It depends on how much of the park you want to see, but a basic Bryce Canyon tour should take you about three hours. That being said, you could easily spend the entire day checking out all the viewpoints and trailheads in the park, so be sure to leave some time to explore. Once you’ve finished seeing all the most iconic places in the area, there are still plenty of spots that are well worth your time if you’re willing to look around and find them. As a general rule, we recommend leaving the whole day open so you can really explore and take your time.
If you’re short on time, we’d recommend starting with the Bryce Amphitheater, a large bowl-like structure carved from the rock by centuries of melting snow and rainfall. Many of the park’s most famous sites are here, including the world’s largest concentration of “hoodoos,” tall rock spires that protrude from the ground like towers, each one uniquely carved by flowing water. You can see the most famous parts of the Amphitheater in a few hours.
If you have all day, then you should follow up your tour of the Amphitheater by taking the southern scenic drive on the other side of the park. This particular drive will take you to some lesser-known gems, including the tallest points in Bryce Canyon. You’ll see fewer hoodoos on the scenic drive, but you will see plenty of the high cliffs and stark landscapes that Utah is famous for. Ideally, we’d recommend spending time in both sections of the park if you can.
To make sure you find everything of interest, feel free to check out our very own Bryce Canyon National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour.
