Millions flock to Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park every year to get lost in its maze of towering hoodoos, take in the massive red-rock amphitheater from above, and come eye-to-eye with Mother Nature's masterpiece. There are plenty of things to do here, too, from soaking up the wild canyons from below on the Navajo Loop Trail to marveling at Inspiration Point. Sitting at roughly 9,000 feet (2,750 meters), this sandstone landscape turns into a snowy wonderland come winter, with hiking and snowshoeing excursions serving as your portals to unsurpassed national park adventure.
You’ll get the “traditional” hot, dry Bryce Canyon experience from May to September while the shoulder months of April and October offer cooler-but-manageable temps with fewer crowds. Some say winter is Bryce Canyon’s best season, with snowy whites contrasting the deep oranges of the hoodoos. In winter, the Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop Trail and the Rim Trail between Inspiration and Bryce Points is closed, but the amphitheater remains open for visitors to hike, snowshow, and gawk.
Bryce Canyon’s shuttle service is convenient for hikers and sightseers looking to access the main viewpoints along the Bryce amphitheater (it also helps with congestion in the parking lot). You can hop on at the visitor center or even outside the park in Bryce Canyon City, including at Best Western+ Grand and Best Western+ Ruby’s Inn, with proof of park admission. To get deeper into the park to spots like Rainbow Point, you’ll need your own wheels.
Bryce’s shuttle stops at Sunset Campground. With your campsite as your homebase, utilize the shuttle to have an eco-friendly trip: Stock up on goodies in Old Bryce Town and hop on and off at various trailheads when you’re ready to hit the park on foot. For a real treat, take the shuttle to the Lodge at Bryce Canyon for a five-star meal in the historic dining room.
