Trip Report | Bryce Canyon

Some destinations have been on my bucket list for years, and those trips are usually well-thought out, and planned for, months in advance. Others are last-minute itinerary additions, that are thrown in because of routing, timing, or an unexpected opportunity. Places I likely never even considered, or knew anything about, but ended up becoming a favorite spot.

Bryce Canyon National Park falls in that latter category…it’s the best place I never knew I wanted to go!

I’ll get into the where and why of our routing in a future post (including the complete itinerary, hotels, parks, and driving times), but as luck would have it, Bryce Canyon was exactly the halfway spot we needed, and the perfect overnight pitstop. It was also a highlight of the entire week! In fact, if I had to choose my favorite experience/sight of the trip…hiking Bryce Canyon would be easily make the Top Three. (Hence the picture overload!!)

At our first stop, Zion National Park (read our Trip Report here), you enter in through the base of the canyon, with cliffs and mountains of rock rising up all around. But Bryce Canyon is the opposite…the drive in to the park is flat, with no sign of the canyon or the complexity that lies below.

But within minutes, you’re standing at the edge of one of nature’s coolest exhibitions. You can easily wander the paved path around the rim, but hiking down into the canyon is where things really get cool. (Although, it’s not technically a canyon, because of how it was eroded…but that’s beyond my education level.)

Rain Jacket | Athletic Jogger Pants | Shoes | Similar Parka

What makes Bryce Canyon so distinctive, is the massive geological structures, called hoodoos, that look as if they grew out of the rocks. It reminded me of a giant drip castle! And the sun shining off the red and orange rock was almost blinding at times!

There had been a fresh snowfall, but with the elevation at almost 9,000-feet, it was quite warm…and soggy. The slush and dirt formed a sticky, clay sludge, but it was more of an annoyance than a deterrence, and we easily made our way to the bottom within an hour.

My shoes were absolute lifesavers, too, and were perfect for the rocky terrain, snow, ice, and mud…and later wiped clean-as-new!

Micro-Wool Socks | World’s Best Hiking Shoes

Weatherproof Jacket | Cap | Sunglasses

Velcro Tennis Shoes (not recommended for these type of trails!)

Twill Pants | Pullover | Similar Boots | Sunglasses

{Where We Stayed}

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
We only spent a single night at Bryce, so we opted to stay within the park itself for easier access. Our visit fell during off-season, so the main lodge and most of the rooms and cabins were still closed. Our room was basic, but clean, comfortable, and recently updated, with a nice patio. There are no TVs, and wifi was virtually nonexistent, but we were a 2-minute walk to the canyon’s edge! It’s one of the original national park lodges in the country, and they’ve done an amazing job of preserving the integrity, while keeping it comfortable.

There are more hotel options in Bryce Canyon City, about 10 minutes from the park.

{Where We Ate}

Valhalla Pizzeria & Coffee Shop
Off-season restaurant options are limited, so this little shed on the edge of the park was an unexpected surprise…and packed! We sat by the little fireplace and inhaled our homemade pizza, and then stopped again the next morning for cappuccinos and homemade baked goods.

{Trails We Hiked}
We arrived Bryce Canyon right after lunch, and spent the afternoon exploring the most popular trails. From above, it looks like a twisty maze, but the trails are well-marked and easy to follow.

Rim Trail to Sunrise Point ~ Even, paved trail with sweeping views of the canyon

Sunrise Point to Queens Garden ~ Descend about 600-feet on a gritty trail, past towering hoodoos, carve-outs, & ‘windows’ in the rock’s wall

Queen’s Garden to Navajo Loop Trail ~ More meandering through pine trees and hoodoos, finishing with a mile of winding switchbacks through the red and pink layers of rock.

Inspiration Point ~ Perfect spot to watch the sunrise

*Sugarplum Travel Tip: The hikes aren’t as daunting as they seem from above, but don’t get caught in a rainstorm…apparently flash floods happen easily and rush through the canyon.

Athletic Leggings | Hiking Shoes | Cap

(I used this wide-angle clip-on phone lens for this shot…it’s great for family selfies!)

Bryce Canyon is a bit off the beaten path (there’s only one way in, and one way out)…so it doesn’t see near the crowds of nearby Zion or Grand Canyon, and the higher elevation keeps the temperature milder in the Summer. It’s also only one of three International Dark Skies parks in the U.S., making it an unparalleled spot to stargaze. There is virtually no ambient light from traffic or structures, so the thousands of stars and constellations are visible like no place I’ve ever seen. Have you been to Bryce Canyon? Is it on your bucket list now?!

See the first stop of this trip, Zion National Park, here, and more of our Travel Adventures here.

[More National Parks Posts]