Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park
Taking a Scenic Drive
While the hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park is superb, so is the park’s 18-mile scenic drive (Highway 63). Stop by the visitor center for a brochure full of useful Bryce Canyon information. All of the overlooks lie east of the park road (left, as you drive south), but that’s not to say that the western side of the road isn’t packed with jaw-dropping scenery. To avoid cutting across traffic, we recommend that you drive all the way south, then stop at the overlooks on your way back. If you only have a short amount of time, make sure you stop at Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration and Bryce viewpoints.
Here’s a tip to help you get a good look at some of the best scenery: Just after passing the park boundary (and before the entrance/fee station) watch on your left for the road to Fairyland Canyon. Many visitors, in their eagerness to enter the park, miss this viewpoint just 1 mile off the main road that allows you an up-close view of the red rock spires. The fantastic hoodoos you see below, for which Bryce is so famous, were explained by the Paiutes as “legend people” who had been turned to stone. As you study the twisted maze of canyons, consider the words of early Mormon pioneer (and park namesake) Ebenezer Bryce, who described it as “a hell of a place to lose a cow.”
Due to congestion on the park road, trailers are not allowed beyond Sunset Campground, and vehicles longer than 25 feet are not allowed at Bryce Point or Paria View. You may leave your trailer in the visitor center parking lot. As noted above, a free voluntary shuttle bus system, operating May through early October (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily), will take you from Ruby’s Inn or the visitor center to all the park’s overlooks and trailheads. So take the shuttle if you want to experience scenic driving through Bryce Canyon National Park but don’t want the hassle of dealing with traffic.
Cross-Country Skiing & Winter HikingIf your first thought wasn’t to pack your ski gear on a trip to see Southern Utah’s red rocks, you’re not alone. Winter in Southern Utah is one of our local’s best-kept secrets. Thanks to its high altitude, the park's trails, ponderosa pines and red rock hoodoos are covered under a blanket of snow come November. For a more tranquil, less-crowded vacation, winter is the perfect time to visit Bryce Canyon. Plus, many trails are still groomed for hikers, others are ready for snowshoeing and the family can spend an afternoon ice skating in the charming town of Bryce, just outside the national park.
Biking and E-biking
Bike the shared-use path that runs five miles from the Bryce Canyon shuttle parking station to Inspiration Point. Bicycles and permitted e-bikes are only allowed on paved surfaces: the shared-use path, park roads and parking areas. For mountain bike trails near Bryce Canyon, head to Red Canyon.
Walking the Dog (Paved Paths Only)Pets are prohibited from unpaved trails inside Bryce Canyon National Park. However, pets are allowed on the 0.5-mile section of Rim Trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points. Out and back, this 1-mile paved path around the amphitheater offers a variety of hoodoo views.
Eating at a Bryce Canyon RestaurantThe park doesn’t let visitors go hungry. The General Store serves "grab-and-go" hot and cold foods (pizza, soup, ice cream and sandwiches) and beverages (soda, water, beer, and coffee). Seasonally, the Lodge at Bryce Canyon opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Valhalla Pizzeria & Coffee Shop dishes up pizza, salads, beer, wine, pastries, coffee and espresso drinks.
Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill delivers cowboy classics, including flat-iron steak, salmon, barbecue platter and chicken, along with cowboy demonstrations and country music. Meanwhile, Cowboy Ranch House (at Bryce Canyon Resorts) mixes Old West and Mexican flavors in its flame-grilled steaks, chicken and burgers that pair well with the 12 beers on tap behind the bar.
Editor’s note: Check restaurant sites for updated hours, as some close during the winter season.