Winter Among The Hoodoos
We’ve written before about Bryce Canyon, but let’s talk about visiting the park in winter. Because Bryce Canyon is one of the coolest, most memorable places in Southern Utah to visit after it snows.
Photo by Katie Rodriguez via unsplash.com
What to Do
Let’s acknowledge that it can be kinda cold when you visit Bryce in the winter. Most people are surprised by this, since this is Southern Utah after all. But… Bryce Canyon is at a fairly high elevation – about 8,000 feet above sea level. With this in mind, we generally suggest that the casual visitor stick to the short hikes.
So if you’re only here to admire the snow for a brief moment, hit up Inspiration Point and Sunset Point overlooks.
If you want to bundle up and really spend some time in the park, try visiting the Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail. Since you may not be familiar with the hikes and trail systems in the park, check out these short trail descriptions and list of trailhead locations from the official site here.
Photo by Philip Graves via unsplash.com
Stargazing
There is no better place to see the night ski than in an International Dark Sky Park. (Which Bryce Canyon is.) And there is no better time than on the cold, clear nights of winter. Go back to Inspiration Point and Sunset Point overlooks to see the night sky like you’ve never seen it before.
Photo by Pedro Lastra via unsplash.com
Things to Know
First things first. It’ll cost you $35 to enter the park with a private vehicle. You’ll be issued a one-week pass valid for any portion of Bryce Canyon National Park. You can see park pricing info here.
Next, you need to be safe when visiting the park during winter. Sometimes the trails can become icy or be too hazardous to traverse. So please be sure to check out this page of current trail conditions. You might also need traction devices for the trails. (The type that clip onto your hiking boots.) Sometimes the visitor center has these available to rent, depending on the number of visitors that day. You can call them to find out: 435 834–5322.
And if you need more information about your winter trip, check out this official page about visiting Bryce Canyon in winter.