Adulting is hard, there is no doubt about it. In the whirlwind of life, we have the unfortunate privilege of being given a laundry list of responsibilities. These duties have an upside. We get a paycheck and a place to live and a nice fluffy bed to sleep on. The downside is less time for adventuring. Exploring is fuel for the soul (I may or may not have read that in a fortune cookie) so it’s vital you make the most out of the little time you have.
You could spend a few weeks in Bryce Canyon National Park and love every second of it. But if you’re one of us unfortunate souls who has a boss that frowns upon taking multiple months of vacation, this may not be an option. Let’s pretend then that you only get 24 hours in Bryce Canyon.
Mossy Cave Trail
Whether you are on your way to Bryce Canyon or just finished setting up camp inside the park, your first activity of the day should be to hike the Mossy Cave Trail. The trailhead is actually located outside the park. The Mossy Cave Trail has a little surprise in the form of a crystal clear stream and a beautiful waterfall. For more information on the Mossy Cave Trail check out our Trail Guide
Hike Sunrise to Sunset
Not to be taken literally, although it doesn’t sound like a half bad way to spend a day, you will actually hike 3 miles from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. The trail will take up a majority of the day but offers the most to see out of any other trail in the park. Check out our trail guide for more information.
Rainbow Point
After a long day of hiking, it’s time to park your butt in the car and drive the auto tour to Rainbow Point. The National Park Service recommends starting at the furthest viewpoint and working your way backward. Considering you’re short on time, I recommend taking their advice (The Park Rangers work there every day so I’d say they know a thing or two).
The last point happens to also be the best point, in my opinion. Rainbow Point offers a view of the entire North Side of the park. The sunsets here are amazing! You can literally see all the colors of the rainbow as the sun fades behind the cliffs.
On your way back down check out Agua Canyon and Bryce Point Overlooks for some more great views.
Time is Up at Bryce Canyon
By now the daylight has faded and if you did it right you should be exhausted. Head back to your campsite and kick off those boots and try to burn every little detail of the day into your permanent memory. Hopefully one day you will have more time to spend in Bryce Canyon, but be thankful you got at least 24 hours in this amazing park.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
I’d get something to eat and drink at a good bar and watch some football.