Bryce Canyon National Park
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
83 reviews for Bryce Canyon National Park
83 reviews in English
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Review from Cheryl M.
Longmont, CO
4/27/2012
I have been visiting Bryce and Zion NP's since I was a girl in the 1960's. These parks are hard to top as far as awesome beauty! My husband and I visited in early April this year, and it was pretty cold and windy that day.
My husband had never seen these parks, and it was fun to share the sites with him even through the wind. Because of the time of year, it wasn't too awfully crowded. Be sure to watch for the rare Prong Horn Antelope sightings in the pine forests inside the Bryce.
Also, like Paul Y. says, below, the little towns are speed traps. However, we discovered that Orderville, Mt. Carmel Junction and Kanab all sported police cars (parked in the exact same place every day) with police "dummies" behind the wheel. That was hilarious!! Cuts down on the expense of hiring more than one officer, I guess. -
Review from Nic Z.
3/1/2012 3 photos
I can't knock this any lower because, in the grand scheme, Bryce is a stunning piece of mother nature. That being said, it has been turned into an amusement park. We visited Bryce while doing the strip of scenic byway that hits some seven national parks in a row, and Bryce's car parks were horrific -- one worse than the next. Giant tour buses were blocking traffic, cars were hovering in what could have passed for LA rush hour looking for parking spots, people running everywhere... yikes.
Visiting a national park should be a serene experience where you can forget about cars and all and just become one with nature. You won't get that here in the peak season. Our trip was in mid-August, and it was complete chaos. Zion was the next trip, and I was so thankful for that. No parking lots, no madness, just peace so the world can take your breath away.
I'd love to visit again, but it definitely won't be in summer. -
Review from Christina L.
Rosemead, CA
WARNING: Firewood hard to find in winter. Everything's closed.
I'm camping at Bryce tonight (yes, I am reviewing this from Utah... that speaks to my commitment as a Yelper) as part of my birthday national park tour to Zion, Bryce, & Grand Canyon. The folks at the Visitor Center were hospitable although one ranger did laugh at us for tent camping on the snow. If you like solitude, definitely come during winter. We are literally the only human forms of life at North campground (thumbs up to the electrical plugs & hot water in the restrooms)! However, it took a 20+ mile detour to a closed store to procure firewood! Another option to avoid a wild goose chase is to stay at the lodge, which everyone else but us seems to be doing.
Bryce is known for its signature hoodoos (odd shaped rock formations caused by erosion) which are cool to look at & fun to say. A ranger told us they are much more impressive during sunrise as opposed to sunset so hopefully we'll be getting up earlyyyyyyyy. Highly recommended!Listed in: America's National Parks,…
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Review from Liana C.
San Francisco, CA
5/8/2012
If you just go to the overlook points, then I would give it a 3-4stars. However, my husband and I hiked down to the canyons and we were thoroughly impressed by the massive structures. Being at the bottom of the canyons and looking up at these huge structures was amazing. You have to do the hike down to see how great this place is.
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Review from Jackie S.
1/13/2012 13 photos
I love Bryce Canyon National Park. We visited this park for two full days and had a great time! You pay $25 per car for a 7-day pass. Since we went from December 30 - 31, there wasn't a shuttle available for us to take throughout the park. We didn't have any issues with crowds.
I would suggest hiking on as many trails as possible to see the various views of hoodoos. Since there was snow and icy areas, the hiking was extremely challenging. A lot of the areas didn't have hand rails either so we had to walk careful. Definitely bring hiking poles for this place. Over the course of two days, we did the Navajo Loop, Queens Garden, Fairytale Loop, Rim Trail from Fairyland to Sunrise Point, Hat Shop, and part of Peakaboo Loop. I'll make another Yelp review on Fairytale Loop, but it was pretty brutal in the snow. Since there weren't a lot of people hiking, sometimes I didn't know if my hubby and I were on the trails by ourselves.
If you have a car, definitely visit the Mossy Cave which is 3-4 miles north along Highway 12. It's a part of the Bryce park. The trail is .8 mile which takes you to a waterfall and the caves. Unfortunately, the waterfall was frozen when we visited. The cave was awesome since there were frozen icicles everywhere!
Lastly, the scenic drive within Bryce Canyon was awesome! You drive around for 18 miles one way to each of the canyon and see more hoodoos. I liked the National Bridges canyon since the main focus was on a hoodoo formation of a bridge, even though it is an arch.
Tip: Be sure to watch the speed limit signs before entering the park and while you're in the park. I got caught speeding 15 mph over the speed limit and got a $85 ticket. The sheriff wasn't too friendly either. -
Review from Sam S.
1/7/2012 6 photos
Bryce Canyon National Park is an outstanding National Park and one of the most unique and beautiful places I've ever visited! Utah has many amazing National and State Parks and Bryce is certainly one of my favorites. I've been to Bryce several times and enjoyed my time there every visit.
The canyon itself is known for its unique geological formations caused by millions of years of sentiment build-up and subsequent erosion. Unique to Bryce are formations referred to as hoodoos, spindly rock spires that are painted in the golden colors of the red rock desert. Bryce is also known for its breathtaking views, Sunset Point and Sunrise Point are particularly nice and are easily accessible from easy trails around the rim of the canyon.
If you want to really experience Bryce though you must get your hiking boots out and go for a hike. Seeing the hoodoos and other formations close-up is really the best way, nah the only way, to experience the grandeur of the park. If you don't want a long hike I recommend the Navajo Loop trail and the Queen's Garden Trail. They are easy hiking and take you right into the thick of the canyon. Looking upward into the canyon gives you a totally different perspective of this place. Depending on the time of year you go the trails may be muddy so make plan according. Yaktraxs are especially helpful during the winter months or early spring because the mud can make the trails slippery. You can buy them at the vistor center I believe, that's where I bought mine.
If you love Bryce don't stop there, get yourself a National Parks annual pass and go check out Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, and the other beautiful National Parks we have in Utah and throughout the United States. You won't regret the time spent and the experience will be with you forever. These are truly great wonders to behold. -
Review from Paul V.
11/2/2011 1 photo
Arguably the best National Park in the United States! You really can't go wrong with the trails inside this park. My favorite is the Fairyland Loop (check out my Yelp review for that hike), it is about 8 miles long and incredibly scenic with all of the Hoodoos that will surround you. The Navajo Trail is also very scenic and I highly recommend. While there, be sure to check out Wall Street (that's where I am in my Yelp profile pic). Nice visitor's center too.
Personally, I prefer this park in the winter time when the Hoodoos are covered in snow and the crowds are much smaller. It gets freezing cold so wear layers of warm clothing. I've never stayed at the Bryce Canyon Lodge and I've heard mixed reviews, but I have stayed at Ruby's Inn and the Best Western Grand Hotel just outside the park and both are comfortable places to stay.Listed in: Best National Parks I've…
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Review from Paul Y.
San Jose, CA
12/26/2011
WATCH OUT FOR SPEED TRAPS on the way to Bryce Canyon. There are a bunch of towns on highway from Zion National to Bryce that have the speed limit drop suddenly from 65 to 40. At night, cops hide in the dark because there are no lights.
In winter, some trails are closed due to weather. however, you do get to see snow on the hoodoos. -
Review from Marsh W.
10/17/2011
Hoo doos!
Some things you just have to do once. Bryce Canyon is one of them. The story behind this place is pretty interesting, but you'll have to go there to hear it.
All I can say is go there...just go there!
I would recommend parking outside the park and taking the free shuttle.Listed in: A Great Date!
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Review from Sandra F.
2/24/2012 1 photo
Breathtaking!!!!!!
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Review from reyz a.
8/22/2011
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah about 50 miles northeast of--at about 1,000 feet higher than--Zion National Park. The major feature is not a canyon but a giant natural amphitheater created by erosion along the eastern side of this plateau. There are these geological structures called hoodoos, formed by wind, water, and ice erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. The red, orange, and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular views for park visitors. The rim at Bryce varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet.
It was a drive-by for me, but this is burro country, which means you can spend months here. I remember how spectacular and how surrealistic the amphitheater and Thor's Hammer looked. It looked so beautiful that it almost looks unreal, like a velvet painting.
Made me feel like a very puny insignificant speck of nothing in a very very big universe. -
Review from Joel S.
Trabuco, CA
9/23/2011
Everyone loves Bryce. And that can be the killer problem with it -- crowds will suffocate you at places like Sunset Point. If you suffer from acrophobia, going down some of the trails will trigger your symptoms, but there are ways to enjoy Bryce despite these flaws.
First, you can keep driving south on the main park road. The farther you drive from the visitor's center and lodges, the fewer other cars and tour buses you will run into. Features like the natural bridge actually attract few visitors compared to Sunset Point, so if crowds give you the heebie-jeebies, a cure is available.
Second, you can take some of the less traveled backcountry routes such as the Sheep Creek/Swamp Canyon loop. This lacks the freeway-at-rush-hour feel of the Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail. There's a nice stretch at the bottom that goes through a fine maple forest and you can enjoy a little cool air on a summer's day.
Third, you can just choose another season. Spring and Fall are ideal for enjoying Bryce without the people, especially during the week.
It is easy to hate the crowds at Bryce. But with a little planning, you can avoid that. -
Review from Annie L.
6/29/2011
One of my pet peeves is the over use of the word awesome.
"My pizza is awesome!!!!"
Is it really my friend? Where you stunned into silence? Taken to a higher level of thinking? Made feel so small? Realise that you really are very weak and of not much importance in the grand scheme of things? I could go on but I won't.
Bryce Canyon is awesome. It does not cheapen the word, it owns the word - your pizza doesn't.Listed in: Hiking in the USA
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Review from Jessica L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/21/2011
Breathtaking.
Unfortunately, I only got to see the park for half of a day. Big mistake. You want an entire day here: sunrise to sunset and into the night for stargazing.
We did the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop trail, clockwise, as recommended by the NPS newspaper guide. It was a great hike. The walk down into the canyon was just unreal, with the hoodoos rising all around you. The only problem was that there were some pretty intense drop-offs, moments of steep trails, and loose pebbles, which, for a wuss like me, can make for a scary experience. I relaxed once I got further into the canyon. I don't know if it was because of the altitude or the heat, but the hike out of the canyon was pretty brutal. My boyfriend and I were huffing and puffing. Because of that, I didn't really enjoy the last part of the hike as much as I could have. All I wanted to do was sit down!
After our hike, we drove through the rest of the park on the scenic drive. It was a relaxing drive, with moments of stunning beauty. I would definitely recommend going to the last point on the drive, Rainbow Point, as you get a view of the entire Bryce Ampitheater and the surrounding country.
My hugest regret was not spending more than a half-day. -
Review from Vivian L.
7/3/2011 8 photos
This park is beautiful! We went in April and it was really cold and snowy actually. So no matter when you go, make sure to check the weather or just bring extra layers, just in case, you never know what the weather will be like that high up. We hiked the Queens/Navajo Combo Loop in a clockwise direction which was really smart since the trail was kinda muddy and going up those switchbacks vs. down was much safer and more fun. The trail takes you down into the valley of all the hoodoos instead of the rim trail which just takes you around the tops of the hoodoos. It was magical and beautiful. Just a little cold, wet, and rainy.
We only spent one full day there so if you can stay longer, spend an extra day to enjoy more hikes and I hope the weather is nicer for you than it was for us. Bring layers and drink lots of water. -
Review from Chen L.
Fremont, CA
7/22/2011 2 photos
Came here at the perfect time. Mid summer evenings are the best since it is not too hot, and the breeze makes the climb up all worth it.
The hike down was easy and exciting, but totally with it! Looking up the columns were amazing. Paths are slightly narrow, where you can only fit two people at a time...either forming a line going up or down, and super windy too. -
Review from Angie W.
Just Spectacular!
The views from here are awe inpiring. We didn't get a chance to see everything in the park, but what we did experience, we loved!
If you ever get a chance to go, do it! It has views you will never see anywhere else.Listed in: National Parks
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Review from Sahararavetent o.
Amsterdam
11/10/2011
all yalls dont even deserve places likes this
go text and facebook away at a mall
while shopping for new shoes and drinking starbuks
this place is for ppl that appreciate
things that actually matter.
built by massive geological forces
millons of years of erosion
rain snow crazy ass winds earth tremors
and human and animal causes
this place has become the serene paradise that it is.
the park has a main road that will take u to overlooks
over all the main areas which are called amphitheaters
the spires, hoodoos will marvel u and send u into
introspective dreamland.
a day cannot be enough to explore this place.
reserve a campsite in one of the main areas
and take a look into high elevation clear skies and
u will see thousands of stars u have never seen before
bc all u do is wander in shit cities like SF, NY, LA, SD, phoenix,
vegas, dallas and other crapass places.
just kidding theyre dope too, but compared to nature,
for me, they got a lot of work to do to reach these wonderlands.
i know ur coming here from far as fk
so get ready to be on the road for a long ass time.
u might as well not come here and just go to zion
bc u gotta drive thru zion to get here so just go there instead
with all the other tourists. o, dont doubt, theres a shitload of tourists
at bryce canyon too. it just requires a lot of commitment.
commitment that U dont have. sorry, i must be blunt.
i think bryce is about $20 per entrance for 7 days.
ur better off buying the yearly national park pass i think its $60
and its good for all the national parks for one year from purchase.
places like bryce, zion, grand canyon, arches, yosemite,
death valley, mojave national preserve, monument valley,
grand staircase, cedar breaks, mt. charleston, valley of fire,
red rock canyon, ancient bristlecone pine forest, mt. whitney,
glen canyon, natural bridges, hovenweep, bonneville speedway,
redwoods national park, joshua tree and all the other incredible
places in the american southwest, are some of the most beautiful
natural places inthe world.
i go back to what i said in the beginning,
all yalls dont deserve places this
go back to the chessecake factory and stuff yr stupid face -
Review from Caitlin C.
Boston, MA
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Gorgeous, gorgeous and more gorgeous.
Sure, my dad got us lost in the canyon so what should have been a half hour hike turned more into a strenuous 3 hour affair, but the upside was that we got to see a lot of stuff that we may have never noticed from the rim! -
Review from Richard G.
Fremont, CA
5/31/2011
This place rocks.
Bryce canyon is kind of a misnomer, there is no river running through this canyon. Think large hole in the ground that you can hike into, with Pine forests, animals, and rock formations.
This place is awesome, Everywhere you looked was a picture. I just count not stop taking pictures and staring at every bend. I took so many pictures, I ran out of camera juice.
First day, drove through the canyon and took in the views which leads up and down the rim. Sunrise point and sunset points are the main dish of the park. You can see the rock walls and towers. Everything is accessible. And Rainbow point is just a amazing dessert. You can see for about a hundred miles in all directions.
There was a free shuttle that went down through the canyon, but it was still spring and the park was empty, so the park was all mine. It was a little windy. We were up at 7777 to 8000 feet, so out came the long pants and jackets.
The second day, took out the hiking boots and did the Navajo trail that descends down about 500 feet in switch backs and brings into a narrow rock area, and hiked around to the Queens garden. This has to be one of the best hikes ever. Can you say 'hoodoo,' these red towers of rock are just surrounding you. This is a must do, but its a moderate hike with steep descend and climb, Queens garden side on Sunrise point is less steep than Sunset point. Just bring your boots and hold onto your kids.
Came down for two days and I wish I could spend more time here. And I wished I packed more food in. Driving down highway 12 you pass by a bunch of resturants, shops, and stops. Do stop and get food. On the first day I had to leave the park to get more food. In the canyon there is the lodge for a sit down meal and a basic general store with some food items, at Sunrise point. So for the second day I packed it in.
You really goto go.Listed in: Southern Utah
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Review from Jeffrey S.
Midvale, UT
1/16/2011 6 Check-ins Here
New Year's weekend in Bryce Canyon National Park! What an incredible way to spend a long weekend. This is an incredible part of Utah and national treasure. From the forested trails to the incredible lookouts to the other-wordly ghostlike hoodoos in hues of orange, red, and brown, Bryce Canyon National Park excites the imagination and tickles your brain with a fantastic landscape.
Bryce Canyon is most known for the unique landscape of spindly rock spires that reach up off of the canyon floor. The most breathtaking views of Bryce Amphiteatre are had from the scenic vistas. You can drive or take the park shuttle to these, and most require a small walk to the best viewpoints, although there's still plenty of ooh and ahh available to less mobile visitors. Not all vistas are open in the winter.
If all you ever did was go in to the park and ride the roads to check out the scenery, you'd still come away with an indisputable five-star experience. But if you can leave the pavement and get up close and personal with the canyon you're in for a rare treat. The trails here are well worn and well traveled, but you may still find a few moments to pick your way through the tall towers of stone and gaze up and their gawking shapes. Spikes, lumps, trees, gnarled knotty limbs, and brightly colored soil characterize a stroll (or strenuous hike) through the park's trails. Day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips are both offered, although backcountry camping is only allowed at designated campgrounds.
For the hotel crowd, there are plenty of options. Visitorship has swelled in recent years, and the tourist industry has blossomed. There's still a struggle for fine dining, but ample provisions and lodging are available. The hotels are competitively priced, but everything else costs just a little more because it has to be trucked in.
Summertime is the busy season. At around 8,000 feet in elevation there's plenty of forest and shade, so this makes a great option over Utah's other scorching summer parks. But don't disregard winter. A little skiff of snow (or several feet) on the hoodoos makes for magnificent photos and a memorable trip. We snowshoed into the backcountry and were mystified by the shining sun and silent snowscape. Enchanting! Realize that winter months bring cold temperatures. It got up to 18 the last day we were there, with nights in the bitter freezing temps. And summer is still plenty warm. Come prepared.
Bryce Canyon is a one-of-a-kind destination. Probably one of the more touristy parks in the state, but most certainly deserving of all the looky-lous. When the golden tones of the sunrise or the glowing fire of sunset catch the hoodoos and slowly crawl to their tips, you just might have your breath taken away. Pack the extra memory card for your camera, it's not to be missed. Simply awesome! -
Review from Willy W.
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow, can you say hoodoo? They're just red rocks, sure, but the water and snow has shaped them over time into some pretty funky shapes and sizes. To be around them especially if you hike down gives you a pretty minuscule and yet special feeling at the same time.
The drive from SLC is about 3.5 hrs or so. Which isn't bad and most definitely worth it. If time allowed, I would've gone to Arches and Zion too.
I had no (I daresay low) expectation for Bryce Canyon Nat'l Park after already having been to the larger national parks such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite most recently.
I think that these parks have much more influence on me now than when I was a kid + being into photography now definitely helps.
Suffice to say that most pictures don't really capture all there is to this particular national park.
Hiking along the various paths inside the park and along the rim from sunset to Inspiration and then Bryce points are truly awe inspiring. A brand new perspective pops at each turn there's something new to see at this new angle.
It's worth staying for the sunset and waking up early for the sunrise despite it being pretty cold for early May.
At night, you can see so many stars! Although, I'll note that coming from big cities like LA and NYC - I rarely get to see stars these days.
Be sure to see Wall St and Thor's Hammer if you can. -
Review from Rick D.
Bethesda, MD
11/1/2011
Been here a coupla times - in early or mid October, not super crowded. Nice campgrounds and great hiking. Amazing scenery. Some neat little places nearby off the beaten path, too. Take a few days to explore. And be sure to see the bristlecone pines up at the south end! And prepare: temps get warm in the day and cold at night (30 to 70 is not unusual)
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Review from Joey P.
Albany, CA
11/28/2011
I wanted a different take on this park, as compared to what most people see, so we went in winter, right after Christmas 2010. I wanted to see all the rock formations under snow. My timing couldn't have been better - I got really lucky. Christmas day I drove to Reno and stayed overnight, during which was a big snowstorm that blanketed the entire Southwest region. The next day dawned clear, and we took Hwy 50 across most of Nevada, which is one of America's least traveled highways, thru beautiful valleys and snow-covered mountain ranges - gorgeous. Then turned south on Hwy 93, which was even less traveled than Hwy 50 - we saw only two other cars in about 60 miles. The landscape was covered in snow, with sage brush poking thru. Lots of desert hares hopping around looking for snacks. Gorgeous sunset. Then east on Hwy 56 - another lonely route. We arrived at Ruby's Best Western Inn right outside the park entrance at 10pm. This is one of the nicest motels, for the price, I've been to - it's built like a traditional mountain lodge, with huge open beams, animal heads, chandelier, and western-themed art on the walls. The room was huge, and the place was fairly quiet. Restaurant was home-style, folksy and tasty food.
The next morning we awoke to an absolutely crystal clear, beautiful blue sky day.
The park is literally minutes away from the lodge, with a very nice, large visitor center with very helpful rangers on duty to answer any questions. In the park, there are numerous overlooks that you drive to, with a short walk to the rim of the canyon, and fairly easy hikes down into the canyon. It was a bit slippery from the snow and ice, but we had our boots and walking sticks, so it wasn't a problem.
Hoodoos blanketed in snow - beautiful, striking and stunning. We got some great photos, one of which i printed large and it's hanging in my stairwell to wow my visitors. For cheap eats, there's a Subway sandwhich place where you can get a sandwhich to take with you on the trails.
We stayed two full days, visiting Kodachrome Canyon State Park nearby, as well.
Then we left, heading south through Zion Park. The snow began early in the day, and increased to the point where we really couldn't see anything but the road at Zion.
That night there was a blizzard, but by that time we were safely in Las Vegas (where it actually snowed a little, tiny bit). I heard that Hwy 40 through Arizona was completely closed for two days because of the intesity of the storm.
Anyway, like I said, we timed things just right, between two epic snowstorms, so that our visit was perfect and beautiful. I only gave Bryce Canyon 4 stars because its beauty is limited to a single type of landscape - bright orange pillars and spires in a highly eroded landscape - beautiful and striking, but not broad in range of views. -
Review from Karen S.
2/7/2011
I've been to Bryce a few times, but mostly when I was a lot younger, and smaller. So, this was just a really great time.
The views are fantastic. This was my first visit in the winter time, so seeing the red rock spires capped with snow was a special treat.
We drove around to a lot of the scenic overlooks, to overlook the scenic scenery, but we also went on a couple of little hikes during our 3 day trip.
It was unseasonably cold so we were fully bundled and a lot of the trails ended at some point due to deep snow, but it didn't diminish the fun of climbing down a trail to walk around and between, and sometime through the fascinating feats of nature. One day we even strapped on the snow shoes and got a little creative. It was such a great day with such amazing surroundings.
The visitor's center has your typical array of books and trinkets and neat old style postcards, along with a small display about wildlife in the park (which I didn't really love - taxidermified animals sort of freak me out).
Bryce is a great little spot that everyone can enjoy one way or another. We live in a really cool world. Get out and see it! And don't forget your camera.Listed in: Free Time Retreats
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Review from Mark H.
Torrance, CA
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
OK, after a ten hour drive in from LA to Zion and another 2 hours to Bryce, I can honestly say it was worth it. In fact, I wish I had more time to spend there. 1 day is just not enough. The views are breath taking. I think we came during the low season, seems high season starts next month when it warms up a bit more. We had 3 kids in tow and they all loved it here. They even became junior rangers for Bryce Canyon. The Ranger staff must all get sent to charm school because there isn't a disagreeable one amongst them. The history and perspective of the Ranger talks were also interesting and kept the kids attention... mostly.
If you make it our here, make sure you bring your camera. -
Review from Susanna W.
Palo Alto, CA
1/26/2011
UNIQUE.
Wow. I cannot emphasize enough how amazing Bryce Canyon was. J and I decided to take a day trip here, and my only (tiny) regret is that we didn't plan to stay longer!
Again, as with my review of Zion, it was fabulous coming here in the winter. Trails were mostly empty (we only bumped into 2-3 couples during our hike) and the views are AMAZING. Every step along the way gave you a different perspective of the hoodoos, the awesome color contrasts... I'm a bit speechless because words are inadequate to describe this place.
We did the Figure 8 Loop hike... it was sooo worth it. Again, like at Zion, make sure to invest in crampons if you go in the winter, since NPS keeps all the trails open but they will most likely be covered in snow and ice.Listed in: The Great Outdoors!, UTAZ 2011
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Review from Chuck A.
5/10/2011
.., I love how red the rock walls & towers Bryce Canyon has to offer.
My family & I came here after visiting Zion National Park. I can spend hours staring at the unique formations that have been chiseled into these mountains.
Everything here is gorgeous & well worth hiking. W/ a brand new pair of hiking shoes, I wanted to hike as far up as I can go. It wasn't too busy when we went, people came & gone so it felt like the park was ours just for a minute. If you hit Zion, you gotta hit Bryce Canyon for dessert! -
Review from Toni M.
9/16/2010
We've been to Utah many times, as my brother lives north of Ogden, but we've never been south of Salt Lake City. We drove to Bryce from my brother's house in several hours. The approach to Bryce was breathtaking, w/ naturally occurring tunnels and hoodoos which have been sculpted by wind and water. There was one long rock formation that was relatively low, w/ pinkish patches randomly appearing near the top. And that was just the approach. Inside the park there are many scenic view points. There are free shuttles that run loops through the park. You can just hop on and hop off, knowing there will be another shuttle in 10 or 15 minutes. We admired the various rock formations and were amused by the fearless little chipmunks running around. The people visiting the parks were from many foreign countries. We heard French, German and Japanese spoken.
Bryce is part of a series of geological stair steps that are part of the Colorado Plateau. It was said that the bottom layer of Bryce is the top strata of Zion and the bottom layer of Zion is the top strata of the Grand Canyon. The colors of Bryce are closer to those of the Grand Canyon while those of Zion are more akin to those of Sedona. Some people feel it necessary to rank and compare these various parks. I don't. They each have their singular beauty and it's unnecessary to disparage one in favor of the other. I love them all.Listed in: Utah Rocks!
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Review from Chris C.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
9/25/2010
Bryce Canyon.... It actually has a forest!
Unlike the other national parks scattered all over Utah, Bryce Canyon actually has a moderate and comfortable climate during the summer months. This could be due to weather or simply from me being out in the middle of the Colorado Plateau for 7 days prior.
This review will be based purely on the front country due to my lack of time to actually go into the back country. i've heard lot of good things about back country hiking here and will have to go back to experience it.
First of all the park offers a shuttle service like Zion National Park did. However, I felt that getting around via my own private vehicle was more logical and time efficient. Each stop after the first couple become a bit more repetitive so to highlight the good ones, i would recommend going to Rainbow Point to see the poodle, Fairyland viewpoint, and Bryce point.
I can't really say too much about the hiking here, considering I only did the Figure 8 hike from Sunrise to Sunset Points. However, from the reviews I've read from different sources, this is supposedly the best day hike you can do in the park. Highly recommended, especially going up Wall Street. It was epic!
The last thing i would highly encourage seeing is the stargazing events hosted by the park rangers at the visitors center. Unfortunately, i went on a night where there was a full moon, essentially blinding the stars in the sky. Otherwise I thought the event would have been way cooler than it already was. -
Review from Amy S.
Salt Lake City, UT
5/24/2011
Unbelievable - just spent a few short hours in Bryce Canyon National Park with my family this past weekend. Let's just say, I'll be back. We did the "drive to a viewpoint, get out, take picture, get back in car and drive to next viewpoint" tour due to lack of time. Next time, I'll be exploring all the different trails and parts of the park over a couple days.
Like everyone else has said, the views are amazing. Bryce Amphitheater is the highlight of the park, and you'll encounter a lot of other folks taking in the views. We only made it down to Natural Bridge, and there were far fewer people there. As everyone else has said, the views are amazing - unlike anything I've ever seen.
If you haven't been, get yourself there now! -
Review from Jennifer D.
Tucson, AZ
9/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was a very rainy visit! We had limited views with fog and very wet. We were going to camp but the rain chased us away. But we will have to come back when its not rainy.
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Review from Jenny O.
Bakersfield, CA
8/22/2010
On a road trip through the west, I saw some pretty arches on the Utah license plates and decided that I wanted to see them in person. On the way home, bf and I stopped at Bryce Canyon.
Oops...wrong park. No arches here. My decision making - #FAIL.
However, I fell in love with this park. I'm a desert rat and the red clay canyons and hoodoos took my breath away. The hoodoos look so fragile yet, amazing. They look like red stalagmites sprouting out of an outdoor cave. The campgrounds and trails also enhance the park experience.
There's two campsites - North and Sunset. The North campground is closest to the park entrance but, I think the Sunset campground has better shading. Both campgrounds have clean flush toilets and a dish washing area (gasp - such amenities!). $15 a night for a first come, first served campsite - it's one of the best national park/forest sites that we've seen.
The Navajo and rim trails are the two must hike trails. The Navajo trail leads you down to the reddish parts of the canyon and makes for some great photo ops. You can climb (only if you do it safely) on a few of the formations for a great FB profile pic. The rim trail wraps around the park and you can get some breathtaking views from this trail. There's also a section of this trail that has trees, shade, and an overall forest view, like you left the desert for a little bit. These trails aren't super difficult to hike however, it requires some stamina and tolerance to elevation. I can't tolerate elevation very well so I chugging more Gatorade than I was used to.
I'm glad I stumbled on this gem of a park. Next year, I'll stop here on my way to Arches NP :o) -
Review from Deena K.
Manhattan, NY
11/8/2011
Amazing park!! We did the Navajo/Queens Garden loop, which was fairly easy (for a non-hiker like myself!). We visited midweek in October, so the trails were not crowded at all. Gorgeous, cannot wait to go back!
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Review from Daisy H.
5/15/2010 5 photos
I'm not sure why Bryce Canyon does not get the same amount of hype as the Grand Canyon because it is AMAZING! I recently went on vacation to see Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon and what a big difference. It's unfortunate that I saw Bryce Canyon first because when I went to the Grand Canyon, I was sorely disappointed. The best time to go out to the points (Bryce Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, & Inspiration Point) is in early the morning, that's the time to see the hoodoos because they look like they're on fire! The afternoon tends to add shadows and photographing them is harder at that time.
Also if you're going to hike, the more popular combination hike is Queen's Garden and the Navajo loop. I would suggest to start at the Navajo trail at Sunset Point because starting at Sunrise Point for the Queen's Garden seem harder of a hike because of that steep incline walk up towards the Bryce Amphitheatre--it will kick your a$$!
Spectacular views, orange-red hoodoos, & an awesome hiking experience, this is a MUST-SEE!!! -
Review from Michael W.
La Verne, CA
4/20/2010 55 photos
Wow. This place makes the Grand Canyon look tired and boring.
The stone is twisted into the most amazing shapes like towers, arches and a huge natural land bridge!
The colors of the rocks are breathtaking themselves.
There will be annoying tourists (like at the Grand Canyon) who will climb down for pictures and do other annoying life endangering stunts but you got to deal with them everywhere.
Remember this is rural Utah I dont know what kind of medical services they could provide if you decide to take a "special picture" yourself.
Anyways try a hike come prepared. And all the Park gift shops are rip offs just FYIListed in: Yelp bookmarks, 10 percent, Fun Places to hit on a road…, Photo Op, Great Parks!
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Review from X O.
Riverside, CA
4/6/2008
Beautiful place. Stayed at the Lodge and ate there. The lodge does not have internet access OR t.v. We played "Go Fish" instead & it was fun. The restaurant was good but not fantastic. For dinner, reservation is required. The breakfast was a good deal - $5 for kids for buffet.
The Sunset Viewpoint is incredible.. but I'm afraid of heights. -
Review from Glenn H.
6/17/2009
To borrow shamelessly from Cole Porter's "You Do Something to Me"
Do do that hoodoo
that you do so well.
Even a grey overcast drizzly June afternoon could not mask those glowing hoodoos of red, salmon pink and white.
Seeing trees growing at the bottoms of many of these immense gaps, between the hoodoo was unreal.
This park is truly one of the earth's wonders. You simply must not die before seeing this.
We're already planning out trip back! -
Review from James S.
York, PA
7/29/2011
Ok, we all know that the park itself is stunningly beautiful. Sadly, Forever Resorts does such a poor job managing this park that it almost ruins the experience. Check-in to the lodge was a circus and the desk was understaffed. Staff didn't seem to be able to handle the simplest of requests. Dining room staff made mistakes with both our dinner and breakfast orders and didn't seem too interested in correcting the mistakes. Even the park rangers in this park seemed very rude compared to other National Parks we've visited. We typically like to stay inside the park boundaries to experience them when they are least crowded, but in this case, Ruby's Inn may be the best option - it's that bad.
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Review from jocelyn l.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2010
Some of my best memories here on a roadtrip more than 10 years ago...
My friend and I drove to the outskirts of the park late one night and the next morning, we woke up to find that it had snowed. We headed out to one oof the lookouts, set our videocam on the fence and proceeded to walk out in the snow to make snow angels...only to realize that it was knee deep...and we fell on top of each other, struggled to get up, failed and started flailing around...making snow devils instead
Still a memory i remember very clearly till this day. Would love to visit this gorgeous park again someday
