow Point.
End your excursion at Yovimpa Point, where the Grand Staircase peeks at you from underneath layers of rock. The Pink Cliffs, Grey Cliffs, and White Cliffs would make this point a more fitting name than Rainbow Point.
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hi wolfette, i’m molly
Travel is a spiritual experience for me, especially when adventuring solo.
After visiting 6 continents on my own, I’ve dedicated this project to assisting other Lone Wolfettes on their journeys.
I hope my travel guides help you find the same joy, connection, and empowerment as exploring our planet has given me.
