Cheers to the round 2 adventure. Hi Hello! With now seeing Bryce Canyon twice now, I figured it would be helpful to share all the deets on the adventure.
I first came to Bryce back in May, and while it had been a bucket list park to color I didn't know it would be as breathtaking as it is. So regardless, I do think it is a park you need to wander to! However, I will say May vs November is VASTLY different if there is snow. Which snow was the reason I opted to go recently, I wanted to see the hoodoos with a sprinkle of powder. Little did I know I would be getting FAR more than that LOL. As I share this post, I want to point out these are my preferences/my logistical setups. I tend to be a little more "unconventional" and I know this won't be for everyone.
This picture is a bit deceiving as when I first arrived day one was windy, but NO SNOW. As you read, just be prepared for how things can shift overnight. (OH and they did change). The park total is about 18 miles from entrance gate all the way up to Rainbow Point. When I arrived due to the snow coming they had miles 3+ closed off. Which means that quite a few viewpoints were not accessible. In my opinion it is still worth it regardless, but being able to drive all the way through is more ideal! Knowing that I also wanted to scout out my sleeping arrangements. Most times I car camp, and apps like IOverlander, & Campendium are my go to apps. Also freecampsites.net are helpful too! That night I opted to stay at a spot I found back in May. Tom's Best Spring is located on the left about 10 miles outside the park. TONS of spots, easy to access, and fire rings. There are NO bathrooms just as a heads up. That evening I went to sleep with a dirt ground, and woke up to an ice covered car with LOTS of fresh snow. To paint the picture I could no longer see the ground, and it was a low of 23 that night in my car.
What I pack to stay warm in below 30 temperatures:
Nemo forte sleeping bag
Rumpl blanket (I stuff this inside the sleeping bag)
Leggings/long sleeve base layers
Hiking socks to sleep in
Beanie for the night
Hand warmer packs just in case (I've yet to use these)
Flashlight (Because a girl has to potty in the night ALWAYS)
I don't keep my car running at night, and there is some condensation that appears but those items keep me nice and toasty. This is not the first time I have slept in temperatures below 30 degrees, but I know not everyone is wanting to do that. There are hotels near the park that had weekday availability too! Keep in mind Summer is a busy month the Winter will be slower with crowds making that easier. & you can hangout in the lodge for a bit too if you need a good warm up/restroom!
Must see spots/hikes with closures
Sunrise Point- Come early but perfect spot for sunrise pics
Sunset Point- BEST views for sunset and will get crowded
Bryce Point- Elevation 8k really open views and connector hikes accessible
Paria View- another pull off spot
Navajo Loop- (Wall street closes for Winter) but Thor's Hammer is still able to be seen & is worth it. This trail is an easy one, but does have some "fun" switchbacks easy 1.3 mile
Queens Garden- 1.8 miles and can connect to the navajo loop when Wall Street is open
Fairyland- this is outside the park BUT the viewpoint is amazing. The hike itself is 8 miles
Must see spots with full access:
Drive the whole park, it's worth the scenic drive- please be smart and do pull offs coming back down as they are on the left hand side
Rainbow point- (furthest point)
Inspiration point
Natural Bridge- Probably my fav lookout
Personally, I spent two days in Bryce. You can spend a day, and if that is the case I highly suggest seeing Sunset Point and hiking the Navajo Loop. (Add whatever connector trails you'd like!) It'll feel a bit rushed, but it is 100% worth the aesthetics. Knowing the weather was moving I opted after venturing to the open parts during the snow "storm" that I would mosey my way to Zion then come back up once the roads were full open in the park. If you can spend more than one day I would suggest (& if the roads are totally open) drive the whole scenic path, arrive early to snag a spot for Sunset Point and then set your clocks early to snag a spot for Sunrise Point. & then pair a hike on each day depending on your desire length wise. Another strong suggestion is that IF there is snow, bring spikes for your boots and hiking poles. It is VERY slick, and those two items are game changers for being able to safely enjoy your time.
This trip was such a blast despite the weather being really challenging during the actual snowfall happening the morning after I got there. & I will caution you to truly look ahead at the weather to better map your trip. If choosing one time to go to Bryce, I honestly would say being able to capture it with snow totally beats my first trip. BUT I will also be biased and say that you don't just go to Bryce once. :)
Until the next adventure-
-Taryn
IG: Taryn_annette
Email: Taryn.shaffer@yahoo.com
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