Bryce Canyon is my favorite national park. It is one of the most beautiful places in the country (world?). The red and orange rock towers are called hoodoos, and there are thousands of them clustered in the Bryce Amphitheater. It almost looks unreal from the rim—then you hike down and walk among them.

You can see the main viewpoints and do the Queen’s Garden/Navajo combination in one day. We spent about six hours on our visit, including the hike, though I would allow extra time for snow, parking, photos, and stops at the visitor center.

Our one-day Bryce Canyon itinerary

• Stop for a photo at the national park entrance sign
• Visit the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
• See Bryce Point and Inspiration Point
• Visit Sunset Point and Sunrise Point
• Hike the Queen’s Garden/Navajo combination loop, if trail conditions allow
• Optional side trip: Panorama Point in Kodachrome Basin State Park. It is outside Bryce Canyon National Park, so allow extra time for the drive and visit.

Coming from Bryce Canyon City, you’ll reach the main park entrance before the Bryce Amphitheater viewpoints. The entrance sign is before the fee booths, and the visitor center is just inside. The current private-vehicle entrance fee is $35; a valid park pass also works. Check the official fee page before your trip, since entrance rules and prices can change.

The visitor center has exhibits about the geology behind the park’s distinctive landscape. It is a good first stop, especially if you want to ask about trail conditions or pick up a map.

Start with the viewpoints

We drove out to Bryce Point first and worked our way back toward the trailheads, saving our hike for last. Bryce Point gave us a huge view of the amphitheater. At Inspiration Point, there are multiple viewing levels. The climb to the upper one is steep, and I really did not want to keep going—but I was glad I did. The view from the top was worth it.

Sunset and Sunrise Points are close to each other and connect by a half-mile section of the Rim Trail. These four stops—Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points—are the park’s main amphitheater viewpoints. You can enjoy them even if you decide to skip the hike.

Hiking Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop together

Queen’s Garden starts at Sunrise Point and is the least difficult trail into the amphitheater. Navajo Loop starts at Sunset Point and has much steeper switchbacks. Connecting the two creates a 2.9-mile combination loop, including the short walk along the rim to get back to your starting point. The park rates it moderate and estimates two to three hours.

We went down the Navajo side and climbed back out on Queen’s Garden. Personally, climbing the gentler Queen’s Garden side felt easier to us. But the National Park Service recommends going the other direction 🥲 down Queen’s Garden from Sunrise Point and up Navajo to Sunset Point, because more injuries happen while people are descending the steep Navajo switchbacks. That is especially worth considering when the trail is icy.

In winter, the Wall Street side of Navajo Loop closes, but the Two Bridges side can still connect to Queen’s Garden to make this longer loop when the trails are open. The park recommends traction devices for icy trails. Hampton and I wore regular athletic shoes and both slipped a bunch; if I did it again in winter, I would bring spikes. Check the current trail conditions before starting.

Along the way, look for Thor’s Hammer near the Navajo side and Queen Victoria on the Queen’s Garden side. Being down among the hoodoos feels completely different from looking at them from above. The hike honestly wore us out—especially with the ice—but it was worth it. Afterward, we were very ready to head back to our room and relax.

Before you go

Bryce is beautiful in every season, but winter can change the day quickly. Snow may temporarily close roads, and the amphitheater area is usually plowed before the longer scenic drive. Check park conditions and the shuttle schedule before you leave. Give yourself time to enjoy the views instead of rushing from overlook to overlook.