Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah: 1-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do

by | September 2020 | 0 comments

*All photos are protected by copyright and the property of Briana Nickas unless they are stock photos or otherwise noted.

Hoodoosโ€ฆ You might be asking what they are. But the more important question is where they are. Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is full of them!

Why should you care? Because aside from having a silly name thatโ€™s fun to say, hoodoos are just plain awesome! 

And you should definitely see them in real life. Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll be as fascinated/obsessed as I was when I visited Bryce Canyon National Park.

So make a point of planning a trip to Utahโ€™s Bryce Canyon. It can be quick (one day will suffice). If youโ€™re wondering how youโ€™re going to see everything you need to see there, no worries!

Iโ€™m going to share the perfect 1-day Bryce Canyon National Park itinerary with you to make sure you hit up all the highlights during your short visit.

Best Things To Do at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

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Planning a trip to #BryceCanyonNationalPark in Utah and short on time? This 1-Day Itinerary will make sure you do the best things there, including a scenic drive & the best hike! #brycecanyonnationalparkutah Click To Tweet
View of Bryce Canyon National Park

Info for Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is about 80-90 miles off I-15 depending on the direction youโ€™re coming from. And itโ€™s conveniently located between two other National Parks in Utah โ€“  Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park.

Map of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park

Location: Bryce, UT

Entrance Fee: FREE with America the Beautiful Pass OR $35 for private vehicles and all passengers (15 or less) for 7 days

Get Your Annual National Parks Pass Here!

If youโ€™re going to be RVing to Bryce Canyon National Park, hereโ€™s the information for the RV park we stayed at and enjoyedโ€ฆ

RV Park

Rubyโ€™s Inn RV Park & Campground in Bryce Canyon, UT

We love how woodsy this campground is as well as how close it is to Bryce Canyon National Park (just 1 mile away)!

You may also like: Arches National Park in Utah: 2-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do

1-Day Itinerary of the Best Things To Do at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is a close second when it comes to my favorites for the National Parks in Utah. One of the reasons is because itโ€™s probably the most unique National Park Iโ€™ve been to.

Bryce Canyon has the largest concentration of hoodoos found on Earth. In case youโ€™re wondering what hoodoos are, theyโ€™re tall, thin spires of rock rising up from the ground.

The out-of-this-world hoodoos will make you feel like youโ€™re on a completely different planet! Repeat after me: Hoodoos are awesome!

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Hiking at Bryce Canyon Nation Park in Utah

I recommend starting your day in Bryce Canyon National Park with a hike. That way you can get up close and personal with the mysterious hoodoos sooner rather than later.

We did the Figure 8 Combination Trail which combines three separate trails (Queenโ€™s Garden, Peekaboo Loop, and Navajo Loop) into one incredible hike! 

During the hike, we couldnโ€™t stop saying โ€œWOW!โ€ It was simply spectacular! The detail and crimson-orange shades of the otherworldly sandstone shapes are mind-blowing.

Figure 8 Combination Trail

Distance: 6.4-miles roundtrip

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Trail Access: Since this trail is a loop, you can start at either Sunrise Point or Sunset Point and end at the other point. We started at Sunset Point.

Wall of Windows on Figure 8 Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Wall of Windows

If thatโ€™s too long for you though or youโ€™re short on time, I would just do the Peekaboo Loop. That was our favorite section of the Figure 8 Combination Trail and features the Wall of Windows.

Peekaboo Loop Trail

Distance: 5.5-miles roundtrip

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Trail Access: Bryce Point

You may also like: Top 5 Best Hikes in Sedona, AZ You Wonโ€™t Want to Miss

Scenic Drive at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

End the day with the scenic drive to catch the sunset from the stunning viewpoints along the way. Drive the entire 18 miles of the Parkโ€™s main road to Rainbow Point at the end.

Then start heading back towards the Park entrance stopping at the overlooks to take in the incredible views of hoodoos stretching for miles. You might even be able to catch the sunset over the hoodoos!

Map of Bryce Canyon National Park Bryce Amphitheater for Utah National Parks Road Trip
Map courtesy of NPS.gov

The four main viewpoints are located in the Bryce Amphitheater within the first few miles of the Park: Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point

PRO TIP: Take the short walk to the upper level of Inspiration Point (0.5-mile roundtrip) for the best panoramic view of Bryce Canyon National Park!

You may also like: 45+ Road Trip Essentials You Need to Pack Before You Hit the Road

Wrapping Up Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

Soโ€ฆ does this post have you jonesinโ€™ to see some hoodoos??? I hope so! I couldnโ€™t get enough of them in Bryce Canyon National Park. 

Whether seeing them up close and personal while hiking or from afar at one of the stunning viewpoints, I love all the hoodoos!

And this 1-day itinerary covers both by giving you a fabulous overview and in-depth view of Bryce Canyon. Hope youโ€™re able to visit soon!

Have you already been to Utahโ€™s Bryce Canyon National Park? Iโ€™d love to know which hike and/or viewpoint was your favorite! Tell me all about it in the comments below.

Are National Parks your jam? If your goal is to visit all 62 National Parks in the USA, be sure to grab your free U.S. National Parks Checklist to keep track of them!

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Briana Nickas of Next Destination Unknown

Behind the Blog

Hey there! I’m Briana, a blogger, hiker, traveller, RVer, photo-taker, and National Parks lover who is passionate about exploring the great outdoors while practicing clean living for a healthier lifestyle to continue doing the things I live for. My goal is to inspire others to live a life focused on wellbeing and wandering. Join me!

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