Many people love to take a drive through Bryce Canyon National Park. There are several pull offs and overlooks all along the 18 mile drive. Find out how we made the most of our drive with this guide.
Follow the Map
When you arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, you’ll receive a MAP. This will be your best friend on your scenic drive so don’t toss it aside. You’ll notice that the highest and furthest point on the map is Rainbow Point and that is where we started. All of the overlooks and pullouts are on the right side of the road so it made sense for us to go all the way to the end and work our way back.
Rainbow Point
Rainbow Point is the highest in the park at 9100 feet. It is my #2 favorite view in all of the park. You can pretty much see everything from here so don’t miss it. There is plenty of parking and even a restroom. Always a good thing. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the 7.5 mile Riggs Spring Loop Trail to Yovimpa Point or the 0.8 mile Bristlecone Loop Trail. Want even more hiking…the backcountry trail system of Under-the-Rim takes you 23 miles back to Bryce Point. MORE INFO
Black Birch Canyon
Our first stop after Rainbow Point was Black Birch Canyon. It has a view similar to the one before, but with a twist. You can see all the trees growing in such unique ways. This is just a pull off, no parking lot. There is room for about 5 vehicles. It’s worth taking a look at!
Ponderosa Canyon
Ponderosa has some nice hoodoo views! Sometimes, this seems to get overshadowed by the Ponderosa Pines you can see growing. They are very large! This area does have a parking lot for about 10 cars and there is also a hiking trail that connect to Agua Canyon MORE INFO
Agua Canyon
At Agua Canyon, you’ll want to look for 2 hoodoos. On the left, “The Hunter.” On the right, “The Rabbit” or “The Backpacker.” Don’t forget to gaze at the Navajo Mountains in the background for a bit. Parking here is limited. MORE INFO
Natural Bridge
You don’t typically think of arches when you think about Bryce Canyon, but Natural Bridge is one of the beautiful arches you can visit in the park. It’s certainly an up close experience, but not to close. There is more parking here as this is such a popular spot. MORE INFO
Farview Point
Halfway there! The name says it all as you can see up to 200 miles away at this point in the park. There is a short, flat trail to Piracy Point if you want to get a different perspective. Parking is limited, but restrooms are available. MORE INFO
Bryce Point
Sadly, we missed this view point on our drive, but I would recommend it if you have time. They say it is the most scenic of all the points. It is named Bryce Point for a reason. There is a great view of the Bryce Amphitheater from here. Try to make it for sunrise if you can. You can hop on the Peek-a-Boo Trail or Under-the-Rim trail for some adventure. MORE INFO
Inspiration Point
My favorite!!! This is another viewpoint where I think the name just says it all. Bonus for this point is that it offers 3 levels of views. You enter at the lowest level via the very large parking lot. Then, you can make your way up to the second and third levels if you choose. It’s a steep incline going up so be prepared. MORE INFO
Sunset Point
Sunset Point… a very popular spot in the park. Not only for the sunset views you can experience if you’re there at the right time, but also because it’s the place to see “Thor’s Hammer.” You can jump on the 1.3 mile Navajo Loop Trail from here or take the 0.5 mile, ADA accessible trail over to Sunrise Point. Best 0.5 mile views in the park! This is another very large parking lot, along with a large bathroom. MORE INFO
Sunrise Point
If you’ve walked over from Sunset Point, you already know the views are spectacular. If you’ve driven, find a spot in the small lot and go take a look. This point is most known for the start of the Queen’s Garden Trail. It’s the most popular hike in the park and is a MUST DO if you have time. MORE INFO
We missed a few other pull offs and overlooks:
Great spots that we just didn’t have time for. There’s so much to see at Bryce Canyon National Park and if you can fit it in…see it all!
Consider the Wonders is a travel blog intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV, travel, or hiking experts and are not making recommendations. These are our opinions and you should do you own research and make your own decisions.
Consider the Wonders is not affiliated with Bryce Canyon National Park or the National Park System.
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