Located in Garfield County, Utah, Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path is a canyon. It lies in or next to Bryce Canyon National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 30 km (19 mi) SE of Panguitch.
From the National Park Service
See the Park at Your Speed The Shared-Use Path provides a scenic opportunity for pedestrians, leashed pets, cyclists, roller or in-line skaters, longboards, non-motorized scooters, wheelchairs, and cross-country skiers to access the park and surrounding areas. This 18 mile (29 km) path connects the hoodoos of Red Canyon on the western edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau with Inspiration Point within the park and it generally follows SR-12 and UT-6. Regulations This is a shared use pathway for non-motorized transportation. E-bikes with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.) are also permitted. Please be considerate and watch out for each other.
Rules for Cyclists: cyclists pass on the left and announced presents when passing. Be careful of your speed especially on downgrades and curves bicyclists are allowed on this path and other paved surfaces within Bryce Canyon National Park use extreme caution on roadways shared with motorized vehicles within the park. Bicycles are not allowed on unpaved surfaces. Please park your bike and walked to scenic viewpoints near the path.
No horses on the path, no motorized vehicles on the path except for mobility purposes and pets must be leashed. Read more about the Shared-use Path A Typical Visit Most park visitors will enjoy some portion of the 5 mile (8 km) section connecting Bryce Canyon City and the Shuttle Station to the park Visitor Center, Sunrise Point, Lodge, Sunset Point, and Inspiration Point. . If you want to enjoy a bicycle ride but didn't bring one, you might begin by renting a bicycle through a nearby vendor . Winter visitors might consider cross-country ski and snowshoe rental in Bryce Canyon City. The path generally climbs in elevation from north to south (Shuttle Station to Inspiration Point), gaining 746 feet and descending 266 feet. For those looking to enjoy more downhill than up, the park shuttle runs from April to October and can accomodate 2 bicycles on its front rack. In this way, one could enjoy a shuttle ride to Inspiration Point and a mostly downhill 5-mile ride back to the shuttle station. Bike racks are located at all viewpoints, the Lodge, Visitor Center, and Shuttle Station. Shuttle Station to Inspiration Point From the Park Shuttle Station it is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) to the Visitor Center , ascending 336 feet and descending 97 feet. Fro
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:33 AM | 90° E | 7:41 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:08 AM | 59° ENE | 8:54 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 46m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:41 AM | 120° ESE | 5:14 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 33m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Canyons need light from above: rims glow at sunrise and sunset, while deep or narrow sections are brightest near midday when reflected light bounces off the walls.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:15 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:34 PM | 6:03 PM | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:35 PM | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:14 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:15 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:27 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:31 PM | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:51 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:36 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:46 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:24 PM | 14h 45m |
| July | 5:49 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:58 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:51 PM | 9:21 PM | 14h 31m |
| August | 6:17 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:51 PM | 13h 38m |
| September | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:11 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:13 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:19 PM | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:42 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:47 PM | 10h 09m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:12 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 35m |
Local time (America/Denver), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:27 AM – 5:47 AM | 0.3 | 13° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:34 AM – 6:04 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:38 AM – 5:18 AM | 2.7 | 23° | SE → S |
| May | 12:37 AM – 4:27 AM | 3.8 | 23° | SE → S |
| June | 10:48 PM – 4:08 AM | 5.3 | 23° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:41 PM – 2:41 AM | 4.0 | 23° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:01 PM – 12:41 AM | 2.7 | 23° | S → SW |
| September | 9:07 PM – 10:37 PM | 1.5 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:20 PM – 8:40 PM | 0.3 | 13° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 60 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 90 | 97 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 81 | 70 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | -7 | 0 | 16 | 21 | 29 | 44 | 41 | 25 | 10 | 0 | -11 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this canyon
- Dust and sand are hard on gear; change lenses in a bag or with your back to the wind.
- A long lens on a tripod handles the low light inside canyons better than raising ISO.
- From the rim, sunrise and sunset side-light reveals layers; a telephoto picks out buttes and shadows.
- In narrow canyons, reflected light creates orange and purple glows; avoid including bright sky in the frame.
- Check flash flood forecasts before entering slot or narrow canyons — rain miles away can flood them.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; summer monsoon storms bring dramatic skies but higher flood risk in the Southwest.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Wide and telephoto lenses, Lens blower, Weather radio or app. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path, closest first.
Canyon
Scenic Viewpoint
Dark Sky Place
Waterfall
Canyon
Natural ArchScenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
Natural ArchCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- North Campground3.7 km (2.3 mi)
- North Campground (Ut)4.1 km (2.5 mi) · reservable
- Sunset Campground (Ut)4.1 km (2.5 mi) · reservable
- Kings Creek11.3 km (7.0 mi) · reservable
- Pine Lake Campground19.8 km (12.3 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path?
What time is golden hour at Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path?
How far is Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path from Panguitch?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.