In my opinion, you don’t need more than one full day to appreciate this small national park in Utah.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s gorgeous (in case the pic didn’t make that obvious), but in terms of hiking and things to see, one full day is enough.
My six British friends and I stayed for two nights, fit in three hikes, and visited all the main viewpoints in our 1 full day + our arrival and departure days.
Below is my suggested itinerary.
Day 1: Short hike + Visitors Center visit
Get to Bryce Canyon EARLY and secure a first-come, first-serve camping spot.
Stop by the Visitors Center to get acquainted with the area and see if the rangers have any astronomy programs happening during your stay.
Hike the Navajo Loop to Queen’s Garden. If you can, avoid the heat of the day. We started around 11 am and finished by 1 p.m., and it was SO HOT.
If it’s a clear night, stay up late to stargaze or join an astronomy program at the canyon if there’s one going on. Bryce Canyon is one of the few places left in the U.S. with little to no light pollution. That means the stars are UNREAL on a clear night.
Day 2: Fairyland Loop + visiting viewpoints
Get up early to start the long Fairyland Loop trail. At 7.4 miles long, it took us about 4 hours to complete.
Have lunch back at the campsite before taking a drive along the main road of the park. Stop at all of the main viewpoints to get the most out of your visit.
Rogue tip: Bryce Canyon also has a free shuttle if you want to save on gas (and help the environment). It stops at every viewpoint, so you won’t miss a thing!
Spend your afternoon relaxing at the campsite and have a bonfire in the evening (if no fire bans are in place).
If you missed the stars last night or want to see them again, head to the canyon rim to stargaze.
Day 3: Early hike around the rim + departure
Wake up early to hike the Peekaboo Loop with Wall Street and Rim Trail. This one’s 6.5 miles long, and took us about 3.5 to 4 hours with photo stops along the way.
Pack up campsite before checkout and have a quick lunch before heading to your next destination (ours was Zion National Park)!
While not my favorite National Park, if you’re in Utah, don’t miss it! Like everything in that underrated state, it was incredibly beautiful.
For more in-depth guide about the hikes, read my blog post on top hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park.