Trip Idea

4+ Hour Winter Visit

Multiple Parks

Red rocks in an arch formation covered in snow.
Duration Full Day
Topic(s) Birds, Photography, Forests and Woodlands, Coniferous Forests, Geology, Scenic Views, Animals, Native American Heritage, Natural Sounds, Night Sky, Canyons and Canyonlands, Plateaus and Mesas, Rock Landscapes and Features, Wilderness, Schools and Education, Trails, Farming and Agriculture, Freshwater Springs, Astronomy more »
Activities Front-Country Hiking, Scenic Driving, Museum Exhibits, Junior Ranger Program, Cross-Country Skiing, Hiking, Snowshoeing, Stargazing, Park Film more »
Type Kid Friendly, Active, Relaxed, Solitary/Remote, Educational, Outdoors more »
Parks Bryce Canyon National Park

A red rock formation in the shape of an arch covered in snow.
Natural Bridge in winter.
A shorter visit should focus on the first 3 miles (4.8 km) of the park, known as the Bryce Amphitheater. After a stop at the Visitor Center just past the fee booths for restrooms, the park gift shop, and other amenities, continue 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the turn for Bryce Point. The road to Bryce Point is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and ends at one of the park's most popular overlooks.

Return toward the main road, then turn right to then see Inspiration Point. Inspiration Point provides easy walks along the rim and a steeper (often icy) walk south to a higher overlook.
Continue on to the main road, and turn right back toward the Visitor Center. Your next right turn will be for Sunset Point. In addition to a beautiful view, visitors can enjoy a flat 1.0 mile (1.6 km) walk along the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point and back.

If you have more time, combine the above suggestions with a (40 minute) drive on the Southern Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point, with stops at scenic viewpoints like Natural Bridge on the way back. Note that the Southern Scenic Drive temporarily closes after winter storms. See the Alerts and Conditions page for road and trail statuses.

In addition to moderate day hikes, like the Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden trails you can include longer, more strenuous day hikes.
*Note that the Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop closes every winter.

Enjoy a Junior Ranger Program or a Ranger Program such as Ranger-led Snowshoe Hikes or rent snowshoes, cross-country skis or traction devices at the Ruby's Inn Winter Adventure Center. Traction devices are also available for sale at the Bryce Canyon Association bookstore.
*We strongly recommend traction devices for all winter hikes within the park.

Stargazing can be spectacular with winter's cold, clear skies. In winter, we face out toward the dimmer outer arms of the Milky Way galaxy. Seeing the faint winter Milky Way is a privilege only available in truly dark places, like Bryce Canyon. Overnight temperatures are very cold, so we recommend Sunset and Inspiration Points as good stargazing locations with nearby parking lots.

If you're staying overnight, you can find nearby lodging accomodations or camp within the park.
Things to Do
  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    See the Bryce Amphitheater

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Scenic Driving
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Duration: 1–3 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Any Time
    Red rock formations against a clear blue sky

    By far the most iconic section of the park, the Bryce Amphitheater is home to the greatest concentration of irregular rock spires (called "hoodoos") found anywhere on Earth. Viewpoints along the first 3 miles (4.8 km) of the main road provide access to views overlooking this area.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Drive the Southern Scenic Drive

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Scenic Driving
    • Pets: Yes
    • Duration: 2–12 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Any Time
    A large red rock limestone arch stands along a slope above forested cliffs

    The main park road is 18 miles (29 km) from the park entrance in the north to the end of the road at Rainbow at Yovimpa Points. While the Bryce Amphitheater area is found along its first 3 miles (4.8 km), the next 15 miles (24 km) to the road's end are known as the Southern Scenic Drive. Along this section of the main road are 9 scenic overlooks and vehicle pullouts that offer opportunities to see the lesser-seen geology and wildlife of Bryce Canyon.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Explore the Visitor Center Museum

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Museum Exhibits
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Visitor Center
    • Duration: 15–60 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    A couple stands among other people examining a relief map within the park museum

    The park museum is found within the Visitor Center and contains exhibits focused on scales of time: Geological, Ecological, Human, and with special exhibits on the Night Sky and Air Quality.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    See the Park Film

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Park Film
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Visitor Center
    • Duration: 24–30 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    Title screen for A Song of Seasons film reads Bryce Canyon National Park

    "A Song of Seasons" plays in the Visitor Center theater every half hour when the Visitor Center is open.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Get Your Junior Ranger Badge

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Junior Ranger Program
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Duration: 1–4 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Any Time
    Three children and an adult sit on the floor working on an activity book

    Junior Rangers can be thought of as potential Park Rangers in training. This nationwide program is designed to not only familiarize children with the duties and responsibilities of a park ranger, but also to spark an interest in the whole family for the resources and stories each National Park Service area preserves.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Go Cross-Country Skiing

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Cross-Country Skiing
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter
    Two skiers ski amongst the trees.

    A great way to explore Bryce Canyon in winter is on cross-country skis. Though it is illegal to ski off of the rim into the canyon, you can enjoy a variety of routes above the rim. These include sections of the Rim Trail along the edge of the Main Amphitheater, the Bristlecone Loop Trail; Paria Ski Loop; and the unplowed Paria View and Fairyland Point roads.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Go Snowshoeing

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: Yes
    • Activity: Snowshoeing
    • Age: 8 and Older
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter
    • Time of Day: Any Time
    A group of people in snowshoes stand on the rim of a limestone spire-lined canyon

    Snowshoeing is allowed throughout the park on all trails. But be aware that though snowshoes make it possible to travel through deep powdery snow, snowshoeing is still a highly strenuous activity. Most snowshoers enjoy walks along the Rim Trail, Bristlecone Loop, Fairyland Road, and Paria Road.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Go For a Winter Hike

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: Yes
    • Activity: Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Season: Winter
    Two hikers walk on a snow covered trail with mountains in the background.

    Many hikes are available to visitors during the winter season, in both the front and backcountry, but might require some additional equipment. For much of the winter the most popular trails are so icy that steep sections cannot be safely traversed without some sort of additional traction device for your hiking shoes or boots.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    See the Night Sky

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Stargazing
    • Pets: Yes with Restrictions
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Night
    A silhouetted figure stands at a fenced overlook with the milky way arching above

    Bryce Canyon is a sanctuary for natural darkness. Bryce Canyon's skies are so dark, that in 2019 the park was designated as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. Since the park is open 24 hours a day, whether you head off to a viewpoint yourself or join a night sky ranger program, we welcome you to the dark side!

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Trails
  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Mossy Cave Trail

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Mossy Cave
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    A creek meanders through red rocks with red rock formations in the background.

    Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. This trail provides access to Water Canyon in one direction and to a sheltered overhang known as Mossy Cave in the other. This area is filled with mosses in the summer and icicles in the winter. Please stay on the main trail and respect all posted signs. Pets are not permitted on this trail.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Bristlecone Loop Trail

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Bristlecone Loop Trailhead
    • Duration: 30–60 Minutes
    • Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
    Red rocks topped with dark green trees slope down into a canyon of red rocks

    The Bristlecone Loop, an easy 1 mile hike, meanders through the forest atop this highest portion of the park, reaching elevations over 9,100 feet (2778 m). Here you will pass by bristlecone pines up to 1,800-years-old and experience vistas reaching into the Four Corners area.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Queen's Garden Trail

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Queen's Garden Trail
    • Duration: 1–2 Hours
    An overhead shot of a landscape with irregular red rock formations

    The Queen's Garden Trail is the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Hike this out-and-back trail to the Queen Victoria hoodoo at the end of a short spur trail and experience the splendor of hiking amongst the hoodoos. This trail is commonly combined with the Navajo Loop to create a 2.9 mile round trip trail where you can descend at Sunrise Point and ascend at Sunset Point.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Queen's Garden Trailhead
    • Duration: 2–3 Hours
    Hikers walk along a trail towards an open archway in the red rock

    Our most popular hike in the park and the one we most recommend to first-time visitors. The Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop combines the open views and unique hoodoos of the Queen's Garden Trail with the iconic switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop Trail. Descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point, ascend the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point, and then complete the loop back to Sunrise Point via the Rim Trail, enjoying views into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater below.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Peekaboo Loop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Bryce Point
    • Duration: 3–4 Hours
    An overhead view of red rock formations with a blue sky in the background

    The Peekaboo Loop descends 670 feet (204 meters) from Bryce Point to this hoodoo-filled loop trail before ascending back up to Bryce Point. In summer months, hikers will encounter horses/mules on this trail. We recommend hiking this trail in a clockwise direction.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Fairyland Loop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Fairyland Loop Trailhead
    • Duration: 4–5 Hours
    An overhead photo of red rock formations that appear to be glowing in the sun

    The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. There is no shuttle pick-up at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike to your starting point.

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Last updated: May 23, 2024