The ultimate one day guide to visit Bryce Canyon National Park with kids

Bryce Canyon is a series of natural amphitheaters or bowls filled with irregularly eroded spires of rocks called hoodoos. This crazy beautiful place and its unique landscape sets it apart from other national parks. Bryce does not have the same sweeping, expansive vistas as the Grand Canyon but it is still a breathtaking experience the first time you see this view.

Bryce Canyon national park is not one of the first ones you think of however we have just visited Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Arches National Park as part of out 5 National Park visit and our plans to visit Zion National Park brought us near the Bryce Canyon area. We took this as an opportunity to spend two half days at Bryce Canyon. One day is all you need to explore this park. With one day, you can hike through a garden of hoodoos, take in the view from multiple viewpoints, and thoroughly explore the park. If you have less than one day, it is still worth it. We are glad to have taken this detour as Bryce Canyon is not too long of a drive from Zion and we were in for a ride.

When you arrive in Bryce Canyon, stop by the visitor center to pick up a free map of the park, discuss your plans with the park rangers, pick up junior ranger books and shop for souvenirs or not.

While discussing our plans, one of the rangers suggested that the best way to spend a day in the park is to drive all the way to the south end at Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point and drive back with stops starting at Ponderosa Canyon and Aqua Canyon. Here are some of the best view points in the park recommended by the rangers and we followed:

• Natural Bridge
• Inspiration Point
• Bryce Point
• Sunset Point (End here)
• Sunrise Point (You can start early morning here or come back in the morn next day)

Prior to your visit, check out the Bryce Canyon National Park to plan ahead.

Next stop on our scenic drive was Natural Bridge for a photo-op.

Continue your scenic drive and if you are asking yourself the question... where are the hoodoos ? then Inspiration Point is the where you will want to make a stop.

We did not plan to hike in the Bryce Canyon to be honest but just in case, we had one a little research and Bryce Canyon has plenty to offer. Here are a couple of options that came up quite often.

• One of the easiest walks in hoodoos is Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trail.  From Sunrise point, Queens Gardens Trail starts towards the valley towards a garden of hoodoos and rock formations.  This is highly recommended for families with young children if you are looking for a relatively easy hike or walk.
• While you are in Queens Garden Trail, follow signs to the Navajo Loop Trail. This part is mostly flat but it takes you through forest. Navajo Loop can be a little difficult but views are rewarding.
• Another hike to consider is Peekaboo Loop Trail is a 4.8 mile trail through a valley filled with pink and orange hoodoos. The hike starts at Bryce Point. You will descend 1 mile down into the valley, walk the 3 mile loop through the hoodoos, and then climb the last mile back to Bryce Point.
• Fairyland Loop Trail is a long hike 8 mile hike, starting and ending at Fairyland Point in the northern part of Bryce. This hike is labeled as strenuous due to its length and elevation changes.

If you kids are asking you questions such as Why are the rocks red? What is a hoodoo? then you will want to learn about Junior Ranger Program at the visitor center.

Junior Ranger is a great program that helps children (and adults) engage and learn about the National Park by completing an activity booklet for children of all ages to become a Junior Ranger! Participants earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing the activities for their age. The park newspaper features a complete listing of ranger-led programs and suggested activities to help complete the booklet. The Grand Adventure is available at any park visitor center and online.

Ranger programs are free and are a great way to expand your knowledge of Bryce Canyon. The magic of Bryce Canyon inspires countless questions. Spend a few minutes or a few hours and learn fascinating facts about national parks, from "How Hoodoos Happen" to the wonders of the night sky.

Bryce Canyon is home to many wildlife species, including predatory mammals such as Mountain Lions, Coyotes, and Black Bears. In addition, squirrels and other small mammals may be encountered along the trail or attracted to your campsite.

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is the only lodging available inside the park aside from several campgrounds located inside of Bryce Canyon. I usually recommend lodging inside of National Park however in this situation, we stayed outside the park.

We stayed at Best Western plus in Bryce Canyon and it worked out perfect because it offered a nice swimming pool and the outdoor hot tub. This worked out perfect.

Food options were a little limited compared to other national parks that we have visited so far. We stayed outside the park at Best Western plus in Bryce Canyon and they have a sister property right across the street called called Rubys Inn and it a restaurant and a general store with groceries. The only challenge we ran into is that everything closed at 8pm. So plan accordingly.

Most of the parks we visited in California, Wyoming and Utah had fees that ranged from $25 to $35 per vehicle however we ended up getting an annual pass for $80 which is good one for vehicle for an entire year. This is a great deal if you plan on visiting more than one national park within a year. You can read about individual park entrance fees by visiting www.explore.usparkpass.com or you can buy them it in advance at https://www.usparkpass.com.