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Trip Idea

# 4+ Hour Winter Visit

Multiple Parks

| Duration   | Full Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Topic(s)   | Birds, Photography, Forests and Woodlands, Coniferous Forests, Geology,Scenic Views, Animals, Native American Heritage, Natural Sounds, Night Sky, Canyons and Canyonlands, Plateaus and Mesas, Rock Landscapes and Features, Wilderness, Schools and Education, Trails, Farming and  Agriculture, Freshwater Springs, Astronomy*more »*  |
| Activities | Front-Country Hiking, Scenic Driving, Museum Exhibits, Junior Ranger Program, Cross-Country Skiing,Hiking, Snowshoeing, Stargazing, Park Film*more »*                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Type       | Kid Friendly, Active, Relaxed, Solitary/Remote, Educational,Outdoors*more »*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| Parks      | Bryce Canyon National Park                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

Bryce Canyon National Park

## ** Tags

                -  bryce canyon national park 
                -  southern scenic drive 

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Bryce AmphitheaterVisitor CenterBryce PointInspiration PointSunset PointRim Trail****Sunrise PointSouthern Scenic DriveRainbow PointNatural BridgeAlerts and Conditionsday hikesNavajo LoopQueen's Gardenstrenuous day hikes**Note that the Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop closes every winter.*Junior Ranger ProgramRanger ProgramRuby's Inn Winter Adventure CenterBryce Canyon Association bookstore**We strongly recommend traction devices for all winter hikes within the park.***Stargazing **nearby lodging accomodationscamp within the park

              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkSee the Bryce Amphitheater  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Scenic Driving
- Pets:  Yes with Restrictions
- Duration:  1–3 Hours
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall
- Time of Day: Any Time

By far the most iconic section of the park, the Bryce Amphitheater is home to the greatest concentration of irregular rock spires (called "hoodoos") found anywhere on Earth. Viewpoints along the first 3 miles (4.8 km) of the main road provide access to views overlooking this area.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkDrive the Southern Scenic Drive  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Scenic Driving
- Pets:  Yes
- Duration:  2–12 Hours
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall
- Time of Day: Any Time

The main park road is 18 miles (29 km) from the park entrance in the north to the end of the road at Rainbow at Yovimpa Points. While the Bryce Amphitheater area is found along its first 3 miles (4.8 km), the next 15 miles (24 km) to the road's end are known as the Southern Scenic Drive. Along this section of the main road are 9 scenic overlooks and vehicle pullouts that offer opportunities to see the lesser-seen geology and wildlife of Bryce Canyon.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkExplore the Visitor Center Museum  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Museum Exhibits
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Visitor Center
- Duration:  15–60 Minutes
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall
- Time of Day: Day

The park museum is found within the Visitor Center and contains exhibits focused on scales of time: Geological, Ecological, Human, and with special exhibits on the Night Sky and Air Quality.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkSee the Park Film  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Park Film
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Visitor Center
- Duration:  24–30 Minutes
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall
- Time of Day: Day

"A Song of Seasons" plays in the Visitor Center theater every half hour when the Visitor Center is open.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkGet Your Junior Ranger Badge  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Junior Ranger Program
- Pets:  Yes with Restrictions
- Duration:  1–4 Hours
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall
- Time of Day: Any Time

Junior Rangers can be thought of as potential Park Rangers in training. This nationwide program is designed to not only familiarize children with the duties and responsibilities of a park ranger, but also to spark an interest in the whole family for the resources and stories each National Park Service area preserves.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkGo Cross-Country Skiing  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Cross-Country Skiing
- Pets:  No
- Season:  Winter

A great way to explore Bryce Canyon in winter is on cross-country skis. Though it is illegal to ski off of the rim into the canyon, you can enjoy a variety of routes above the rim. These include sections of the Rim Trail along the edge of the Main Amphitheater, the Bristlecone Loop Trail; Paria Ski Loop; and the unplowed Paria View and Fairyland Point roads.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkGo Snowshoeing  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  Yes
- Activity:  Snowshoeing
- Age:  8 and Older
- Pets:  No
- Season:  Winter
- Time of Day: Any Time

Snowshoeing is allowed throughout the park on all trails. But be aware that though snowshoes make it possible to travel through deep powdery snow, snowshoeing is still a highly strenuous activity.Most snowshoers enjoy walks along the Rim Trail, Bristlecone Loop, Fairyland Road, and Paria Road.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkGo For a Winter Hike  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  Yes
- Activity:  Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Season:  Winter

Many hikes are available to visitors during the winter season, in both the front and backcountry, but might require some additional equipment. For much of the winter the most popular trails are so icy that steep sections cannot be safely traversed without some sort of additional traction device for your hiking shoes or boots.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkSee the Night Sky  - Activity Fee:  Yes
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Stargazing
- Pets:  Yes with Restrictions
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall
- Time of Day: Night

Bryce Canyon is a sanctuary for natural darkness. Bryce Canyon's skies are so dark, that in 2019 the park was designated as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. Since the park is open 24 hours a day, whether you head off to a viewpoint yourself or join a night sky ranger program, we welcome you to the dark side!
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkMossy Cave Trail  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Front-Country Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Mossy Cave
- Duration:  30–60 Minutes
- Season:  Winter,  Spring,  Summer,  Fall

Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. This trail provides access to Water Canyon in one direction and to a sheltered overhang known as Mossy Cave in the other. This area is filled with mosses in the summer and icicles in the winter. Please stay on the main trail and respect all posted signs. Pets are not permitted on this trail.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkBristlecone Loop Trail  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Front-Country Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Bristlecone Loop Trailhead
- Duration:  30–60 Minutes
- Season:  Spring,  Summer,  Fall

The Bristlecone Loop, an easy 1 mile hike, meanders through the forest atop this highest portion of the park, reaching elevations over 9,100 feet (2778 m). Here you will pass by bristlecone pines up to 1,800-years-old and experience vistas reaching into the Four Corners area.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkQueen's Garden Trail  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Front-Country Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Queen's Garden Trail
- Duration:  1–2 Hours

The Queen's Garden Trail is the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Hike this out-and-back trail to the Queen Victoria hoodoo at the end of a short spur trail and experience the splendor of hiking amongst the hoodoos. This trail is commonly combined with the Navajo Loop to create a 2.9 mile round trip trail where you can descend at Sunrise Point and ascend at Sunset Point.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkQueen's/Navajo Combination Loop  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Front-Country Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Queen's Garden Trailhead
- Duration:  2–3 Hours

Our most popular hike in the park and the one we most recommend to first-time visitors. The Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop combines the open views and unique hoodoos of the Queen's Garden Trail with the iconic switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop Trail. Descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point, ascend the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point, and then complete the loop back to Sunrise Point via the Rim Trail, enjoying views into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater below.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkPeekaboo Loop  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Front-Country Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Bryce Point
- Duration:  3–4 Hours

The Peekaboo Loop descends 670 feet (204 meters) from Bryce Point to this hoodoo-filled loop trail before ascending back up to Bryce Point. In summer months, hikers will encounter horses/mules on this trail. We recommend hiking this trail in a clockwise direction.
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              -  Bryce Canyon National ParkFairyland Loop  - Activity Fee:  No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations:  No
- Activity:  Front-Country Hiking
- Pets:  No
- Location:  Fairyland Loop Trailhead
- Duration:  4–5 Hours

The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. There is no shuttle pick-up at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike to your starting point.
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