Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is known for hoodoos: rock spires shaped by weathering and erosion along a high plateau. The main Bryce Amphitheater contains many of the park's hoodoo viewpoints. You can look across it from the rim, walk between viewpoints, or descend among the formations on a trail that requires an uphill return.

Highlights of Bryce Canyon

• Bryce Amphitheater: Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Points offer different perspectives on the dense rows of hoodoos.
• Queens Garden and Navajo trails: A linked route leads below the rim for closer views of the formations and switchbacks.
• Southern viewpoints: Continue along the main road toward Rainbow and Yovimpa Points for higher-elevation views, when conditions allow.
• Night skies: Ranger astronomy programs provide a way to learn about the sky after a day on the trails.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

High elevation and steep return climbs

Much of a visit takes place around 8,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level. Even a moderate walk can feel harder here. Carry water, wear shoes with reliable traction, and allow time for the climb back to the rim. Winter hiking can require traction devices for packed snow and ice.

Stay on established trails and away from unstable edges. Do not climb hoodoos or slide down their slopes. If you hear thunder, leave exposed viewpoints and seek shelter in a building or vehicle. Bring layers for changes in temperature rather than dressing only for the warmest part of the day.

Keep the formations and wildlife undisturbed

Follow the trail through switchbacks instead of cutting across slopes. Leave rocks and natural features in place, and never feed wildlife. Campfires belong only in established fire pits when restrictions allow them.

Pets must stay on permitted paved surfaces with a leash no longer than six feet. These include the paved Rim Trail section between Sunrise and Sunset Points and the Shared Use Path. Pets cannot join hikes below the rim or ride the park shuttle. These restrictions also apply to pets carried in bags.

Reservations for stays and overnight hikes

You do not need a reservation to enter Bryce Canyon. Reserve an overnight stay separately: developed campsites use Recreation.gov, and lodge reservations are strongly recommended. The two campgrounds have different booking windows, so check the campground booking details for your dates.

Backcountry overnight trips require a permit and designated campsites. Peak-season permits for March through November can be reserved online up to three months ahead; winter permits use a walk-in process. Check in at the visitor center before departure. Bear canisters are required. The Under-the-Rim Trail has deteriorated sections and needs strong navigation skills; it is not a substitute for an easy hoodoo walk.

Maps, entrance, and getting around

The park entrance is on UT 63, Bryce, Utah 84764. From US 89, take UT 12 east and turn south onto UT 63. The visitor center is about a mile inside the boundary. The official visitor guide and brochure maps show viewpoints, trails, services, and the main road.

During the operating season, the park shuttle reduces the need to find parking at each amphitheater stop. Board at the Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City or use the additional parking across from the visitor center. The shuttle is optional, but vehicles 23 feet or longer face parking restrictions at major amphitheater stops during shuttle hours. Paria View has an all-hours oversize restriction.

Nearby parks along UT 12

• Kodachrome Basin State Park: Follow UT 12 to Cannonville, then the paved road south to the park.
• Escalante Petrified Forest State Park: Continue east along UT 12 toward Escalante. The park is just west of town.

Walk the rim or hike among the hoodoos

For a short outing, walk between Sunset and Sunrise Points. This paved Rim Trail section is half a mile each way, or one mile out and back. It offers amphitheater views without a descent below the rim. Allow for slopes and possible ice even on a paved route.

For a longer walk, the Queens Garden–Navajo combination is 2.9 miles with about 625 feet of elevation gain. NPS recommends going down Queens Garden from Sunrise Point and returning uphill on the Navajo side, then closing the loop along the rim. Choose the open branch of Navajo Loop; Wall Street is seasonal. Thor's Hammer can also be seen from the rim near Sunset Point, so seeing it does not require the full loop.

A driving visit can pair the amphitheater with viewpoints farther south. An evening visit can include an astronomy program; ask about the schedule at the visitor center. Programs depend on weather, and night visits require warm clothing and careful footing near the rim.

Visitor services, water, and places to stay

The visitor center has ranger information, exhibits, a film, a bookstore, accessible restrooms, and drinking water. Water and restrooms are also available around Sunset Point, with additional seasonal services near the General Store. Fill bottles before a hike rather than counting on finding water below the rim.

Many viewpoints have designated accessible parking and paved approaches, but slopes vary. Sunset Point offers a relatively level approach; the upper overlooks at Inspiration Point require a much steeper unpaved climb. Ask for the accessibility guide to select suitable stops. Park shuttle buses accommodate wheelchairs.

North and Sunset campgrounds are near the main visitor area. The Lodge at Bryce Canyon offers lodge rooms, motel rooms, and cabins near the amphitheater, along with a dining room and gift shop. Confirm the dates for lodging, meals, and other concession services when booking, because seasonal operations differ.

About Bryce Canyon

The plateau and its protection

The park occupies the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, a landscape used by different cultures over thousands of years. It became a national monument in 1923. Following an intermediate designation as Utah National Park, it received the name Bryce Canyon National Park in 1928.

Despite the name, the main landscape is a series of amphitheaters rather than a single river-cut canyon. Freezing water widens cracks in the rock, while rainwater also wears away the formations. These processes continue to change the fins, windows, and spires.

Animals of the forest and amphitheaters

Forest, meadow, and exposed rock habitats support different wildlife. Elk and pronghorn move through the plateau, while hummingbirds and peregrine falcons use the park seasonally or for nesting. Look beyond the rock formations for animals, but keep your distance and never use food to attract them.

Contact Bryce Canyon National Park

Call 435-834-5322 and leave a message if staff cannot answer. Email inquiries are available through the park contact page. The mailing address is P.O. Box 640201, Bryce, UT 84764; use UT 63 for driving directions.