Bryce Canyon Itinerary: Why One Day Wasn’t Enough (3-Day Guide)
Most people will tell you a one day Bryce Canyon itinerary is all you need for this compact park, but let me tell you why it isn’t enough. Bryce Canyon National Park is tucked between Zion (1 hour 40 mins away) and Capitol Reef National Parks (~2 hours away) in southern Utah and is usually just brushed over on a “Mighty 5” (Arches, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Zion) road trip.
We did that road trip and Bryce was one of the major factors in our decision to literally sell it all to travel full time in our van. We only spent one day in Bryce on our previous visit though, so we were eager to return. Our second visit afforded us the opportunity to dig in to the littlest brother of the “Mighty 5” and reminded us of the hoodoo magic that sparked one of the most massive changes of our lives.
Bryce Canyon Itinerary: 3-day Deep Dive
Often times modern American culture pushes us to race through life, to only experience things on the surface in order to “get it all done.” We are trying to embrace a slower way of life. We are taking this chapter to dig deeper and see what lies beneath the surface in this wonderful world we call home.
In van life we are not beholden to a one or two week vacation schedule that dictates what we can experience when. So, slow down with us here and let me show you how to really get the most out of your visit to this beautiful park.
Day 1: Scenic Drive and Short Hike
For our first day back in one of our favorite parks we decided to take the scenic drive we were unable to last time. The road through the entire park is 18 miles long, and there is only one entrance, unlike some other popular parks like Joshua Tree that have several that can make it rather confusing to get around.
After entering the park, you can continue down the road all the way to Rainbow Point which will take about 40 minutes. All the stops are going to be on the Canyon side of the road so you will be hitting them on your way back.
When you reach Rainbow Point, there is a one mile loop hike called Bristlecone Pine trail if you want to stretch your legs after making the drive.
More than likely, you will end up seeing the same people at each stop on the way back like we did. It is definitely the go to activity in Bryce and it’s a super convenient option for anyone with mobility issues or a disdain for hiking to still enjoy the breathtaking views of this alien landscape.
We were slightly worried that Bryce wouldn’t live up to the hype of our memories, but thankfully that was just not the case. I think it may be impossible not to be completely gobsmacked by this park. In any case, we can confirm it certainly lives up to the memory hype that we had, just look at it!
There are many view points along the way, I would suggest a stop at each, one of our favorites is Bryce Point. You can see the wall of windows and get a great overview of the Bryce amphitheater. I review some of the more popular view points in another piece here regarding the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon.
While at Bryce Point, you can take a great introductory hike down to the “Hat Shop”. The trail begins right from the Bryce point parking area and is only 4 miles round trip. The “Hat Shop” is aptly named as there are numerous balanced rocks that look like, you guessed it, hats.
There are also many opportunities for short strolls along the rim trail while enjoying the scenic drive. Take your time and enjoy the stops, fill up the camera roll so you can see where you will be hiking in the coming days. This is one of our favorite pastimes, trying to see where we were before from a hike or bike.
Day 2: Fairyland Loop
For all you slow travel, hiking enthusiasts out there, this longer hike is a nice break from the crowds while still having a lot of scenery to take in. After a hearty breakfast, perhaps some power cakes with peanut butter (a fav in this van) and a cup or two of coffee, it’s time to get going.
We stayed in the North campground during our visit and so we were able to walk from our campsite to the rim trail, then to Fairyland point and continue the loop from there. You can start this hike either from the trailhead parking at Fairyland point or Sunrise point.
The Fairyland loop is 8 miles round trip and is chock full of delightful rocks. Like all hikes into a canyon, what goes down must come back up. Dress appropriately for the weather report. I say this but I accidentally wore long pants on this hike when it was going to be hitting 80°F which is past this old gals threshold for pants wearing. Learn from my mistakes, wear shorts if it’s hot!
The hike has 1900 feet of elevation gain, the most out of any hike in the park. Take water, I always take my day pack full of water, electrolyte tablets and snacks. Specifically these Huma gels are awesome for that little boost you need right before the final climb and they won’t sit in your gut like a ten pound bowling ball. All natural ingredients too, can’t beat that!
After sweating it out amidst the fairies, head over to Valhalla Pizza for a tasty carb loaded reward. They also have a wide variety of coffee options and they are conveniently located in the parking lot of the lodge, just a hop and a skip from the rim trail. Typically the pizza joint is open October through May.
After some stretching and perhaps a short nap (pizza induced food coma) you can end the day with a meander to the rim trail for sunset and star gazing.
Day 3: Figure-8 Combination Loop
Now for the most popular hike in the park. Well, the most popular hike plus a super rad bonus portion that cannot be missed. On our first trip two years ago we did this hike and we had to see if it was in fact as amazing as we remembered it. Spoiler: It was.
The Queens Garden/Navajo Loop is the most popular hike in the park but I would argue that the addition of the Peek-a-boo loop offers some of the coolest features.
This figure eight route can be found in the “strenuous” section on the park hikes guide, but it is really not that bad.
There are two options to exit the canyon at the end, one being the Navajo trail listed in the name and the other being Wall Street. They both start and end at roughly the same points so you can choose your own adventure and mix it up when you come back like we did. Last time Wall Street was closed for winter but this year it was open so we got to experience a new portion of this iconic hike.
This hike is so neat, it takes you down into the hoodoos, through arches in the rocks, and gets you up close and personal with this majestic otherworldly landscape.
As previously mentioned the wall of windows that can be seen from Bryce Point on the scenic drive, can also be seen from Peek-a-boo loop but from a much more up close and personal angle.
We were absolutely thrilled that Wall Street was open on this visit. It was giving Indiana Jones vibes like mad and we were there for it.
Originally I wasn’t really sure I wanted to do the same hike again, I actually don’t think I have ever done a hike more than once before, but I am SO glad that we did. Although the crowds were a little irksome (not saying everyone doesn’t have a right to enjoy the parks but NO hiking etiquette was to be found, ugh) it was still a fantastic hike.
The full figure-8 combination loop is 6.4 miles with 1,575 feet of elevation gain. I definitely suggest starting at Sunrise point and going clockwise around Peek-a-boo for the best views.
*Pro tip: If you are hiking anywhere, the person or people hiking up hill have the right of way. At minimum, be aware of your surroundings and be courteous to your fellow humans. It’s not cool to push past people with no respect for life/limb or danger ie: proximity to a drop off.
Hike the Hoodoos Program
Whew, with all that hiking under your belt you deserve a medal or something right? Well, Bryce has got that too. There are medallions throughout the park that you can either take a rubbing of or take a selfie with (at least three) and show them to the friendly staff at the visitor center to earn a prize. There was also something like hike three miles and you still get a prize but finding the medallions was way cooler than trying to prove you hiked at least 3 miles.
Is this probably more of a junior ranger type of thing? yes. Did I purposely hike over 20 miles and take selfies with at least three medallions and present my selfies to the visitor center staff to claim a “small reward”? also yes.
Totally worth it, scored a sweet sticker for the collection. We always try to get a sticker wherever we go because it’s small enough we can store it in the van ( van storage is always on our mind) and it’s a relatively inexpensive souvenir. Free actually when you earn it with sweat and steps, so, even better!
But in all seriousness, our National Parks really are national treasures. The bottom of this sticker notes how hiking is a great way to exercise and to take care of your body and encourages healthy activities which is something humanity needs so badly right now.
So if you have children, take them to a National Park where they can exercise and learn, or if you don’t have children, take yourself, do it for you, I promise you won’t regret it and you might even feel like a kid again yourself.
Best Time to Visit Bryce Canyon
Typically we prefer to visit the parks in a shoulder season to avoid the most intense crowds. I have been accused of being a “Goldilocks” as far as temperature goes, so we also try to avoid the parks (or any locale) when it’s too cold or too hot for my liking. The sweet spot is above freezing at night and no more than 80°F during the day. Each season has its merits though so let’s review.
Winter: November-March
Winter in Bryce Canyon looks totally amazing, snow covered hoodoos, and lesser crowds, what’s not to love? We are not really big on snow at this time in our lives though having spent almost 40 years in Michigan, we have gotten our fill. But, if snow shoeing or winter hiking is your jam, a visit to Bryce in winter would definitely be a delight. All but the North campgrounds are closed in winter though so I would suggest taking a look at the “where to stay” section of this other post that has some great lodging options.
Spring: March-May
It seems like more and more I am recommending Spring as the ideal time to visit National Parks. There are wildflowers that start to bloom like in Death Valley, and temps/crowds are very manageable. We made our return trip in March and it was unseasonably warm, 50°F overnight and 80°F or so during the day (global warming much?). But, goldilocks temps achieved during a less crowded season = perfection. *Spring is top pick for this park, Eric & Jo On the Go certified best time to visit*
Summer: June-August
For Bryce Canyon, summer is the busiest time of year. It is situated at a higher elevation than a lot of the other parks in Utah and so it typically is slightly cooler. Couple that with summer vacation…you get the picture, it’s busy. That being said, you can still absolutely enjoy the park in summer, it just may be a little more crowded and a little on the warm side. Just be sure to book your lodging far in advance to ensure you have a place to stay and plan on using the shuttle to avoid full parking lots.
Fall: September-November
In late September the crowds start to lessen and the fall foliage really gets going, peaking in October. You might be thinking, wait, I thought this was the desert, there aren’t fall colors there are there? Well, yes indeed there are, Bryce Canyon is actually in a semi-arid high plateau rather than a desert. Specifically it is a part of the Colorado Plateau. All that to say there are trees there, specifically cottonwood and aspen whose leaves turn pretty colors in the fall. There are also three levels of pine forest Spruce/Fir, Ponderosa Pine, and Pinyon/Juniper Forests.
*There is a shuttle that runs in the park from April to October, since it is a small park taking the shuttle during the busier seasons is important to ease traffic jams.*
Camping in Bryce Canyon
There are two campgrounds and two overnight backpacking options in the park. North campground is open year round, Sunset campground is closed in winter. All reservations can be made through the parks website at rec.gov and of course, the earlier you can book the better, spots fill quickly.
*Pro tip: both the rec.gov app and website have a cancellation notice feature where you can put your name and email down and get a notification if a spot opens up on your selected dates. You can have up to 3 cancellation notices at a time and we have definitely scored some sites last minute this way.
There are also two hikes noted as overnight backpacking options in the park. Riggs Spring Loop is an 8.6 mile loop and the Under-the-Rim Trail which is 22.9 miles one way. The one way hike would require some transportation planning or extra walking plus the shuttle if visiting when the shuttle is running (April-October). Permits for backcountry camping are $10 plus $5 per person. Permits can be obtained in person at the visitor center or online at rec.gov as well.
The Bryce Canyon Itinerary Wrap Up
You made it to the end, and I hope you are booking your campsite and planning your trip to visit Bryce right now. This is definitely one of our absolute favorite parks so far and simply must make it on your National Parks must-see- list.
Our favorite time of year in the “Mighty 5” is always going to be spring, and spending more than a day at Bryce is clearly a requirement. We covered hiking, camping and slow travel tips in this post and also suggested some of our favorite hiking supplies. So, with all that in mind, I hope you “have a Bryce day” and we really appreciate you stopping by!