Best Places for Sunrise at Bryce Canyon National Park

There's good reason to set an early alarm when you're visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.

Watching the sun rise over the horizon here isn't just another box to check on the itinerary. It's the main event, when the famed hoodoos really come alive in the morning light.

But there are a lot of viewpoints in the park, so which is best?

I mean, Sunrise Point sounds promising, right? But what about Inspiration Point? That has a nice ring to it. In reality, you won't be disappointed by any of them, but we definitely have a favorite.

We've done the hard work of repeatedly getting up well before dawn, not hitting snooze, and seeing each of these viewpoints for ourselves. All so we can confidently share with you the very best places for sunrise at Bryce.

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The Best Viewpoints for Sunrise

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Sunrise Point

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This is arguably the most popular, and crowded, spot for sunrise in the park. The name probably leads most people to believe it's the best place.

From here you'll be looking directly across the 'canyon' at the sun. By the way, did you know Bryce isn't actually a canyon? We'll call it that to avoid confusion, though.

The Sinking Ship rock formation is right in front of you and the view is fantastic, but there aren't nearly as many hoodoos to catch the light as there are at other viewpoints.

In our opinion, there are much better - and probably less crowded - spots to enjoy sunrise.

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Sunset Point

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From here, you get better views than Sunrise Point, mainly because it's on the other side of Bryce Amphitheater. The hoodoos to the left catch the light at an angle and you'll also be looking down on the Navajo Loop and Wall Street area.

The colors here are particularly impressive. You can pick out variations in the rock ranging from red, orange and yellow, to white, and even pink or purple.

Sunset Point gives you one of the best vantage points for seeing the most famous hoodoos in the park. You'll be able to look over at Queen Victoria and down towards Thor's Hammer and the Sentinel.

You can continue south along the Rim Trail (to the right if you're looking out at the view) and see even more rock formations inside the main amphitheater.

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Bryce Point

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We feel pretty strongly that this is the best place in Bryce Canyon for sunrise.

It's the furthest from the main entrance, making it less crowded, and yet it looks back on the amphitheater for an unrivaled view of the hoodoos.

Because the point curves around and then extends out into the amphitheater, it gives you an ideal perspective. The sun is rising to your right, and the faces of the rocks are all catching light.

You also feel like you're in amongst the rocks, albeit at an elevated position, rather than looking down on them from the rim.

If we had to choose only one place to see the sunrise in Bryce we'd pick here.

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Inspiration Point

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A close second best would be Inspiration Point, which actually has three different viewpoints close together: the upper, middle, and lower.

It's centrally located along the rim of the amphitheater, giving it one of the best sunrise views in the park - an incredible panorama with a dense concentration of hoodoos in every direction. This is definitely one of Utah's most unique landscapes.

Be aware that to get to the upper viewpoint, or Inspiration Point proper, it's a 1/4 mile walk uphill with 131 feet of elevation gain. It's a hard packed surface, so it's not too difficult, but that's a bit more of a hike than the other points.

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The Best Hikes for Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

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All of the above viewpoints are connected via the Rim Trail, so putting them together for one sunrise hike would make a pretty epic morning in Bryce Canyon.

We would suggest starting at Bryce Point just as the sun comes up over the horizon, and then continuing north, up to Inspiration Point. You can stop there and at Sunset Point, before ending at Sunrise Point.

The whole point-to-point route is only 3 miles, with about 300 feet of elevation gain and overall it's a gradual downhill hike.

From Sunrise Point, you could turn around and hike back up to Bryce Point, making it a 6 mile out-and-back with about 800 feet of elevation.

You could also catch the free park shuttle and ride back to the Bryce Point parking lot.

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Another option is to head down into the amphitheater as the sun is rising.

All the trails below the rim are interconnected, so you can make the hike as short or as long as you want. And, once again, you can do it as a point-to-point, utilizing the shuttle system, or create a loop and hike back to your starting point.

We've done a few hikes in the amphitheater during the early morning and they're all great.

But we'd probably put the Peekaboo Loop at the top of our list and do it in a counter-clockwise direction to maximize the views.

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Bonus: Best Place to Watch Sunset

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For watching sunset in Bryce Canyon we would, counterintuitively, choose Sunrise Point.

Just like in the morning, you want as much of a view as you can get opposite the sun. In the evening, Sunrise Point is a good choice.

Honestly, though, the sunset is going to pale in comparison to any sunrise.

All of the hoodoos are located below the rim and most end up in shade well before the sun actually goes down.

We think that the time shortly after sunset, called blue hour, is one of the prettiest times because of the way the light softens and colors appear in the sky, especially on a partly cloudy day.

In that case, the viewpoint you choose doesn't really matter - Bryce is beautiful from every angle.

All of that to say: don't stress too much over where you're at for sunset. Just enjoy the view.

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Tips for Enjoying Sunrise (and Sunset) at Bryce Canyon

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When to Arrive

If your goal is simply to enjoy a great view, we recommend arriving to your preferred spot about 30 minutes before sunrise. This should allow you to find a parking spot and walk the short distance to the viewing area.

Leave a little extra time if you're going up to Inspiration Point or Bryce Point, since the walk is a bit longer.

If you plan on doing photography and want to have your choice of premium spots right along the rim, then you should arrive at least 45-60 minutes early.

This is a very popular place for landscape photography and people will be lined up along the railings with their tripod set up well before the sun comes up.

Fortunately, the Bryce Canyon area is pretty compact and lodging is right outside the park entrance, meaning you won't have to set that alarm too early. Even if you're like us and are traveling in a campervan, there are boondocking and campground options close by.

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Parking and Shuttle Service

Though parking in Bryce is somewhat limited and can easily fill up by mid-morning, anyone entering the park before dawn shouldn't have a problem finding a spot.

There is an entrance station, but it will likely be unstaffed by rangers before 8 AM, so you can drive through at any hour. Just make sure you've already purchased an America the Beautiful pass ahead of time, or you pay your admission fees when the visitor center opens.

Bryce Canyon runs a free shuttle service during the peak season, but it doesn't begin operating until 8 AM. It's still a good way to get around the park and not deal with traffic or congested parking lots, but you won't be able to use it before sunrise.

Important to Know // Don't leave your interagency pass in the car - bring it with you if you plan to ride the shuttle. You'll need to show it when boarding.

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Dealing with Crowds

You're already doing the number one thing for avoiding crowds at any national park - arriving early.

But Utah's parks are some of the most popular in the country. And sunrises at Bryce Canyon do attract a lot of visitors.

You can also venture a little further to get away. People will tend to crowd into one particular spot at Sunrise or Sunset Point, and Bryce Point has one viewing platform with a railing where everyone has to squeeze in.

Inspiration Point, with its three separate viewpoints, gives everyone a bit more room to spread out.

And if you're really looking to avoid people as much as possible, just park at one of the viewpoints and head out on the Rim Trail to find your own secluded spot.

All that said, in the many times we've experienced sunrise at Bryce Canyon the crowds were quite bearable. Everyone is there to enjoy the same thing and, fortunately, people tend to be very respectful of others, by keeping their voices down and being aware of their surroundings.

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Looking Up Sunrise or Sunset Times

You can check the sunrise time in Bryce Canyon with a quick Google search, or you can get a lot more detail by visiting this website.

Here are some other sunrise/sunset resources we like to use, especially for planning photography:

// SunsetWx.com, which gives a daily prediction of the sunrise and sunset quality. The warmer the color is on the map, the better the conditions are predicted to be for a really beautiful view.

// Shadowmap.org. We use this to evaluate how and where the sun is going to hit, based on the terrain. The free app is a bit limited, but sufficient for getting a general idea of where the sun and shadows will fall. Paid memberships are available that unlock other features.

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What to Bring

The rim of Bryce Canyon is at 8,000 feet of elevation, keeping it cooler throughout the year than some of its neighbors. Freezing temperatures and snow often persist all the way from October through May.

So, while you don't need much more than extra warm clothing and a hot cup of coffee for sunrise in Bryce, we've put together a list of a few other helpful items.

// Trekking poles and/or traction devices. Unless you're going during summer, expect there to be some ice and snow on the ground. In late spring, the paths were covered in it, making even a slight incline very difficult. We use Yaktrax, which slip right over our boots and give us a lot more traction. We'd also recommend trekking poles for hiking throughout Bryce Canyon, since there's a lot of up and down.

// A headlamp. You'll need something to illuminate the path. A quality headlamp with adjustable power or a red light feature is helpful, so you're not blinding yourself or everyone else.

// Your camera. These days, even a cell phone can be adequate for capturing good photos. But if you plan on getting the highest quality images of this incredible place, you'll want a proper camera.

// A tripod. This is essential for getting the best sunrise photos possible during low light situations like sunrise or blue hour.

// America the Beautiful park pass. Don't forget to pick up an annual pass if you plan on visiting even just a few national parks or federal managed lands throughout the year. It can save you a lot of money.

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