Bryce Canyon Tripadvisor (2024)

FAQs

What's the best month to visit Bryce Canyon? ›

Mild temperatures in April and May are perfect for hiking Bryce Canyon. Typical daytime highs in these months range between 55°-65°. Crowds are smaller, but will start to increase as the peak summer season approaches in May.

This park is small and can be seen in one day. However, staying for two days will give you time to see all of the best viewpoints, stop in at the Visitor Center and General Store, and hike one of the park's longer trails. If you're hoping to hike, spend at least two days here.

We wouldn't really recommend spending more than two days in Bryce Canyon, but you could easily be in Zion for a week. Zion is also more developed than any of the other parks in Utah. It gets the most funding, and has the most infrastructure, and is the most accessible.

While you can't drive off-road through the park, any Bryce Canyon tour will take you up and down the scenic highways that run through the area. Both the Bryce Amphitheater drive and the scenic southern drive are well worth taking if you have a car, and the park offers a shuttle service if you'd rather be on foot.

With elevations averaging around 8,000 feet (2438 m) and reaching up to over 9,000 feet (2743 m) Bryce Canyon is a high altitude park. At 8,000 feet effective oxygen levels are about 75% of what's found at sea level, and as oxygen falls the risk for altitude sickness goes up.

Majestic Neighbors. First off, it's very possible to visit Bryce Canyon and Zion in the same trip, even the same day! The distance from Zion to Bryce Canyon is 72.4 miles (116.5 kilometers), or, a 1 hour and 20 minute drive and it's a beautiful drive! Both Parks are found in the picturesque landscape of Southern Utah.

Keep in mind: Park rangers estimate that the drive takes a minimum of three hours. The park encourages visitors to start their driving tour of Bryce Canyon National Park by driving straight to Rainbow Point at the very southern end of the park. From there, the whole park stretches out before you as you travel north.

Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwestern Utah is famous for the largest collection of hoodoos—the distinctive rock formations at Bryce—in the world. Bryce Canyon is also home to horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, scenic vistas, and the dark night sky.

The drive from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon is an integral part of the adventure when exploring these two iconic landscapes. While the route offers dramatic scenery and requires attentive driving, it is not very scary.

Is Bryce Canyon as Busy as Zion? No, not even close! With half the visitors of Zion, it's not nearly as crowded. Many people visit nearby Bryce Canyon in conjunction with Zion, something we highly recommend.

Which is better, Bryce or Arches? ›

Which is better: Bryce Canyon or Arches? Although both of these parks are in Utah, they offer very different experiences! Choosing which one you should visit depends on what you are looking for. While Bryce offers stunning views of hoodoos, taking an Arches park tour will bring you close to the iconic natural arches.

By far the most iconic section of the park, the Bryce Amphitheater is home to the greatest concentration of irregular rock spires (called "hoodoos") found anywhere on Earth. Viewpoints along the first 3 miles (4.8 km) of the main road provide access to views overlooking this area.

Bear canisters - Bear canisters on overnight backcountry hikes are required. See more information below. Pets - Pets are not allowed on any trails or in backcountry areas. You may not bring pets on day hikes or backcountry trips.

Weather in Bryce Canyon National Park

And in July and August, temperatures rise to the high 70s to low 80s. However, these two months also constitute the rainy season, with frequent, usually short, afternoon thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and lightning. This means visitors should be prepared to find shelter.

Best Time to Visit Utah's National Parks

March, April and October are generally mild-weathered shoulder seasons. Winter months (November-February) see 14% of Arches' annual visitation.

What's the best month to go to Zion National Park? Summer in Zion is hard to beat. This is when you'll get the most time to explore because of long summer days and extended park hours. Because June and July are the busiest months in the park, consider visiting in September to avoid the heaviest summer traffic.

When To Visit. Both Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks are open year-round but a majority of visitors come between April and September. June and July are the busiest months and parking lots in Zion often fill to capacity during this time.