A red rock landscape and plateau forest glows with the morning sun
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Bryce Canyon National Park Photography Guide

National Park · Utah

  • Bortle 1
  • 30 photo spots
  • Clearest: June
Photo: NPS Photo / Peter Densmore · Public domain (NPS)

Bryce Canyon National Park is a National Park in Utah. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 30 photo locations inside or next to the park.

Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park's high elevations include numerous life communities, fantastic dark skies, and geological wonders that defy description.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
30
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
June
26% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Panguitch
35 km (22 mi)

Light at Bryce Canyon

Live
Sunrise
7:42 AM
Sunset
6:46 PM
Golden hour AM
7:26 AM – 8:18 AM
Golden hour PM
6:10 PM – 7:02 PM
Blue hour AM
7:16 AM – 7:26 AM
Blue hour PM
7:02 PM – 7:13 PM
Full darkness
8:13 PM – 6:16 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:55 PM / 1:55 AM
Day length
11h 04m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Best photo spots in Bryce Canyon

We matched 30 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Bryce Canyon. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.

Scenic Viewpoints (15)

Scenic Viewpoint
Agua Canyon OverlookKane County · 2,669 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Black Birch Canyon OverlookKane County · 2,673 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Bryce Point OverlookGarfield County · 2,535 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Fairyland Point OverlookGarfield County · 2,371 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Farview Point OverlookGarfield County · 2,690 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Inspiration Point OverlookGarfield County · 2,487 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Natural Bridge OverlookKane County · 2,436 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Paria View OverlookGarfield County · 2,495 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Piracy Point OverlookGarfield County · 2,685 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Ponderosa Canyon OverlookKane County · 2,684 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Rainbow Point OverlookKane County · 2,664 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Sunrise Point OverlookGarfield County · 2,439 m

Waterfalls (1)

Tropic Ditch FallsWaterfall
Tropic Ditch FallsGarfield County

Natural Arches (6)

Tower BridgeNatural Arch
Tower BridgeGarfield County
Bryce Natural BridgeNatural Arch
Bryce Natural BridgeKane County
Red Canyon ArchNatural Arch
Red Canyon ArchGarfield County
Natural Arch
Fairview Natural BridgeGarfield County
Natural Arch
Promise Rock ArchGarfield County
Natural Arch
Two BridgesGarfield County

Canyons (5)

Agua CanyonCanyon
Agua CanyonGarfield County
Black Birch CanyonCanyon
Black Birch CanyonGarfield County
Bryce Canyon Shared Use PathCanyon
Bryce Canyon Shared Use PathGarfield County
Bryce Canyon Shuttle StationCanyon
Bryce Canyon Shuttle StationGarfield County
Canyon
Daves HollowGarfield County

Dark Sky Places (2)

Bryce Canyon National ParkDark Sky Place
Bryce Canyon National ParkGarfield County
Kodachrome Basin State ParkDark Sky Place
Kodachrome Basin State ParkKane County

State Parks (1)

Kodachrome Basin State ParkState Park
Kodachrome Basin State ParkKane County

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Bryce Canyon 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.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:43 AM8:23 AM4:55 PM5:34 PM244°9h 51m
February7:19 AM7:55 AM5:32 PM6:08 PM255°10h 49m
March7:41 AM8:15 AM7:02 PM7:36 PM268°11h 56m
April6:54 AM7:29 AM7:29 PM8:04 PM283°13h 10m
May6:20 AM6:57 AM7:54 PM8:32 PM295°14h 11m
June6:08 AM6:47 AM8:13 PM8:52 PM301°14h 45m
July6:20 AM6:58 AM8:12 PM8:51 PM298°14h 31m
August6:45 AM7:21 AM7:47 PM8:23 PM289°13h 37m
September7:11 AM7:46 AM7:04 PM7:38 PM274°12h 27m
October7:37 AM8:13 AM6:17 PM6:53 PM260°11h 15m
November7:09 AM7:48 AM4:41 PM5:19 PM247°10h 10m
December7:37 AM8:18 AM4:31 PM5:12 PM241°9h 35m

Computed for the park's reference point (37.5840, -112.1827); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Bryce Canyon, 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 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:27 AM – 5:47 AM0.313°
March4:34 AM – 6:04 AM1.520°
April2:37 AM – 5:17 AM2.723°
May12:36 AM – 4:26 AM3.824°
June10:46 PM – 4:06 AM5.324°
July10:40 PM – 2:40 AM4.024°
August10:00 PM – 12:40 AM2.723°
September9:07 PM – 10:37 PM1.520°
October8:20 PM – 8:40 PM0.313°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.

Weather & best time to visit

Due of its high elevation climate, weather at Bryce Canyon through autumn, winter, and spring can be highly variable. From October to May temperatures fall below freezing nearly every night. The park typically experiences its coldest and snowiest periods from December through February. Spring storms in March and April can still produce heavy snowfall that may impact travel in the region. Summer highs are typically in the 70s-80s F and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. 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.

Entrance feeCost (USD)
Entrance - Private Vehicle$35.00
Entrance - Motorcycle$30.00
Entrance - Per Person$20.00
Nonresident$100.00

Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.

Getting there

From the North: Take I-15 south to UT-20 (exit 95). Travel east on UT-20 to US-89. Follow US-89 south to UT-12. Travel east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon NP. From the South through Zion National Park: Take I-15 north to UT-9 (exit 16). Follow UT-9 east through Zion National Park to US-89. Travel north on US-89 to UT-12. Go east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon NP. From the East Travel west on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon NP.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Food
  • Dining
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Auto
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Skiing
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snowshoeing

Nearby parks

Old Spanish National Historic TrailAZ/CA
Old Spanish National Historic Trail56 km away · National Historic Trail
Cedar Breaks National MonumentUT
Cedar Breaks National Monument59 km away · National Monument
Zion National ParkUT
Zion National Park81 km away · National Park
Pipe Spring National MonumentAZ
Pipe Spring National Monument94 km away · National Monument
Glen Canyon National Recreation AreaAZ/UT
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area95 km away · National Recreation Area
Capitol Reef National ParkUT
Capitol Reef National Park113 km away · National Park

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Bryce Canyon National Park?
June has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Bryce Canyon?
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.
Can you fly a drone in Bryce Canyon?
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.
Can you see the Milky Way in Bryce Canyon?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 1.
What time is sunset in Bryce Canyon?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:53 PM local time; see the live widget for today.