Two Days Among the Bryce Hoodoos

Day 1 of 2

The rim viewpoints & the Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden

Start at the heart of the park, the Bryce Amphitheater, and walk the easy stretch of the Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point (about 1 mile), looking down on a sea of hoodoos. From Sunset Point you can pick out Thor's Hammer, the single most photographed hoodoo in the park, perched right below the rim.

4 stopsDay one

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

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   Drive from where are you driving from?~4 hr · or ~1.5 hr from Cedar City · Drive

   Bryce Canyon sits in southern Utah, usually reached by car. Plan on about 4 hours from Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, or only about 1.5 hours from the small Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC). Many travelers combine Bryce with Zion or Capitol Reef along Highway 12, so build in time for the scenery on the way.

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   Rim Trail · Sunrise to Sunset Point~1 mi · easy · amphitheater overview · Viewpoint

   Start at the heart of the park and walk the easy stretch of the Rim Trail from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point (about 1 mile), looking straight down on a sea of hoodoos. From Sunset Point you can pick out Thor's Hammer, the single most photographed hoodoo in the park, perched right below the rim.

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   Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden combo~2.9 mi · Wall Street switchbacks · Hike

   The must-do Bryce hike: descend the dramatic Wall Street switchbacks between towering rock walls, wind through the hoodoos on the canyon floor, and climb back out past Queen's Garden to the rim (about 2.9 miles total). Go down Wall Street and up Queen's Garden for the gentler climb, and take it slow at altitude.

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   Stay near the AmphitheaterThe Lodge at Bryce Canyon · book direct · lodge

   The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is the only lodging inside the park, set steps from the Amphitheater rim. It is concessioner-run, so book it directly and far ahead for summer dates. If it is full, base in Bryce Canyon City just outside the entrance or in Tropic down on Highway 12.

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Day 2 of 2

Sunrise at Bryce Point, the scenic drive & dark skies

Set an early alarm for sunrise at Bryce Point or Inspiration Point, where the first light hits the amphitheater and the hoodoos glow orange and pink from the top down. These higher viewpoints, along with Sunrise Point and Inspiration Point, give you the widest sweep over the whole bowl of spires.

5 stopsDay two

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1
   Sunrise at Bryce or Inspiration PointFirst light on the amphitheater · Viewpoint

   Set an early alarm for sunrise at Bryce Point or Inspiration Point, where the first light hits the amphitheater and the hoodoos glow orange and pink from the top down. These higher viewpoints give you the widest sweep over the whole bowl of spires. Dress warm: mornings are cold up here even in summer.

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   18-mile scenic drive to Rainbow PointNatural Bridge, Agua Canyon · ~9,100 ft · Drive

   Drive the 18-mile scenic road to the far southern end of the park. Since it is one road in and out, drive all the way to Rainbow Point first (about 9,100 feet, the highest point in the park), then stop at Natural Bridge, Agua Canyon, and the other overlooks on the way back when they are on the right side of the road.

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   Fairyland Loop or Mossy Cave (optional)Fairyland ~8 mi · Mossy Cave ~0.8 mi · Hike

   With extra time, add the quieter Fairyland Loop (about 8 miles) for a longer, less-crowded walk among the hoodoos, or the easy Mossy Cave Trail (about 0.8 miles) off Highway 12 near Tropic, which leads to a small waterfall and a mossy grotto. Pick the one that fits your energy and the time you have left.

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   Stargazing · Dark Sky parkCertified Dark Sky park · the Milky Way · Viewpoint

   Stay up for the stars. Bryce is a certified Dark Sky park and one of the best stargazing spots in the country, famous for its astronomy programs. On a clear, moonless night the Milky Way arcs right over the hoodoos. Check the park schedule for a ranger astronomy program, bring a red flashlight, and let your eyes adjust.

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   Second night near BryceIn-park lodge, Bryce Canyon City, or Tropic · lodge

   Spend a second night close to the park so you can catch the dark skies and an unhurried morning. Bryce Canyon City just outside the entrance has the most hotels and is a couple of minutes from the Amphitheater, while Tropic down on Highway 12 offers more options and is near the Mossy Cave trailhead.

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