Many people coming to visit the region surrounding Bryce Canyon National Park plan on spending perhaps a day or 2 actually in Bryce Canyon.  So, if you want the Bryce Canyon park experience in that time, you want to hit all the high points.  Perhaps there’s time for a couple other interests as well.  But, how do you know what to see and what to skip?  Today I’m sharing my tips for day-tripping Bryce Canyon to answer that question for you.

Why Am I Talking About Day-Tripping Bryce Canyon?

Let’s start things off right.  Who am I?  I’m a landscape photographer living 30 minutes away from Bryce Canyon.  So, you can imagine I spend quite a bit of time there.  I know much of the park and I keep expanding that knowledge with every visit I make.  Since it’s literally my job to crawl over every corner of the park I can to find the best scenery possible, you can bet I know what I’m talking about here.

I’m going to break this all down into 3 different categories for you.  We’ll call them the “must see,” “nice to see,” and the “can miss” categories.  From this list, you can easily decide what to spend your limited time at the park seeing.

Must-See Locations While Day-Tripping Bryce Canyon

If you’re out day-tripping Bryce Canyon, you really should place these spots on your list.  Make a point of going to see them.  They’re definitely worth it.  As it’s a short list, you should easily find room for them.

1. The Visitor’s Center

I feel that this particular location should be obvious.  It’s built for you to come get information from.  They staff the place with knowledgeable rangers and other staff who can answer your questions.  There’s even a gift shop for you to peruse the wares if you’re looking for souvenirs.

Do remember that they keep business hours.  So, if it can’t be your last stop because you plan on staying late, make it your first stop or at least an early stop so you won’t miss it.

2. The Main Amphitheater

You’ll hardly miss this part of the park as it’s the main attraction.  This is what you came to see, after all.  There are 4 viewpoints which make up the main amphitheater and parking areas at each.  Some of the hiking trails connect up to the rim here as well.

I do recommend visiting the viewpoints in a particular order as things just keep getting bigger and better.  Start at Sunrise Point.  Then move to Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and finally Bryce Point in that order.  You won’t regret it.

3. Thor’s Hammer

This famous hoodoo (rock formation) is practically the face of the park.  You’ll often see representations in marketing everywhere.

To find it, just start at Sunset Point and take about the first .25 mile portion of the Navajo Loop trail.  You’ll find the trail head up at the rim.  The trail will descend rather steeply but easily down into the canyon.  Do not take the portion of the trail heading into Wall Street.  Instead take the other side and soon you’ll find yourself staring at this very view for yourself.

Nice-to-See Locations While Day-Tripping Bryce Canyon

Now that we’ve covered those places you simply must see if you’re day-tripping Bryce Canyon, let’s now discuss some other part of the park.  I do consider many of these spots and trails well worth seeing.  However, they are not as central to your day trip of Bryce as the previous list.  I recommend working as many as you can into your day-tripping plans.  However, don’t be too disappointed if you can’t visit them all.  Choose those which appeal to you.

1. Rainbow and Yovimpa Points

You’ll find both viewpoints at the southern-most end of the park.  As there’s only 1 park entrance, you’ll drive the entire 18 mile road down to the end to reach these viewpoints.  However, it’s worth it.

Rainbow Point opens into a completely different amphitheater from the main one.  Yovimpa Point offers a rare view of the Grand Staircase, from inside, where you can see many rock layers at the same time.  Also, at night, you can probably see the distant lights of Page, Arizona from Yovimpa Point.

2. Mossy Cave

Mossy Cave is a separate nature area outside the park proper.  You’ll find it on the 12 Highway between Bryce Canyon City and Tropic.  It offers a pleasant and easy little quarter mile (or so) hike along the Tropic ditch.

Not only can you see a cave in the desert which is wet and mossy year round, but you can also see a man-made waterfall which looks completely natural.  It’s a great place to spend about an hour or 2 with the family or simply hike for pleasure.

3. Fairyland

This particular portion of the park is a newer view.  It currently lies outside the pay gate but there’s talk of moving up the gate to include this section.  It opens into a smaller view of the same hoodoos which make the main amphitheater famous.  It’s on the back side of the very prominent Boat Mesa as well.

I actually recommend starting your tour of the main amphitheater here rather than at Sunrise Point.  However, this portion of the park is not part of that amphitheater so it receives much less foot traffic.

4. Far View and Piracy Points

Nestled deep within the southern recesses of the park lies a pair of observation points with a wide sweeping view comparable to the main amphitheater in size.  However, the grandeur is significantly less.  Still, it’s a great view to see.  These too display some of the hoodoos which made the park famous.

If atmospheric conditions allow, you can see deeply into neighboring Escalante National Monument from both of these viewpoints.  The one viewpoint is named ‘Far View’ for a reason.

5. Queen’s Garden Trail

The Queen’s Garden trail is about .8 miles long.  It descends from Sunrise Point down the canyon into a smaller area full of hoodoos.  The aim is to bring you close to a particular hoodoo said to resemble a famous statue of Britain’s Queen Victoria.

This hike is easy descending, but tougher ascending.  You’ll see strategically placed benches along the trail.  You’ll learn those are there for a reason.  Just don’t try to beat the rain while hiking out.

6. Bristlecone Loop Trail

This easy, quiet, and short hike will take you around a portion of the park near Rainbow and Yovimpa Points.  It’s a perfect hiking trail for someone day-tripping the park.  You’ll walk past pine trees believed to be the better part of 2000 years old.

If you want solitude on your hike, you couldn’t ask for a better trail.  There are some pleasant scenic overlooks about halfway through.  There’s even an gazebo!  Yep, what a shock, I know.  However, most of the trail will leave you in the quiet of nature.

7. Navajo Loop Trail/Wall Street

If you’re planning to visit Thor’s Hammer (and you should be), then you on the Navajo Loop trail already.  If you’re up to it, then you might consider completing that hike via Wall Street.  Wall Street is a narrow portion containing descending switchbacks which take you down through a short slot canyon onto the rest of the trail.

If you plan on taking the rest of the trail, I recommend descending via Wall Street and returning via Thor’s Hammer.  Those switchbacks can become exhausting if ascending.

8. Natural Bridge

Another popular feature of Bryce Canyon is the semi-famous Natural Bridge formation nestled deep within the park.  Utah seems to love showing off naturally-occurring arches and Bryce Canyon is no exception.  This is the only arch which the park advertises.  I have found more.

Due to its location on a steep slope, this is the only view of the arch you will get.  Please control your hats and properly dispose of your trash.  It’s difficult to recover off of this slope.

Can-Miss Locations on a Bryce Canyon Day-Trip

So, now we get to those portions of the park which you might hear about or even see on your map.  However, I do not recommend them for day-tripping Bryce Canyon.  If you want to add them to your list, then enjoy!  They are worth taking time for.  However, most young families day-tripping or short time tables will not have time for them.  So, consider them for a future trip instead.

1. Roadside Viewpoints

If you plan on driving back to Rainbow Point, then you’ll pass several roadside viewpoints.  Many are no bigger than a roadside turnout with a small view.  While each of these views offers something interesting, you need not make a point of seeing them.  However, if you’re already driving that way, a few minutes here and there won’t add much to your day trip.

These are undoubtedly nice views of the park.  However, they are not the views you came for.  Those views are in the main amphitheater.

2. Back-Country Trails and Hikes

Bryce Canyon is a rather small national park.  Much of the land area is unusable due to the erosion formations.  However, it does offer a couple back-country trails which you can hike out to and even camp at.  But, due to the nature of back-country, you’ll want to pass these trails by if you’re day-tripping.  They are far from the park highlights and you need permits to access them too.

Some of what appear to be roadside viewpoints are actually the beginnings of back-country trails.

3. Hat Shop Trail

The Hat Shop trail is a rather quiet trail off of Bryce Point.  It leads to some rock formations resembling hats sitting on displays in a store window.  Thus the name of the trail.  Still, this particular trail is one to leave off your day-tripping highlights list.  The reason is that you must hike for quite a stretch in the hot sun to get there.

If you do plan on taking this hike, take lots of water and wear sunscreen.  Also wear a hat to protect you from the sunlight.

4. Long Hiking Trails

Bryce Canyon offers some extended hiking trails to those interested.  These include the Fairyland trail, the Rim Trail, the Peekaboo Loop trail, and the Under the Rim trail.  Each of these trails lasts for several miles and requires several hours to complete the full trail.  They are THAT long.

If you are day-tripping Bryce Canyon, then these trails definitely aren’t for you.  They will eat up most of your time and prevent you from seeing other highlights of the park listed above.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, Bryce Canyon has a lot to offer tourists.  It doesn’t matter if you’re day-tripping the park or sticking around for a few days.  There’s a lot to see and do.  However, if you are day-tripping, then you must pick and choose what you want to see.  The visitor’s center, main amphitheater, and Thor’s Hammer formation are the obvious must-see highlights of the park.  From there, you may pick and choose as you see fit.  Just remember that, when time isn’t on your side, you will run into opportunity costs no matter where you turn.  Plan your day-trip to Bryce Canyon accordingly.  Hope to see you there very soon.