Bryce Canyon National Park is a smaller National Park located in Utah that is packed with beauty and amazing hikes! One unique feature of Bryce Canyon National Park is the amazing hoodoo formations. According to National Geographic’s book, Secrets of the National Parks, “Angka-ku-wass-a-wits (‘red painted faces’) is one of several names for Bryce Canyon National Park attributed to the Paiute people, who believed the ruddy pillars of the area were their human ancestors turned to stone.” Many of the hoodoo formations look like they have faces carved right into the sides of them. Whether you go to Bryce Canyon to star gaze, hike up Wall Street, or gaze across a sea of hoodoos, Bryce Canyon is sure to capture your heart! Be sure to visit the park website for current closures and conditions.
Map of Bryce Canyon National Park:
Top Photography Locations and Sights at Bryce Canyon National Park:
As photographers, we know that many of you will only have one chance in a lifetime to visit the National Parks. To make your life easier, we have compiled a list of our top photography locations and sights at Bryce Canyon National Park! While this is not comprehensive, and there are many more amazing sights to see, it should give you a good feel for the park. We have broken up the top photography locations for Bryce Canyon National Park into four sections based on geographic location.
Bryce Amphitheater
The Bryce Amphitheater is the crown jewel of Bryce Canyon National Park, renowned for its stunning array of hoodoos, spires, and rock formations that create a breathtaking natural amphitheater. Visitors to the Bryce Amphitheater are treated to panoramic vistas from multiple viewpoints along the rim. As this is the most popular area in the park, you can also use the park shuttle in the summer months to access the Bryce Amphitheater. Please note that the park shuttle does not go to Paria View.
Fairyland Canyon
Fairyland Canyon is a younger section of Bryce Canyon National Park with stunning hoodoos that are still in the making. Even if all you do is drive down to the lookout point, it will be worth your time. The hoodoos here feel very close and personal.
If you want to do more exploring, you can immerse yourself in Fairyland Canyon via the Fairyland Loop Trail. The trailhead for the Fairyland Loop begins at Fairyland Point but can also be accessed north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. You can also access the Rim Trail from Fairyland Point. Please note that the road to Fairyland Point is closed in the winter months to cars but is open to snowshoeing.
Southern Scenic Drive
The Southern Scenic Drive in Bryce Canyon National Park starts just past the Bryce Amphitheater along UT-63 and has 9 viewpoints. While the main park road is a total of 18 miles long, the first three miles are considered the Bryce Amphitheater section of the park. The next 15 miles comprise the Southern Scenic Drive.
The altitude here ranges from 7,000-9,100 ft. As the main pullouts are along the Eastern side of the road, we recommend driving down to Rainbow Point first and then pulling out on your way back down. Due to the high elevation, the Southern Scenic Drive closes periodically over the winter months.
Tropic
The Tropic Section of Bryce Canyon National Park is located along SR-12. There are two points of interest in this section. The Mossy Cave Trail and the Tropic Trail. The Mossy Cave Trailhead is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east along SR-12 after you pass UT 63 (which is the main park road into Bryce Canyon National Park).
The Tropic Trailhead is located west of the town of Tropic via Bryce Way road. This is the least traveled section of the park. Although there is no pay station, you technically need to show your park pass/entrance receipt if stopped by a ranger. There is no shuttle access to this section of Bryce Canyon National Park and roads may close in the winter.
Bryce Canyon National Park Wildlife Photography:
Bryce Canyon National Park is filled with wildlife and biodiversity. If you like wildlife photography, you will love what this park has to offer!
Want to learn more about Bryce Canyon National Park? Check out these maps, guides & books:
- Bryce Canyon National Park Map (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
- Lonely Planet Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks 5 (National Parks Guide)
- Moon Zion & Bryce: With Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante & Moab: Hiking & Biking, Stargazing, Scenic Drives (Moon National Parks Travel Guide)
- Best Easy Day Hikes Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Third Edition (Best Easy Day Hikes Series)
- Ebenezer Bryce: Bryce Canyon National Park’s Namesake
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Featured National Park Photographers:
- Tom Wagner: Inspiration Point
- Vezzani Photography: Agua Canyon Overlook, Astrophotography, Black Birch Canyon Overlook, Bryce Point, Fairyland Point, Farview Point, Navajo Loop Trail, Piracy Point, Ponderosa Point, Queen’s Garden/Navajo Combination Loop, Sunset Point, Swamp Canyon Overlook, Wall Street, Yovimpa Point
- NPS: Tower Bridge, Bristlecone Loop Trail
- NPS / Peter Densmore: Dark-eyed Junco on Ponderosa, Hedgerow Hairstreak on Flower, Mormon Fritillary on Shrubby, Cinquefoil, Stellers Jay, Tropic Trail
- Pixabay: Golden-mantled Squirrel, Mule Deer
- Shutterstock / 365 Focus Photography: Rainbow Point
- Shutterstock / assaf ben shoshan: Mossy Cave Trail
- Shutterstock / Aaron J Hill: Queen’s Garden Trail
- Shutterstock / Atmosphere1: Inspiration Point
- Shutterstock / Christopher Moswitzer: Fairyland Loop Trail, Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail
- Shutterstock / Dean Pennala: Mossy Cave
- Shutterstock / FotoSimko: Paria View Overlook
- Shutterstcok / G Seeger: Hoodoos
- Shutterstock / James Marvin Phelps: Tropic Ditch Falls
- Shutterstock / Janelle Jacks: Natural Bridge
- Shutterstock / Maciej Bledowski: Southern Scenic Drive
- Shutterstock / Marieke Peche: Sunrise Point
- Shutterstock / Pierre Leclerc: Thor’s Hammer
Want to visit more parks? Check out our complete list of the US National Parks!
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