Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park lies in Garfield and Kane counties in southern Utah, on the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, at elevations of about 2,400 to 2,700 metres, reaching 2,775 metres at Rainbow Point. It covers about 145 square kilometres and is managed by the National Park Service.

Despite its name, Bryce is not a true canyon but a series of natural amphitheatres eroded into the plateau edge. It is named after Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon pioneer who settled nearby in the 1870s. The area was declared a national monument in 1923 and became a national park in 1928.

The park holds the largest concentration of hoodoos in the world. These spires form as water seeps into cracks in the Claron Formation limestone, freezes and expands on around 180 days a year when nights drop below freezing, breaking the rock apart. Bryce Amphitheater, the largest, is seen from Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration and Bryce points along the rim. The Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden trails descend among the hoodoos, passing features such as Thor's Hammer and Wall Street. An 18-mile scenic drive reaches Rainbow Point at the southern end. With very dark skies, the park is known for stargazing and ranger astronomy programmes.

An entrance fee applies, and a free seasonal shuttle runs in the main area in summer. The high elevation means cold winters with snow and cool nights even in summer.

What does it cost to enter Bryce Canyon? The National Park Service charges USD 35 per private vehicle, USD 30 per motorcycle and USD 20 per person for walkers and cyclists, each valid for seven days. Under-16s enter free. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an additional USD 100 per person unless they carry an annual or America the Beautiful pass. A Bryce-only annual pass costs USD 70.

The free park shuttle runs from early April to mid-October. In 2026 it operated from 8 am to 8 pm between 9 May and 20 September, with shorter hours at either end of the season. Buses come about every 15 minutes and loop from the Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City through the visitor centre to Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset and Sunrise points in about 50 minutes.

Choosing a hike. The Navajo Loop from Sunset Point takes one to two hours, and the Rim Trail can fill five to six hours if walked end to end. The Fairyland Loop takes four to five hours and sees fewer people. Overnight hikers can use the 14 km Riggs Spring Loop or the 37 km Under-the-Rim Trail with a backcountry permit.

From Rainbow Point, at 2,775 metres, the view reaches the Aquarius Plateau, the Henry Mountains and the Vermilion and White Cliffs. The lowest point in the park is Yellow Creek at about 2,020 metres.