72 Hours in Bryce Canyon: Hiking, Hidden Gems & Unforgettable Views
Bryce Canyon National Park might not be the first on your list, but it most definitely should not be the last.
But then again, is any red rock park not fighting for the top spot?
Bryce was the last of Utah’s Mighty Five for me to visit. I’ve wandered through the wonders of Capitol Reef, felt the magic of Zion, and regularly find myself returning to the beauties of Arches and Canyonlands. But Bryce? Bryce had been calling to me for years—luring me in with its hoodoos and towering spires carved by time.
And finally, I answered.
Corina approaching the bend before the Hindu Temples in Bryce Canyon National Park
What unfolded over 4/5 days could easily be replicated in a matter of 72 hours. Including a mix of stamped, iconic hikes—but also a few unexpected surprises outside the park that made the experience even richer. This is the kind of place that makes an imprint on you long after you've left, where the desert whispers stories that only your soul can hear.
First Impressions
Upon arriving in the area, I searched for the nearest dispersed camping that would still be close to the park entrance, I was lucky enough to find Dixie National Forest, not far from Bryce Canyon City (where the main entrance to the park is.) This spot was friendly to big rigs and vanlifers. Easy to locate, plenty of space, and nestled just close enough to feel connected while still having my own quiet corner of the desert - with plenty of trees I might add. After dropping the camper, I met up with some friends who were in the area to head into the park for Sunset at Bryce Point.
I had just spent the last 7 months parked in a friends driveway in Salida, Colorado. After surviving the worst adult relationship of my life, it was a breath of fresh air to be amongst the red rocks. A place where I could re-gather the deeper parts of my being.
The view from Bryce Point is vast—one of the more dense panoramic overlooks in the park. From this vantage, the full scale of the amphitheater reveals itself, hoodoos stacked like a fortress. As the sun dipped lower, the light raked across the formations, casting long shadows and igniting the reds and oranges in the rock. A warm wind moved through the canyon, and for a moment, time stood still.
Slow Mornings & Hidden Waters
The next day I had one set of friends head out, and another friend roll in. The morning was slow—one of those days where you settle in and let the land hold you. My dear friend from high school - actually crazy to think we've been friends for 16 years - Corina, arrived in the afternoon. Excited to reunite, we decided to get out and explore a nearby reservoir that my friends had mentioned the day before. We drove over to Tropic Reservoir and were pleasantly surprised when we discovered it swim worthy. The water was cold, cutting through the desert heat, and the late afternoon sun seeped into our skin.
Many chats were had, mostly about life, wonder and chasing joy. When I find myself outside with people I love on an adventure, it generally feels like a moment in between time. When you actually tap into the REAL world. For what's out there, there’s nothing more real to me, though I can confidently say, the duality of life imbues, but tapping into those moments of present are what give you the strength and stamina to tackle the other side of life...
The next morning, we returned for another dip, letting the rhythm of the place dictate our moves. After some sun bathing and giggles, we opted to drive around the reservoir, stumbling upon a fresh spring called, Tropic Spring. The refreshing magical waters of the earth revived us! Smiles all around….
As we continued on we found a pull off for a hike called Keyhole Arch, a tucked-away natural arch in the area. Not another soul in sight, we set out on the hike, not knowing it would be so quiet, and made a friend along the way. A desert horned lizard was flexin, but we weren't scared. The trail to Keyhole arch felt intimate, like a little red rock hoodoo secret in the desert mountains.
The Main Event: Figure Eight Trail, Down into The Park
The next morning, we stumbled out of the camper half-asleep, but not without our hardboiled eggs. Sunrise was calling.
Our objective was the Figure Eight Loop trail. Starting with Wall Street into Peekaboo Loop and finishing out in The Queen’s Garden.
Please note this hike is around 6.5 miles round trip and about 1,500 feet of gain, you will be descending down into the canyon, so be prepared with lots of water, grub and sun protection. All in all we started on the trail just as the sun was rising and we finished about 4 hours later. I screen shotted my stats at 11:11am. Funny how the universe works.
Our descent started from Sunset Point, you may ask, why start your hike at sunset point instead of sunrise point? We wanted to experience the wisdom that the walls of Wall Street Canyon had to offer. We knew that descending into Wall Street Canyon we'd have the place to ourself if we started early, and were we right. If there’s a way to feel small in the best way possible, it’s hiking through this narrow sandstone corridor before the world wakes up. The walls rose high around us, streaked with shades of red and orange. It felt like walking into the womb of the earth, I still feel there are secrets waiting to be shared, for another time I suppose... As we moved deeper into the canyon, we eventually exited onto the Navajo Loop Trail, then veered onto Tropic Trail, bound for Peekaboo Loop.
Next to Wall Street, Peekaboo Loop is where the landscape truly came alive—passing the Wall of Windows and the Hindu Temples, the hoodoos towering over you, every turn felt like stepping into another world, like a planet unexplored in Star Trek. Kirk and Spock on mission to see it all, except it was Corina and I.
This is why we came here, we came here for the magic, and that's how it left us feeling, lost, or perhaps found in the enchantment.
I think the same way we look to the stars we look to the earth, a somewhat insatiable desire beckoning us to remember.
Experience the magic of Bryce Canyon with a guided tour that takes you through its stunning hoodoos, scenic viewpoints, and hidden gems—all with expert insights along the way.
The last stretch of the hike took us out toward Sunrise Point passing through the The Queens Garden. The Garden has a lot of stunning features and is the shorter, more accessible section of the journey, by the time we reached it, it was FILLED with people. I do recommend starting the figure eight loop in reverse as to catch the most pristine parts with the least amount of crowds.
Satiated we were, sleep came easily that night.
A Quiet Ending
The next morning, Corina packed up and left, and I let myself sink into stillness. No plans, no rush—just time with myself and the desert. I always find myself in the desert in times of de-conditioning, it strips away the noise and shows you what you really care and value most.
Bryce Canyon is the kind of place that lingers in your memory long after you’ve left, a reminder of how vast and strange and beautiful the world can be.
Though I was seemingly there around a week, it felt like a month, time moves more slowly when you're immersed in the present moment.
If you find yourself in this corner of Utah, give yourself time—not just to see Bryce, but to be in it. To sit with the silence, to hike through the hoodoos, to let the desert remind you of things long forgotten.
Need a car for Bryce Canyon? Compare rental options here.
Interested in helping protect places like this, you can donate to Outdoor Alliance here.
This blog was written with the assistance of ChatGPT, I estimate 75% was my original writing, and 25% AI assisted. I hope you enjoyed!
