Sunrise is better than sunset at Bryce Canyon as the hoodoos are in shadows in the late afternoon.
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The Best Places To Watch A Sunrise And Sunset At Bryce Canyon (And Why You Should) If you're visiting Bryce Canyon, do yourself a favor and make sure to watch a sunrise! Yes, you have to get up early, but it's totally worth it. It's why we suggest staying near Bryce instead of between Bryce and Zion.
Stand anywhere along the Rim close to Sunset point for best view of distant hills. Be sure to go inside the canyon to see the walls glowing brightly an hour before sunset. After sunset stay for astrophotography, the stars and night sky are very clear at Bryce Canyon.
A trip to Bryce Canyon National Park isn't complete without seeing the park after dark. As a certified dark sky park, you can see more stars here than almost anywhere in the world. I recommend arriving at the park about 1-2 hours before dawn and staying for sunrise.
Truly, the best sunrise in Bryce Canyon can be found almost anywhere within the park. South of the main amphitheater, several overlooks look out onto a vastly different landscape. Gone are the fantastic hoodoos of the main amphitheater, and in their place are dizzyingly steep cliffs, red rock buttes, and sandy canyons.
Bryce Canyon NP Scenic drive runs 18 miles along Highway 63 from Highway 12 until it ends at the south end of Highway 63 in Bryce Canyon National Park. Many of the park's highlights can be seen by the numerous overlooks. Please be aware that several of the side roads may be closed seasonally due to wintery conditions.
There is no minimum recommended timeframe for a visit to Bryce Canyon. Even in just one morning you can see the most interesting areas and admire the incredible rock formations from the viewpoints. However, I would suggest spending at least 1 full day in Bryce Canyon if you would like to hike the main trails.
There are some great spots to watch the sunrise in and near the park, including Canyon Overlook Trail (off the Zion-Mt.Carmel Scenic Highway) and at the Zion Human History Center, where you can watch the sunrise on the Towers of the Virgin.
Parking in the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater (Miles 1 - 3)Each viewpoint has a parking area that is open to private vehicles, however, due to the popularity of this area, parking spaces can be sparse during our peak seasons. To avoid full parking lots, we recommend using the free shuttle to see the Bryce Amphitheater.
Start hikes, like the Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop trail, in the morning to avoid crowds. I recommend watching the sunrise and starting the hike shortly after. Wait to do the scenic drive until the afternoon after you've explored the area around Bryce Canyon Lodge. Sunrise is the best time for photography.
Yes, you can drive into Bryce Canyon. Most people enter the park in their vehicles. But the parking spots can fill up around the amphitheater, so you may need to use the shuttle to access that section of the park.
Bryce Canyon is open 24 hours per day, however, we do not recommend exploring the park at night. The visitor center is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with extended hours in the summer.
Since southern Utah is a bit of a haul from any major cities, many visitors make Bryce Canyon part of a larger Utah road trip. Though it's a smaller park and some people will spend less than a full day in Bryce Canyon, I recommend spending one to two full days here to really explore all that the park has to offer.
Since southern Utah is a bit of a haul from any major cities, many visitors make Bryce Canyon part of a larger Utah road trip. Though it's a smaller park and some people will spend less than a full day in Bryce Canyon, I recommend spending one to two full days here to really explore all that the park has to offer.
As with many National Parks across the country, tourist crowds peak during the months of June, July, and August. This is when you are going to find many families at Bryce Canyon, and the crowds will almost always be high at the iconic attractions within the park's boundaries.