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Utah · Est. 1928

Bryce Canyon National Park

Last verified $35 / vehicle

Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park's high elevations include numerous life communities, fantastic dark skies, and geological wonders that defy description. — nps.gov

BRYCE CANYONUTAH37.58°N · 112.18°W
A red rock landscape and plateau forest glows with the morning sun
Photo: NPS Photo / Peter Densmore

Bryce Canyon National Park at a glance

State
Utah
Established
February 25, 1928
Size
35,835 acres
2025 visits
1,967,367
Busiest-park rank
#16 of 63
Entrance
$35 / vehicle

Best time to visit

When is Bryce Canyon quiet?

Bryce Canyon is busiest in June and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, April is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 1,967,367 recreation visits, the #16 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Bryce Canyon open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 34,058, Feb 37,599, Mar 97,703, Apr 215,140, May 297,892, Jun 330,635, Jul 300,193, Aug 268,214, Sep 324,593, Oct 235,422, Nov 80,315, Dec 55,431.

Quietest: JanuaryBusiest: June

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Bryce Canyon

Private vehicle$35
Motorcycle$30
Per person (on foot / bike)$20
Nonresident fee, per person 16+$100
Bryce Canyon annual pass$70

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov

Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Bryce Canyon National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Bryce Canyon

The National Park Service lists 36 things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.
All activities →
  • Hoodoo Geology Talk20-30 Minutes

    Typically offered year-round at Sunset Point at 11 a.m. Geologists have spent years studying the unique geologic story of Bryce Canyon and its amphitheaters of hoodoos. Join the Ranger along the rim at Sunset Point to…

    Pets OK
  • Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Hike20-60 Minutes

    The Rim Trail hike meanders along the rim of the iconic Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, giving you views of the hoodoos below. This portion of the Rim Trail, from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, is the only paved section of…

    Pets OK
  • See the Park Film24-30 Minutes · All year

    "A Song of Seasons" plays in the Visitor Center theater every half hour when the Visitor Center is open.

    Fee
  • Bristlecone Loop Trail30-60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall

    The Bristlecone Loop, an easy 1 mile hike, meanders through the forest atop this highest portion of the park, reaching elevations over 9,100 feet (2778 m). Here you will pass by bristlecone pines up to 1,800-years-old…

  • Mossy Cave Trail30-60 Minutes · All year

    Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. This trail provides access to Water Canyon in one direction and to a…

  • Bryce Canyon Evening Program45-60 Minutes · Summer

    Evening programs, typically offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offer topics that go beyond the rim! Check the calendar for daily times and locations. This is a Ranger’s Choice program offering an exploration…

  • Rim Walk with a Ranger45-60 Minutes · Summer

    Typically offered Memorial Day through Labor Day at Sunset Point at 2:00 p.m. Join a Ranger and experience the enchantment of the hoodoos, the history of the people who have passed through the amphitheaters for…

  • Full Moon Hike60-120 Minutes · All year

    Typically offered year-round at sunset as weather permits. Those planning to join a ranger-led full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park can make reservations online via Recreation.gov. Tickets for each month’s hike…

    Reservation/permit
Show all 36 things to do

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Bryce Canyon

Due of its high elevation climate, weather at Bryce Canyon through autumn, winter, and spring can be highly variable. From October to May temperatures fall below freezing nearly every night. The park typically experiences its coldest and snowiest periods from December through February.

Spring storms in March and April can still produce heavy snowfall that may impact travel in the region. Summer highs are typically in the 70s-80s F and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Bryce Canyon

From the North: Take I-15 south to UT-20 (exit 95). Travel east on UT-20 to US-89. Follow US-89 south to UT-12. Travel east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon NP. From the South through Zion National Park: Take I-15 north to UT-9 (exit 16). Follow UT-9 east through Zion National Park to US-89.

Travel north on US-89 to UT-12. Go east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon NP. From the East Travel west on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon NP.

Highway 63, Bryce, UT, 84764 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Bryce Canyon

  1. Zion National Park50 mi~1 h drive (est.)
  2. Capitol Reef National Park70 mi~2 h drive (est.)
  3. Grand Canyon National Park110 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  4. Canyonlands National Park134 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  5. Great Basin National Park147 mi~4 h drive (est.)
  6. Arches National Park162 mi~4 h drive (est.)

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Salt Lake City (221 mi) · Phoenix (277 mi)

Road trip

Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion & Great Basin

4 parks, about 292 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).

Bryce Canyon is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Photos of Bryce Canyon National Park

Snow blankets a red rock landscape of tall rock spires beneath an early morning sky
Photo: NPS Photo / Keith Moore
A lone white rock tower stands surrounded by red rock walls and forest along a trail
Photo: NPS Photo / Peter Densmore

FAQ

Bryce Canyon, quickly

When is the best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park?
If you want fewer people, go in April, the quietest shoulder-season month. June is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Bryce Canyon National Park?
$35 / vehicle. Also: $100 nonresident fee (16+). An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park, and waives the nonresident fee.
Do you need a reservation for Bryce Canyon National Park in 2026?
The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Bryce Canyon National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park?
The National Park Service lists 36 things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park, including Hoodoo Geology Talk, Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Hike, See the Park Film, Bristlecone Loop Trail, Mossy Cave Trail. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Bryce Canyon National Park become a national park?
Bryce Canyon National Park was established as a national park on February 25, 1928.
What is the closest national park to Bryce Canyon?
Zion National Park, about 50 miles away in a straight line (roughly 1 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 3

  1. 1.Bryce Canyon National Park — official site · National Park Service
  2. 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  3. 3.Bryce Canyon National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/brca.

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