10 Most Interesting Things to Do in Bryce Canyon

Utah is an is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, with its 5 National Parks grouped close enough together that you could visit them all in the same day (although we’d recommend spending at least half a day in each). Of the five, Bryce Canyon is like the fun, slightly quirky middle sibling. Not as young as Arches National Park and a little more kid-friendly than Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon is a must-see for any visitor to the Beehive State. These 10 things to do in Bryce Canyon offer a diverse look at the landscape through interactive activities and awe-inspiring adventures. 

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10 most interesting things to do in Bryce Canyon

From stargazing to counting birds as they flock across the sky, Bryce Canyon has enough to do to keep you and the family coming back all year-round. 

Hike the Queens Garden & Navajo Loop trails

The Queen’s Garden trail is one of the most popular in the park thanks to its low-level difficulty. It’s an out-and-back trail touching the rim of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater and featuring the Queen Victoria hoodoo. Only an hour or two is needed to tackle this photogenic trail, and while pets aren’t allowed to trot beside you, your children can certainly enjoy the walk. 

Because the Queen’s Garden is so easily attainable for even the quick day-tripper who’s trying to cram in a multi-park jaunt to Kodachrome Basin State Park, many hikers choose to extend the journey to the Navajo Loop Trail. The Navajo Loop Trail only adds approximately one hour to the trek but is well worth the extra minutes. 

Hiking the Navajo Loop is the most popular thing to do in Bryce Canyon National Park, sending hikers into the towering canyon walls. The total hike time when combining Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop is between two and three hours, starting at Sunrise Point and taking the loop to Sunset Point before returning.

Ride a horse into Bryce Amphitheater

Horseback riding was a popular way to explore the Bryce Amphitheater long before Bryce Canyon became a national park. Nearly 5-miles of horse trails are dedicated for guided and private horseback riding from late-spring to mid-autumn. Don’t be surprised if you see locals from around the region arrive with their own horse or mule to explore the trails.

There are three legs of a trail that horses can clop across: Mixing Circle, Sunrise Point, and the Peekaboo Loop Trail. Horse rentals and guided trail rides are available at the park. Most journeys take between 2 and 3 hours to reach the Bryce Amphitheater and return.

Make the most of limited time with a scenic drive

Road trips through Utah present a conundrum: there are so many awe-inspiring places to visit, it’s hard to know where to start or how long to spend in each place. If you’re not dedicating a full day to exploring Bryce Canyon on foot, you can still cross it off your bucket list and tackle it on a scenic drive.

An 18-mile road stretches from the plateau rim at the north entrance and climbs to over 9,000-feet in elevation by the time the road reaches its southern tip. There are four viewpoints for the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater accessible by car: Sunset Point, Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point. Each has a dedicated parking lot, as do the Southern Scenic Drive’s viewpoints. 

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Don’t skip the Visitor Center

From Mossy Cave to the Natural Bridge, there are countless trails and landmarks you’ll want to see during your visit to Bryce Canyon National Park. One mistake many first-timers make is skipping the Visitor Center. It’s the best place to get orientated with the park and you’ll likely leave with a few more items added to your Bryce Canyon itinerary. 

Amenities at the Visitor Center include everything from restrooms and museum exhibits to wheelchair rentals, trail maps, and assistive listening systems. An award-winning, half-hour-long film called A Song of Seasons plays twice an hour, as well.

Try a bowl of elk chili when staying at Bryce Canyon Lodge

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon holds the enviable title as the only formal lodging accommodations within Bryce Canyon National Park aside from the campgrounds. This full-service lodge has both suites and cabins, though it’s best to reserve in advance to make sure you snag a bed. 

Whether you’re staying at Bryce Canyon Lodge or just refueling after a long hike, The Lodge at Bryce Canyon Restaurant has a big bowl of elk chili waiting for you. Pull up a chair in the grand dining hall for a steamy cup of white bean chili full of shredded jack cheese, beef, and ground elk. Pair it with a side of canyon fries and a hoodoo rum punch that’ll help you settle into your cozy cabin bed. 

See why Bryce Canyon rocks in July

Bryce Canyon’s Geology Festival takes place each July and it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the diverse geological formations within the park. As part of The Grand Staircase, Bryce Canyon’s layers are more than meets the eye; the various shades have specific names and are correlated to specific periods of history. 

Geo Fest breaks down these rock formations into pebble-sized facts that kids and adults can understand. This weekend event typically features two days of guided geologist hikes, educational books at the visitor center, discussions about the park’s hoodoos, and evening outdoor performances. 

Hike the entire Grand Staircase

The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is a mighty expanse of Utah backcountry, much of it more remote and less serviced that its surrounding national parks. If you’re an expert outdoors person who has wild camped across harsh terrain, then hiking The Grand Staircase from Bryce Canyon to the Grand Canyon should be on your bucket list.

The colorful sedimentary rock layers that make up this dazzling landscape stretch roughly 100 miles from Bryce Canyon to the Grand Canyon, passing through Zion National Park as well. Nearly 600 million years of Earth’s history are stored in this rocky region. Three national parks, one epic hike; traversing the Grand Staircase is the ultimate way to see Utah’s timeless beauty.  

Become a Ranger at any age

Many of the National Parks within the United States NPS host ranger programs for all ages and Bryce Canyon is no different. Kids who want to become official Bryce Canyon Junior Park Rangers can do so in a single day. They’ll receive an activity book that they’ll have to complete. Kids also must attend a ranger presentation or hike guided by a Park Ranger, as well as pick up any litter they find at the overlooks or on the trails.

Ranger programs aren’t limited to children, either. Stop by the visitor center and they’ll let you know which ranger programs are scheduled. Some, like ranger-led snowshoe hikes, require a prior reservation, while others like rim walks, evening stories, and hoodoo geology talks are available for anyone who decides to attend.

Experience Bryce Canyon under the stars 

Exploring Bryce Canyon with the sun overhead is an obvious choice; the many switchback trails that ascend and descend the canyons are best navigated with prime visibility. One of the biggest mistakes that visitors make, however, is leaving the park when the sun has set. No Bryce Canyon itinerary is complete without experiencing this stunning landscape under the stars.

Bryce Canyon is one of the darkest places in the United States and it earned International Dark Sky status in 2019. The Milky Way Galaxy greets you on the clearest nights, its colorful band cutting across a sky filled with thousands of stars. Independent hikes and even a quick drive into the park will grant you unforgettable expanses of the cosmos, but your best bet is to plan a visit during one of the park’s organized events.

The summer months are ideal for visiting if you’re a stargazer. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the park hosts official Night Sky Telescope Programs at the visitor center with guided ranger talks and telescope viewings. June also sees the arrival of the Astronomy Festival: a multi-day family-friendly event with constellation tours, evening programs, and daytime activities. If you can’t visit in summer, full moon hikes are held once a month throughout the year. 

Spend Christmas Day counting birds

While you may not be able to spot four calling birds or a partridge in a pear tree, you will have the chance to see nearly 100 different bird species when you join the Annual Christmas Bird Count at Bryce Canyon National Park. The National Audubon Society administers this century-old conservation project that encourages outdoor enthusiasts to become citizen scientists on Christmas Day.

This family-friendly activity helps monitor winter bird populations that migrate across North America. Birdwatching is a relaxing activity but it can’t be downplayed at just how important recording these sightings is. The Christmas Bird Count ultimately helps protect the endangered avian and their environments. 

Bryce Canyon is a magical place when covered in snow; consider spending Christmas Morning on Bryce Canyon’s hiking trails, taking notes of each bird you see, and joining the park rangers for lunch.