Bryce Canyon National Park was the final stop on our Utah Mighty 5 adventure. Along with our daughter, we got to spend one full day exploring the park. From hiking among the hoodoos to discovering stunning overlooks, check out how we spent a perfect day in Bryce Canyon.
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Planning Our Bryce Canyon National Park Visit
Bryce Canyon National Park was the 5th and final stop on our Utah Mighty 5 adventure. We arrived after driving Scenic Highway 12 from Moab and stopping at Capitol Reef to finally get our Gifford House pies. And we’re excited to be in Bryce Canyon to see its famous hoodoos, or tall, irregular rock formations created by erosion. The park is home to the world’s largest concentration of hoodoos. Learn more about Bryce Canyon at Bryce Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service).
We first stopped at the park sign for a picture before heading to the visitor center. There, we stamped our passport books, explored the exhibits, and talked with a ranger. Then we checked into Bryce Canyon Lodge, ready to explore the park the next day. Getting those stops out of the way meant we could focus on the best of the park. Since we were staying 2 nights, we had one full day to explore.
We planned our full day around seeing the best of Bryce Canyon. We would start early along the rim of Bryce Amphitheater, the park’s most famous area. The Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop would give us the best way to get up close to the hoodoos. After lunch, we would explore the 18-mile Scenic Drive using the GuideAlong app for narration and park information. Our goal was to see the park’s highlights and return to the lodge with plenty of time before dinner.
Hiking into Bryce Amphitheater
After talking with a ranger at the visitor center, we decided to start our hike at Sunrise Point. This would let us descend the Navajo Loop before connecting with Queen’s Garden. We would then climb back to the rim through the hoodoos, making a roughly 3-mile loop.
We arrived at Sunrise Point after the sun had already risen, but it was still low in the sky. The morning light created picturesque views across the hoodoos. Despite its name, Sunset Point offers beautiful views throughout the day.
Hiking Through Wall Street on the Navajo Loop
The Navajo Loop descends from Sunrise Point before reaching a fence where the trail splits. A sign points left toward Two Bridges and right toward Wall Street. Looking down at Wall Street, we could see its towering walls and dramatic switchbacks descending into the canyon. After seeing both options, our daughter chose to go right through Wall Street.
The trail was busy and covered with loose rocks, with some steep sections requiring extra care. Our daughter slipped along the descent but was okay, so Becky held her hand for the rest of the way. About halfway down, the trail took us through the rock wall and into narrower switchbacks. These sections were fortified with stones and were even steeper in places, so we took them even more carefully.
It took us just over 15 minutes to reach the end of the switchbacks. We continued through a narrow canyon with towering rock walls, where a very tall tree caught our attention. After emerging, we followed some steps to the bottom, discovering two trees with a log between them. A perfect place to take a short break.
The bottom was warmer, so I took off my jacket as the trail meandered along a wash. We passed more trees and occasional hoodoos before reaching the Navajo Loop sign just after 9:00 AM. We could have completed the loop through Two Bridges back to Sunset Point. Instead, we turned right, continuing toward the start of the 1.7-mile Queen’s Garden Trail.
Continuing on the Queen’s Garden Trail
The Queen’s Garden Trail started easily as we walked through a forested area. The trail was surprisingly busy, as we wondered where all the famous hoodoos were. And it was getting warmer as we shed more layers. After about 20 minutes, we stopped at a log for a snack and water break.
Just past the log, the trail began ascending as we started to see hoodoos. And then we spotted a sign for a spur trail leading to Queen Victoria. We learned later that the trail gets its name from this distinct hoodoo resembling England’s Queen Victoria sitting on a throne. And the surrounding colorful rock spires resemble a royal garden around her. Though we decided to skip the spur and continued through an opening in the rock.
The farther we went, the more impressive the hoodoos became. We also spotted a golden-mantled squirrel along the trail. Soon, the trail became steeper with more steps as we continued climbing toward the rim.
Our calves or “baby cows” were hurting by then after several days of hiking. We were all moving slowly, still tired and achy from the lack of sleep. Yet the incredible hoodoo formations made every step worthwhile.
The final section continued ascending through the hoodoos toward Sunrise Point. After roughly two hours on the trail, we finally reached the rim at 10:20 AM. From there, we walked back toward Sunset Point. It was windy, making it much cooler up top, so we added some layers before returning to the lodge.
Lunch at Valhalla Pizzeria in Bryce Canyon National Park
We were back at the lodge by 10:40 AM, but lunch didn’t start until 11:30 AM. So we returned to our room to rest. Becky took a nap while our daughter and I relaxed for about an hour. After noon, we drove to the General Store for water and new hoodies for Becky and our daughter. Then we headed to the lodge for lunch at Valhalla Pizzeria.
There was a line to the register before we ordered Thor’s Hammer, a 16-inch pizza with pepperoni, sausage, and bacon. After ordering, we looked for seats but couldn’t find any available inside. So, we found a table outside, though it was a little chilly.
It took about 30 minutes for our pizza to arrive, and it was incredibly hot. We were so hungry by then that we immediately dug in, burning our mouths on the first bites. The pizza was just okay, but hunger won out, and we ate the entire thing.
Driving the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive
After lunch, we headed back to the car and started the Scenic Drive around 1:20 PM. We opened the GuideAlong app, which provided history and geology along the way. GuideAlong also recommended driving the entire 18-mile Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point at the end first. Then we would stop at the must-see overlooks on the way back.
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Yovimpa Point to Rainbow Point via the Bristlecone Loop Trail
It took about 25 minutes to drive the 18 miles to the end. There’s not a lot to see on the drive itself. But about half way, a group of deer darted across the road in front of us, and down the mountainside. At the end is a large parking lot that looked surprisingly full. But we parked near the Rainbow Point Picnic Area and walked toward Yovimpa Point first.
On the way we passed a sign for the Bristlecone Loop Trail, but we continued to the overlook first. Just before we got there, we spotted two small rodents crossing the path in front of us. The second one had a stubby tail and looked different from the first. We later learned it was a prairie dog!
Yovimpa Point, along with Rainbow Point, sits at 9,115 feet above sea level, the highest elevation in the park. The large overlook provides incredible views of the Grand Staircase named for its many colorful rock layers. Bryce Canyon’s Pink Cliffs are at the top of the Staircase. We then backtracked to the Bristlecone Loop Trailhead and started the 1-mile hike.
The trail passed through large firs and other trees until we reached another overlook with some surviving bristlecone pines. Some of the oldest trees on earth, they survive harsh conditions by channeling water to living limbs. From here, the trailhead continued past a gazebo toward Rainbow Point.
Rainbow Point was busy with plenty of people enjoying the expansive views. Another must-see stop, from here we could see the colorful hoodoos and rock formations stretching across the landscape. After taking in the views, we walked back to our car covering 1.5 miles in about 50 minutes.
Stops along the Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Drive
Back at the car, we plugged in GuideAlong again for the return trip. The cool thing is that the narration is different on the way back, and tells us about each stop. Coming from Rainbow Point, the next two stops are Black Birch and Ponderosa Canyons. Both are close to Rainbow Point and slightly lower in elevation. We found the views underwhelming compared to Rainbow Point. However, the next stop would be our first must-see stop.
Agua Canyon sits at 8,800 feet in elevation and requires little walking to reach the overlook. Here, we could see two prominent hoodoos. The taller one on the left is named “The Hunter.” The smaller one on the right is commonly called the “Rabbit” or sometimes the “Backpacker.” The first three stops took us about 20 minutes.
The next stop was another must-see called Natural Bridge at 8,627 feet. It’s a short walk to see this beautiful rock formation, which isn’t actually a bridge. Instead, it is a natural arch, or window, formed through erosion rather than a stream or river cutting through the rock.
The next few stops were not must-sees, but I checked them out while the girls waited in the car. Farview Point sits at 8,819 feet and is just off the road with vast views in every direction. Piracy Point requires a walk down a dirt trail, but there are no signs pointing out anything once there. For me, the 10-minute walk wasn’t worth it. Swamp Canyon was also underwhelming, with little information to explain what we were seeing. The next two stops, however, were must-sees where everyone got out of the car.
Finishing the Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Drive
The last four stops are around Bryce Amphitheater, including Bryce Point at 8,300 feet. It’s a bit of a walk out to the overlook, and there is a shuttle stop that brings more visitors. However, the views of the hoodoos inside the amphitheater are incredible. Looking into the amphitheater from the south, this may be the most iconic viewpoint in the park.
Our last major stop was Inspiration Point at 8,700 feet. This overlook has three levels, so we walked up the rocky trail to the middle viewpoint. We had great views into the amphitheater and could even see Sunset Point where we started our hike that morning. I continued toward the upper viewpoint while Becky and our daughter sat on a bench. However, the steep climb didn’t seem worth it, so I returned to them. We then headed back down to the lower level for more great views.
The last 2 stops on the Scenic Drive are Sunset and Sunrise Points, which we already visited in the morning. So, we didn’t drive to them again. Instead, we drove slowly past the meadow, hoping to spot more prairie dogs. We didn’t see any, so we pulled onto a service road and parked next to the meadow’s fence.
Our Surprise Encounter
We still didn’t see any prairie dogs. However, while we were there, we spotted a woman on a horse pulling about 20 more tied together. That’s something you don’t see every day! She must have been bringing them back after a day of riding. We later found out she was pulling 9 horses and 11 surefooted mules back to the corral.
After that unexpected encounter, we made it back to the lodge around 4:40 PM. The Scenic Drive took us about 3 to 3.5 hours, although we had already visited the final two stops that morning. We rested for a bit and took showers before heading out for dinner.
Dinner at Cowboy’s Buffet at Ruby’s Inn
After 6:00 PM, we drove into Bryce Canyon City for dinner at Cowboy’s Buffet and Steak Room inside Ruby’s Inn. We chose it partly because of the history behind this Bryce Canyon landmark. Reuben (Ruby) and Minnie Syrett began welcoming visitors to Bryce Canyon in 1919. They started by setting up tents and serving meals near Sunset Point before building a lodge on the rim. When Bryce Canyon became a national monument in 1923, the Syretts moved their operation and established what became Ruby’s Inn.
Today, Ruby’s Inn continues to welcome visitors just outside the park. After spending the day exploring Bryce Canyon, it felt fitting to end our day with dinner at a place so connected to the park’s history. And we were hungry.
Even though they have a full menu, we all decided to try the buffet. It offered a salad bar, hot entrees, and plenty of side dishes. Our daughter chose smoked chicken thighs, teriyaki chicken, and a couple of sides. She ate very well after our busy day. I grabbed a little of everything, with some dishes better than others. Becky also enjoyed the buffet, especially the meatballs and the mashed potatoes and gravy. Though our favorite part may have been the popular ice cream machine.
We left around 7:35 PM after browsing the store at Ruby’s Inn. We then drove past the meadows one more time looking for prairie dogs, but had no luck. Instead, we headed to Sunset Point for one last look at the hoodoos. Once again, we arrived just after sunset. And though there were plenty of clouds, but the sky was still beautiful. We returned to the lodge around 8:15 PM and went to bed early.
Our Bryce Canyon National Park Recap
After spending 2 nights at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, we had the perfect day in the park. We started early hiking into Bryce Amphitheater down Wall Street on the Navajo Loop connecting to the Queen’s Garden Trail. This combination trail is the perfect way to experience the best of Bryce Canyon National Park. Afterwards, we went back to our room to rest before lunch at Valhalla’s Pizza. Then we started the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive to the end. Yovimpa and Rainbow Points provided vast views and colors of the surrounding areas. And the Bristlecone Loop Trail provided a nice walk between them. On the way back, we stopped at some incredible overlooks before returning in plenty of time before dinner. We then headed into Bryce Canyon City for the buffet dinner at the historic Ruby’s Inn. The perfect way to end our day.
The next morning we slept in and checked out around 10:30AM. We drove to Sunrise Point for some last minute pics and views, including seeing the trail below we finished yesterday. Then we stopped at the General Store and Visitor Center one more time before exiting the park. After a pit stop for coffee, we left for Las Vegas for our return flight. We completed the Utah Mighty 5 and it was incredible. We hope you enjoyed our Utah adventures!
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