Check out our easy Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary including 6 Must Do Activities for the perfect Bryce adventure. What makes Bryce Canyon so amazing for families is that it’s incredibly compact making it super easy to visit and see the highlights. Even for tired travelers! Unlike other sprawling parks, you can truly experience the best of Bryce Canyon in just one or two days.
When you think of Bryce Canyon, you have probably heard of the “hoodoos”. The “hoodoos” are wacky, wonderful, giant spires of rock that create a landscape that feels like another planet. Seriously, you’ll feel like you are in a Star Wars movie when you visit! And the best part? You can see the most epic views right from the rim or on a short, manageable hike.
Is One Day Enough for Bryce Canyon?
YES!!!! Absolutely! While two full days gives you more breathing room to explore a few more trails, you can hit all the major viewpoints and do one incredible hike in a single, well-planned day. If you only have one day, focus on the “Bryce Amphitheater” area (Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Points).
At Grand Canyon, the Tetons or Yellowstone, you truly need MORE time as I show in our Sample Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Yet, 1 day at Bryce is ideal. 2 days at Bryce would have been TOO long for my family. The park is pretty isolated so there are not many nearby restaurants and you can truly see the highlights in 24 hours. 1 day was just right for us to experience this national park and we are thrilled we added this experience to our Zion itinerary.
Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary
We stayed overnight at Bryce Canyon Lodge within the park which made access to views and the main hikes simple and convenient. We were able to take it all in with ease during our 24 hours in Bryce.
Note: How we planned our 24 hours was actually with a late morning arrival to Bryce before lunch and departing the next day just before lunch. This allowed us to spend the night in the park, catch sunrise the next day, take a run along the rim in the morning, and then repeat our Queen’s Garden/Navajo loop hike for a 2nd time because we liked the hike so much & wanted to appreciate the extraordinary otherworldly views one more time!
Read on for 24 hour details of our Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary.
Top 6 Must-Do Activities in Bryce Canyon
Its’ easy to incorporate our highlights plus more with our Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary.
If you only have a day, make these your priority. This is the “highlight reel” of the park!
- Watch Sunrise or Sunset: This is non-negotiable! Bryce Canyon’s amphitheater faces east, making it one of the most spectacular sunrise locations on earth. Watching the sun hit the tops of the hoodoos and “set them on fire” with a pink and orange glow is pure magic.
- Best Sunrise Spots: Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point, or Bryce Point.
- Best Sunset Spot: While most overlooks face east, Paria View is a great spot that faces west for a more traditional sunset.
- Hike Into the Hoodoos on the Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop: You can’t just see the hoodoos from above; you have to walk among them! This is the most popular and, in my opinion, the single best hike in the park. It’s a 2.9-mile loop that takes you down into the canyon and back up.
- Drive the 18-Mile (one-way) Scenic Drive: The park’s main road, an 18-mile scenic drive (36 miles round-trip), takes you to the highest points of the park. You’ll end at Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point, which sit over 9,100 feet in elevation.
- Get the “Best View” at Inspiration Point: If you want that jaw-dropping, “I can’t believe this is real” photo, this is it. It’s not a single viewpoint but three levels that you can walk up to, each offering a more staggering view of the entire amphitheater.
- Find Thor’s Hammer: This is Bryce’s most famous hoodoo! You can see this iconic formation from Sunset Point or along the Navajo Loop trail. We loved spotting it!
- Stargazing! (A “Dark Sky Park”) Bryce Canyon has some of the darkest night skies in North America, making it an official “International Dark Sky Park. Why We Love It: On a clear night, the Milky Way is often visible to the naked eye. It’s an unforgettable experience for kids and adults alike. Check the Ranger program schedule for free stargazing events! Just bundle up, even in summer!
Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary
Want to just follow a plan? Here’s a full day trip.
- 7:00 AM (Sunrise): Head to Inspiration Point for sunrise. Bring coffee, jackets, and your camera. Watch the hoodoos light up.
- 8:30 AM (Hike): Drive to Sunrise Point and begin the Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Combo hike. This is the best time to do it—the weather is cool, the light is amazing, and you beat the midday crowds.
- 11:00 AM (Refuel): Finish the hike at Sunset Point. Walk the 0.5-mile Rim Trail back to your car. Grab snacks and fill up on water.
- 12:00 PM (Scenic Drive): Start the 18-mile Scenic Drive. Pro-Tip: Drive all the way to the end (Rainbow Point) without stopping. Then, turn around and hit all the viewpoints on the way back. This way, all the pull-offs are on your right, and you’re not cutting across traffic.
- 12:45 PM (Lunch & Short Hike): Arrive at Rainbow Point (the end of the drive). Eat a picnic lunch. Do the easy, 1-mile Bristlecone Loop Trail.
- 2:00 PM (Viewpoints): Drive back toward the park entrance, stopping at the “must-see” viewpoints: Natural Bridge (a can’t-miss!), Agua Canyon, and Bryce Point.
- 4:00 PM (Easy Hike #2): Drive out of the main amphitheater area to the Mossy Cave Trail parking lot. Do this quick, fun hike.
- 6:00 PM (Sunset/Dinner): Head to dinner in the nearby town or have a relaxed evening. If you’re still full of energy, catch the sunset at Paria View.
- 8:00-10:00 PM Stargazing! If you are able to stay in the park, step outdoors and walk into the woods or near the rim
Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon (Especially for Families)
Hiking is the best way to experience Bryce. Even if you’re not big hikers, there are fantastic, ULTRA easy options for everyone.
Note: Typically, at national parks, my family takes adventurous long hikes to find the beauty & go for the challenge. This physical effort is not required at Bryce given the proximity to the beauty and layout of Bryce, the highlight hikes are honestly EASY, SHORT, and near the rim.
I love that this makes the beauty accessible for all ages!
1. Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop Combination (The Must-Do)
- Distance: 2.9 miles (4.6 km) Loop
- Difficulty: Moderate (due to the climb back up)
- Time: 2-3 hours
- Details: This is the hike everyone talks about, combining two trails. The National Park Service recommends hiking it clockwise: start at Sunrise Point, go down the Queen’s Garden Trail (the easiest trail into the canyon), and come up the Navajo Loop trail to Sunset Point. The Navajo Loop side has the famous “Wall Street” section, a set of steep, narrow switchbacks that EVERYONE loves. Kids, adults, and teens. Also totally an instagramworthy spot for the coolest pics!
Here’s a few pics from “Wall Street” on our hike. Awesome right?
(Note: The Wall Street side is closed in winter, but you can still use the “Two Bridges” side). You finish at Sunset Point, and it’s an easy, 0.5-mile paved walk back to your car at Sunrise Point.
2. Rim Trail (The Easiest, Most Accessible View)
- Distance: Varies (1.0 mile round-trip between Sunrise and Sunset Points)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 30 minutes
- Details: This is the best option if you’re traveling with strollers, anyone with mobility issues, or toddlers who just want to run. The section between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point is paved and relatively flat. You get all the “wow” of the main amphitheater views with zero effort.
3. Bristlecone Loop (The High-Altitude Forest Walk)
- Distance: 1.0 – 1.3 miles Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 30-60 minutes
- Details: Located at the very end of the 18-mile scenic drive at Rainbow Point (elevation 9,100 ft!). This hike is a totally different experience. It’s a quiet, beautiful walk through a forest where you can see ancient bristlecone pines, some over 1,800 years old.
4. Mossy Cave Trail (The Easy Kid-Pleaser)
We did not do this hike on our trip, but it is supposedly highly recommended. So if you have more time or are staying 2 days with kids, add this one to your itinerary.
- Distance: 0.8 – 1 mile round-trip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time: 30-60 minutes
- Details: This is a fantastic hike for little legs and is located in a different part of the park along Highway 12. It’s a short walk along a stream (called Tropic Ditch) that leads to a shallow, “mossy” cave. In the summer, the cave is dripping with moss, and in the winter, it’s filled with giant icicles! There’s also a small waterfall in the spring and early summer.
ClassyMommy Pro-Tips for Visiting Bryce Canyon
When you use our Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary definitely keep these other important tips in mind. Even if you only spend 24 hours at Bryce it is a very unique environment so be prepared.
- Watch the Altitude! This is my #1 tip. Bryce Canyon is at a high elevation (8,000 to 9,100 feet). You will get out of breath faster. Take it easy the first day and drink tons of water.
- Use the Shuttle. In the busy season (April-October), parking at the main viewpoints (Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration) is very limited. It’s often mandatory to use the free park shuttle. It’s easy, fast, and saves you a huge headache.
- Pack Layers. It can be freezing cold at sunrise (even in summer!) and then quite hot by the afternoon. A beanie, gloves, and a puffer jacket for the morning are must-haves.
- Download Offline Maps. Cell service is spotty at best in the park. Download the Google Map for the area and any trail maps from the NPS website before you go.
- Stay Close (or in the Park). Staying at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon (inside the park) or in the adjacent Bryce Canyon City (like at Ruby’s Inn) is a huge time-saver, especially for catching that early sunrise.
- Pack Lots of Snacks. Restaurants are scarce so definitely pack lots of snacks! We loved the pizza offered in the park which we had for lunch on Day 1. Then for dinner, we grabbed food at the Lodge’s fancier restaurant. Outside of the park, options also were very limited for restaurants. On our way out of town we grabbed snacks at the large General Store located just outside the park.
Bryce Canyon is a park of pure magic, and it’s the perfect place to wow your family without committing to a week-long expedition.Hopefully our Sample 1 Day Bryce Canyon National Park Itinerary helps you plan a trip to Bryce as your explore our gorgeous National Park system out west.
