Hi there!
Winter in Utah?!
Why yes of course!
And Bryce Canyon can be a perfect trip to make in the winter!
So if you’re making this national park a part of a jam-packed winter road trip in Utah, how much time do you need to see the best of Bryce Canyon?!
Well…
You can totally make it a perfect one day in Bryce Canyon!
One day in Bryce Canyon in the winter will give you the chance to do a couple of the top winter hiking trails and stop at some of the top scenic viewpoints to see those iconic Bryce Canyon hoodoos in snow!
If you want to make it a winter hiking weekend, then you can spend a perfect 2 days in Bryce Canyon doing the best winter hikes too.
I went to Bryce Canyon in the winter, and here are the things you need to know about!
1. Sunset Point
2. Thor’s Hammer
👆 Hike from Sunset Point to see the iconic Thor’s Hammer!
3. Rim Trail
⛄
4. Sunrise Point
5. Queens Garden Trail
6. Navajo Trail
7. Ranger-led snowshoe hike
8. Natural Bridge viewpoint
9. Bryce Point viewpoint
10. Mossy Cave
How to put all this into a one day Bryce Canyon itinerary?!
How to spend a perfect one day in Bryce Canyon in winter:
- 8am: Sign up for the free ranger led snowshoe hike at visitor center
- Morning: Beautiful winter hoodoo hike with Queens Garden + Navajo Loop combination trail
- Start at Sunset Point parking lot
- Walk along Rim Trail to Sunrise Point
- Start Queens Garden Trail near Sunrise Point
- Connect to Navajo Loop Trail
- Finish near Sunset Point
- Early afternoon: Ranger-led snowshoe hike!
- Late afternoon: Drive through Bryce Canyon National Park with stops at viewpoints
- Natural Bridge
- Bryce Point
- Late afternoon: Mossy Cave Trail to see icicles
Official Bryce Canyon winter alerts
You can read about weather in Bryce Canyon here.
In short, you might have a chance to see snow at Bryce Canyon in October, November, December, January, February, March, and April!
You can read about general road closures and trail closures here.
In short, the things listed below you can typically do in the winter 😉 unless a major snowstorm comes through and closes down some trails or roads.
In the days before you go to Bryce Canyon, check for current park conditions here!
Also check the weather forecast before you go in case there’s a snowstorm that pops up!
It’s best to be flexible in your planning so you can try to avoid being on the roads in bad conditions as much as possible.
Where to stay near Bryce Canyon National Park
In order to take advantage of this winter itinerary, it can be best to stay the night before near Bryce Canyon National Park. This way, you can be sure to get started early for a full day of activities!
Bryce Canyon is also considered to be at high altitude, with viewpoints near the park entrance starting at around 8,000 feet (2,440 m).
While most people generally don’t feel any ill effects at this level it’s possible. Arriving the night before and staying near Bryce Canyon (which might be at an altitude at 6,000-7,000 feet) might help you get used to it a bit more so you won’t have any issues the following day!
If you’re following this Arizona and Utah national park winter road trip, then…
- Zion to Bryce Canyon is around a 1.5 hour drive
- Bryce Canyon to Page AZ is around a 2.5 hour drive
- See how to spend one day in Zion
See some of these hotels near Bryce Canyon
- Bryce Canyon Lodge – This is the lodge that is IN the park. You can basically leave the hotel and practically be right at 2 popular viewpoints. In winter it’s closed in January and February though!
- Ruby’s Inn Best Western Plus – This is a classic Bryce Canyon hotel and it’s located pretty much right near the park entrance. Free breakfast and indoor pool.
- Rodeway Inn – If you’re looking for a cheap(er) place to stay and don’t mind a 25 minute drive to the park, then this simple motel will be good enough! I stayed here for 2 nights, no complaints. I was only here to sleep! No breakfast.
- Quality Inn – Another budget option, 30 minute drive to the park, with breakfast.
Affiliate links above to partner website (booking.com) with photos and reviews!
What to wear in Bryce Canyon in winter
Here is a quick list of some specific items! Affiliate links below to partner website (amazon) with photos and reviews!
See some things to pack for a winter trip to Bryce Canyon
- Waterproof hiking shoes are better than regular shoes so the wet snow won’t give you cold wet feet. These can also keep your toes more insulated (warmer!) than regular shoes. See top outdoor shoe brands:
- Hiking poles (for women and for all) so you don’t kill your knees hiking down steep trails, and maybe to catch you if you slip on ice! I went with these ones for women as they were recommended to me at REI for being lighter weight and a comfortable hold. They don’t come with rubber tips so I bought those separately, but if you’re only going to Bryce Canyon I think you can do without rubber tips if you’ll be hiking through snow that’s not that deep. For deeper snow, you might want rubber tips with “snow baskets.” (Hiking poles aren’t allowed on carry-on bags on a flight, and might not fit in small suitcases either!)
- Bring along one or more of these traction devices:
- Microspikes (best choice of these 3 listed here when it comes to traction for possible icy conditions. These will dig into the snow and ice more.)
- Nanospikes or yaktrax at the minimum can be very helpful even for scenic overlooks that you drive to that don’t require any hiking. Some popular scenic viewpoints are on a snow-covered and/or icy slope.
- Fingerless gloves for winter on the hand you’ll be taking pictures with your phone so you don’t have to keep taking off your gloves when you want to take a picture!
- Comfortable daypack to carry your hiking essentials. See top outdoor backpack brands: for women and for men
- Snowshoes if you want to do some snowshoe hikes on your own! Stop by the visitor center for trail recommendations based on current snow conditions when you get to the park, but in the meantime, the Rim Trail to Fairyland Point and the Bristlecone Loop Trail might be a couple of trails that can work well for snowshoeing! See these beginner-friendly snowshoes.
And there’s a bit on how to plan a perfect day in one of Utah’s best national parks in winter!
If you’re looking for more things to do, have a look at more beautiful winter hikes in Bryce Canyon!
And if you’re planning a winter road trip with a drive through Arizona and Utah, have a look at this 5 day itinerary that includes the 3 national parks of Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon!
See Bryce Canyon winter photos:
- Queens Garden Trail
- Mossy Cave Trail
- Park ranger snowshoe hike
- Sunset Point (Starting point of Navajo Loop Trail on the Rim Trail)
- Bryce Point (short stop on the scenic drive through the park)
- Farview Point to Piracy Point (short stop on the scenic drive)
- Best winter hikes to see the hoodoos
HAPPY SNOW DAY IN BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.