One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park

We arrived to Bryce Canyon at around 8:30 and parked in the visitor center parking lot. There was plenty of parking available. From here we hopped on the shuttle and made our way to our first hike. 

Inspiration Point to Sunset Point 

We got off the shuttle at Inspiration Point and hiked The Rim Trail to Sunset Point. This gave us our first views of the spectacular hoodoos of Bryce Canyon.  

Navajo/Queens Garden Loop

From Sunset Point there are a couple different trails you can hike. I hiked the Navajo/Queens Garden Loop. This is a great 3-mile hike within the hoodoos. There is some elevation gain especially towards the end when hiking up and out of the hoodoos, but nothing too bad. Definitely take your time with this hike. There is so much to see around every corner. The loop ends at sunrise point. There are also many other trailheads that start here if you are up for it!

Stop for lunch at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. 

After the Navajo/Queens Garden Loop we were all ready for lunch. We packed our own lunch and ate it at the picnic tables at the Bryce Canyon Lodge. There is food also available here for purchase if needed. 

We weren't feeling up for another long hike, but if you are the Tower Bridge Trail would be a great option that starts at Sunrise Point. 

Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point 

After lunch we grabbed the shuttle back to the visitors center and drove the scenic road throughout the park all the way to Rainbow Point. There are many scenic viewpoints to stop at along the way with varying views of Bryce Canyon. 

Bristlecone Loop Trail 

From Rainbow Point we took the Bristlecone Loop Trail. This is an easy one mile hike that provides a different type of landscape than the hoodoos we previously hiked through. This trail meanders through Bristlecone Pines providing some necessary shade as the sun becomes hotter in the late afternoon. 

From here we drove back along the scenic road and ended our day at Bryce Canyon.