Southwestern Utah is home to the United States’ Bryce Canyon National Park. While the park is named after a canyon, Bryce Canyon is really a cluster of enormous natural amphitheaters on the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, rather than a canyon at all. Hoodoos, geological formations generated by frost weathering, and stream erosion of river and lake bed sedimentary rocks, make Bryce a unique place. Rocks in various shades of red, orange, and white provide a striking backdrop for park visitors. Bryce Canyon National Park is smaller and higher in elevation than Zion National Park, which is located less than a mile away. Bryce’s rim is anywhere from 8,000 to 9,000 feet high, depending on which way you look (2,400 to 2,700 m). There are many places to visit in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Every continent has its own unique kind of rock formation known as a hoodoo, but this area has the most of them in the world. The park is located on a plateau at the summit of the Grand Staircase, which is home to a variety of living forms, awe-inspiring dark sky, and geological features that transcend description.
Entrances and how to reach Bryce Canyon National Park
Address: National Park UT-63 Bryce, Utah 84764 Bryce Canyon
The Visitor Center has the following official GPS coordinates:
- GPS Coordinates: N 37° 38′ 24″ W 112° 10′ 12″
- Longitude and latitude coordinates are as follows: 37.6
- At an altitude of 2,406 meters above sea level,
By Plane:
Las Vegas (LAS), Nevada, and Salt Lake City (SLC), Utah are the nearest major airports, both around 270 miles from the park. It is possible to fly into smaller airports at St. George (SGU) and Cedar City, Utah (CDC) (125 miles).
Car/Motorcycle/Bus:
From the North: I-15 south to UT-20 is the most direct route from the north (exit 95). Follow UT-20 east to US-89. UT-12 may be reached by taking the US-89 southbound. Take UT-12 to UT-63, then turn right onto UT-63. To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, take UT-63 to the south. Inside the park’s boundaries, the visitor center is located.
From the South through Zion National Park: To get to Zion National Park from the south, use I-15 north to UT-9 north (exit 16). Through Zion National Park, take UT-9 east to US-89. To get to UT-12, go north on US-89. Take UT-12 to UT-63 and turn right. To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, take UT-63 to the south. Inside the park’s boundaries, the visitor center is located.
To get to exit 59, use I-15 north. To get to Center Street/UT-14, go east on 200 north, then turn south on Main Street. Take UT-14 to US-89 and turn right. Take US-89 north to UT-12. To get to UT-63, take UT-12 east. To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, take UT-63 to the south. Inside the park’s boundaries, the visitor center is located. During the summer and early autumn, this path is very beautiful.
From the South through Bear (Dog) Valley: Take I-15 north to UT-20 from Bear (Dog) Valley (exit 95). Take UT-20 to US-89, then turn right. UT-12 may be reached by taking the US-89 southbound. Take UT-12 to UT-63, then turn right onto UT-63. To get to Bryce Canyon National Park, take UT-63 to the south. Inside the park’s boundaries, the visitor center is located.
Public Transportation:
There is no public transit to get you to the park.
Getting around the Bryce Canyon National Park:
A free shuttle service delivers tourists to the most popular vistas, trails, and services in Bryce Canyon National Park. There is no need to use the shuttle, however, it is recommended. Shuttle bus schedules are subject to change at any time.
The park is open all year round. Snowstorms cause roads to be plowed and sanded. The park is always open during and soon after winter storms, even if certain routes are blocked.