One Day in Bryce Canyon: Bryce Canyon 1 Day Itinerary
My cousins spent their entire college years living in Utah and exploring all it has to offer, and one of them kept raving about Bryce. I finally got the chance to see it for myself, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Bryce Canyon National Park is a fantasyland of hoodoos, bizarre rock formations, and sandstone pillars. It’s crazy beautiful, and somehow it’s completely unique from all the other national parks in Utah. Take one look at this view, and one day in Bryce Canyon just won’t seem like enough!
Why visit Bryce Canyon?
If you’re road tripping through Utah, then it’s likely you’re on a mission to see all of Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks. Bryce is insanely beautiful, but it’s actually pretty compact for a national park, so one day in Bryce Canyon is truly all you need to explore and get a good feel for the park.
With my Bryce Canyon 1 day itinerary, you’ll be able to thoroughly explore the park by traversing through gardens of hoodoos and soaking in all the incredible views from a few different vantage points.
Best time to visit Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon makes a great destination year round. In the winter months, the hoodoos get a dusting of snow, which makes this park even more magical than normal. Spring and fall typically have very pleasant weather and smaller crowds than the busy summer months. Although summertime can get crowded, Bryce sits at such a high elevation (8,000 feet) that the park stays relatively cool even during those hot months. Basically, you can’t get wrong no matter when you decide to visit Bryce!
What the heck is a hoodoo?
I’ve already mentioned hoodoos three times in this article, and no, I haven’t completely lost my marbles. Bryce Canyon is filled with hoodoos! We can define “hoodoo” as witchcraft, a combination of voodoo and folk magic used in the Deep South of the United States.
Lucky for you, Bryce Canyon is home to a different kind of hoodoo. The hoodoos here are tall, thin spires of rock that protrude from the bottom of a drainage basin. Geologically speaking, hoodoos can be found all over the world, but the most abundant source is right here in good ole Bryce Canyon. The thousands of hoodoos are what make Bryce so unique and continue to make visitors flock here by the thousands.
Hoodoos form when soft rock, such as sandstone, is covered in a thin layer of harder rock. Them the magic of erosion does the rest. Some other famous hoodoos you might have heard of are the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, Turkey.
Best things to do in Bryce Canyon
Visitor Center
If you arrive in Bryce Canyon after 8am, make this your first stop. Pick up a free map of the park, buy a few souvenirs, and ask the park rangers any questions you have before setting out.
Just remember, the Visitor Center doesn’t open until 8 am, so you won’t be able to stop here first if you come for a sunrise mission.
Take in the Views
The main and most iconic part of Bryce is shaped like a big amphitheater, and the most famous viewpoints are from above, looking down into the valley of hoodoos, trees, and hiking trails.
You can walk along the upper rim of the amphitheater known as the Rim Trail to find all the best viewpoints. You can also drive or take the shuttle – whatever you’re feeling that day!
The viewpoints not to be missed are Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point. These are undoubtedly the most famous views in the park. Farview Point and Paria View are also really nice if you have some extra time.
Take a Hike!
Bryce is filled with several short, incredibly scenic trails. The most popular trail is the Queens Garden Trail, but there are lots of other great options, too.
One Day in Bryce Canyon Itinerary
For the ultimate Bryce Canyon experience, I recommend spending your day mixing short hikes with scenic viewpoints. That way, even after just one day in Bryce, you’ll feel like you’ve seen it all!
Lucky for us, Bryce Canyon is open 24 hours a day, so you can start your day as early as you please. If you’re doing a big Utah road trip and only have one day in Bryce Canyon, I recommend getting started as early as possible. Sleep is for the weak!
Tip: Don’t forget your America the Beautiful Pass to enter as many national parks as you want for a whole year, including Bryce and all of Utah’s Mighty Five.
Sunset Point
Warning: epic sunsets ahead. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Just park in the lot labeled Sunset Point, and enjoy the view.
Sunrise Point
From Sunset Point, walk north on the Rim Trail, towards Sunrise Point. This is a flat, easy to walk trail with an awesome view over Bryce. Because I’m a major rebel, I actually watched the sunset from Sunrise Point because I liked the way the light was hitting the hoodoos from this angle.
Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trail
After taking in the view from Sunrise Point, it’s time to go hiking. The Queens Garden Trail descends down into the valley amidst a garden of hoodoos and rock formations. It’s a gorgeous, relatively easy walk, so it’s ideal for all ages and ability levels.
After walking the Queens Garden Trail, you can turn around and trace your steps back to Sunrise Point OR you can keep hiking like I did. At the end of the Queens Garden Trail, follow signs to the Navajo Loop Trail. The trail is mostly flat and takes you through a forest, which is a nice change of pace from the sea of hoodoos. You can also start at Navajo and exit from Queens Garden.
I must warn you that the climb back up to rim is a little tough, no matter which path you take. It’s a little strenuous, more so if it’s hot, but the views are beyond worth it. (Again, if you’ve already tackled the Delicate Arch hike, then this won’t be an issue for you.)
Navajo Loop Trail 
Queens Garden Trail 
Navajo Loop Trail 
Entrance to Wall Street
Inspiration Point
Jump back into your car and drive the short distance to Inspiration Point. WOW that’s a lot of hoodoos!
There are actually two viewpoints at Inspiration Point. The first is right next to the parking lot, but a better view is just a short uphill walk to upper Inspiration Point. This is hands down one the best – if not the best – views in the park.
Bryce Point
A little further down the road is Bryce Point, and truthfully, the view is quite similar to Inspiration Point.
And just like that you’ve already seen all the most popular and iconic sites in Bryce Canyon. But… but… that can’t be it! Our one day in Bryce can’t be over already! Don’t worry. There’s still more to do if you haven’t gotten your fill of hiking and hoodoos!
If you have more time
Whether you have more than just one day in Bryce Canyon or are a super fast hiker and buzzed through the above itinerary, there are stilly plenty of activities to fill your time.
Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point
Located about as far south as you can drive in Bryce, this viewpoint is good, but not nearly as great as Inspiration Point or the views from the Rim Trail. To get here, it takes about 20 minutes of driving from Bryce Point. On the way here, you can also stop at Natural Bridge for a quick photo-op.
Peekaboo Loop Trail
The Peekaboo Loop Trail is a 4.8 mile trail through a hoodoo-filled valley. The hike starts at Bryce Point, goes about a mile down into the valley, then loops 3 miles through the hoodoos. For the last mile, you’ll climb back up to Bryce Point. This trail is typically less crowded than Queens Garden or the Navajo Loop Trails.
If you like long, strenuous hikes away from the crowds, then this is the hike for you. It’s an 8 mile hike in the northern end of Bryce, and it’s difficult not only because of the length but also because of the elevation changes. I didn’t do this hike, but if you want to include it on your one day in Bryce Canyon itinerary, then be my guest!
Fairyland Loop Trail
Fairyland Loop Trail begins at Fairyland Point at the northern portion of the park and takes you along the rim and into the canyon. There is even a trail that leads to Tower Bridge, named because the hoodoos supposedly resemble the London Tower Bridge. This hike is considered strenuous due to its length and elevation changes, so you can skip this one if you’re just looking for a nice leisurely day in Bryce.