Easily one of my favorite national parks, Bryce Canyon National Park is must-visit for fans of unique landscapes and epic hiking trails. With its vibrant scenery of oranges, reds, and whites, and its incredible, almost alien-like rock formations, it’s truly a sight to behold. Bryce Canyon National Park feels like a glimpse of what Mars might look like if it also had lush green forests – a stunning combination that gives the park an otherworldly vibe. Although it’s somewhat remote and requires a bit of a drive to reach, the journey to Bryce Canyon is undoubtedly worth it.

Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is part of Utah’s renowned “Mighty Five”, and despite its name, Bryce Canyon isn’t technically a canyon, but rather a collection of massive natural amphitheaters along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. It’s known for its distinctive hoodoos, which are towering geological formations that the canyon overlook showcases spectacularly. While its counterpart Zion National Park is known for its dramatic mountains and elevation, Bryce Canyon sits even higher, with its rim ranging between 8,000 and 9,000 feet.

Named after the late-1800s Mormon pioneer Ebenezer Bryce, Bryce Canyon was initially labeled as a National Monument by President Harding in 1923, before being upgraded to a National Park by Congress in 1928. Covering nearly 36,000 acres, it attracts around 2.5 million visitors annually – a lower figure compared to its nearby national park equals – Zion (4.4 million) and the Grand Canyon (6 million). This is most likely due to its remote location, as Bryce Canyon sits nearly four hours from both Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, the two nearest large cities. Located just outside the small town of Bryce, Utah (population 332), at Highway 63, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 84764, the park is open 24/7 year-round (keep in mind that the winter months bring snow). It costs $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, and $20 per person.

We drove to Bryce Canyon National Park from Las Vegas, with our visit taking place in early August. This brought some interesting weather due to the elevation, as it wasn’t too hot, but we had to out-hike a massive monsoon rainstorm barreling towards the canyon (and us). We arrived at the park around 11:45am, and while it wasn’t anywhere near as crowded as Zion or the Grand Canyon during the same peak summer tourism month, there was still many people. As always, I highly recommend getting there as early as possible!

A massively popular hiking destination, there are numerous hikes to choose from at Bryce Canyon, ranging from easy to strenuous.

For a more relaxing, easy hike, you can choose between three trails:

• Mossy Cave Trail – a 0.8-mile trail, which is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park and the only one that begins with a climb and ends with a descent.
• Rim Trail – a 5.5-mile hike starting at Bryce Point in the south and ending at Fairyland Point in the north. This popular trail connects the park’s most iconic viewpoints – Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.
• Bristlecone Loop Trail – a 1-mile, easy hike that winds through the forest atop the park’s highest point, reaching elevations of over 9,100 feet.

For a moderately challenging hike, there are five excellent options:

• Queen’s Garden Trail – a 1.8-mile out-and-back route, the least strenuous trail descending from the rim into Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
• Navajo Loop – a 1.3-mile trail that starts and ends at Sunset Point.
• Swamp Canyon Loop – a longer, 4-mile trek known for guiding hikers into the more forested backcountry areas of the park.
• Tower Bridge – a 3-mile out-and-back trail, forming the southern portion of the Fairyland Loop Trail.
• Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop – a 2.9-mile loop that is the park’s most popular hike.

For experienced hikers or those seeking a challenge, Bryce Canyon offers six strenuous hikes:

• Hat Shop – a 4-mile out-and-back hike known for its rapid elevation change, plunging 1,380 feet into the canyon over just two miles.
• Fairyland Loop – an 8-mile trail that combines hiking along the rim near Boat Mesa with a descent into the canyon.
• Peekaboo Loop – a 5.5-mile trail that descends 670 feet from Bryce Point into a landscape filled with hoodoos before requiring an ascent back up.
• Navajo/Peekaboo Combination Loop – a nearly 5-mile figure-eight loop that combines two iconic trails.
• Bryce Amphitheater Traverse – a 4.7-mile out-and-back hike that merges the Peekaboo Loop with Queen’s Garden.
• Figure-8 Combination – a 6.4-mile hike that combines three popular trails – Queen’s Garden, Navajo Loop, and Peekaboo Loop – into one epic adventure.

Regardless of which of the above hikes you choose, each promises spectacular scenery, challenging elevation changes, and a sense of accomplishment for those up to the task!

We started out on the Rim Trail, then decided to be cliché and chose the most popular hike at Bryce Canyon National Park – the Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop. Typically recommended for first-time visitors by the National Park Service, it offers some of the park’s best views and is relatively easy, despite being categorized as moderate. A semi-loop, it blends wide-open views of the striking amphitheater with up-close views of the park’s distinctive hoodoos, along with the famous switchbacks that grace countless Bryce Canyon Pinterest boards. Starting from either Sunrise Point or Sunset Point, this nearly 3-mile trail involves a 625-foot elevation gain and takes hikers through some of the park’s most iconic landscapes.

We began at Sunrise Point, making our way down into the amphitheater while keeping a watchful eye on the monsoon looming a few miles away. About 5 minutes in, we encountered a park ranger hiking back up, yelling a warning to all around about the impending storm and suggesting we turn back. We decided we didn’t drive 4 hours for nothing and forged ahead, completing the entire trail in just over an hour, barely outrunning the storm. All-in-all, I would agree with the moderate classification; as the descent into the amphitheater was relatively easy, but the climb back out via the switchbacks was far more challenging. We faced a 515-foot elevation gain at the end, which can be quite difficult for those with respiratory or knee issues. However, starting at Sunset Point allows you to tackle the steeper switchbacks first, leaving a more gradual ascent up to Sunrise Point at the end. Regardless of the difficult switchbacks at the end, I 100% recommend this hike to everyone!

Besides hiking, camping is another popular option at Bryce Canyon, with two campgrounds available: North Campground and Sunset Campground (closed during winter). Both campgrounds are conveniently located near the Visitor Center, Bryce Canyon Lodge, and the main Bryce Amphitheater. Sites at both campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis for those who arrive day-of, so the NPS recommends arriving before 12pm and making securing your spot a top priority. Alternatively, campers can reserve a site ahead of time by booking through Recreation.gov. If you choose to reserve a spot, be sure to check out by 11:30am on your departure day.

If camping isn’t your jam, you can stay at Bryce Canyon Lodge, the only lodging option within the park. Conveniently located just a short distance from Bryce Amphitheater, the lodge offers 114 rooms, including suites, motel-style rooms, and cabins. While reservations are not required, they are strongly recommended, especially during peak seasons. Please note that the lodge typically closes for the winter months, from November to March.

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Overall, Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the national parks I’m eager to revisit and explore further. The mesmerizing colors, stunning hoodoos, and beautiful surrounding forests create the perfect backdrop for a nature getaway. Its remote location means it’s not as overwhelmingly crowded as some other parks I’ve visited, although it clearly remains a popular destination for many. While it may not be as famous as its Utahn Mighty Five counterparts – especially Zion and Arches – it’s still a must-visit for anyone seeking a unique and breathtaking experience. Don’t overlook this incredible national park and its equally spectacular overlooks!