It’s no secret that Zion National Park is the most popular activity to enjoy during a stay at hotels in Springdale. In addition to our unique rooms and the beautiful gardens that fill our grounds, one of the reasons guests book Cliffrose Lodge visit after visit is the chance to stay close to the South Entrance to the park.
Our Utah resort is less than a half mile from the entrance, which means that guests can easily walk to the park to hop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle to head to many of the park’s most popular destinations in trailheads. There’s also a shuttle stop on the Springdale Shuttle line located right here on property for those who would rather ride to the entrance to the park.
But while you’ll certainly want to spend some time in Zion during your stay at hotels in Springdale, this isn’t the only national park you can cross off your list during your stay. Bryce Canyon is another Utah national park known for its incredible rock formations and stunning views. The park is close enough to our Utah resort to easily enjoy a day trip during your stay.
Keep reading to learn how to plan a day trip to this unique national park.
Getting to Bryce Canyon National Park
Getting to Bryce Canyon National Park from our Utah resort is easy. You’ll first travel through Zion National Park, passing through the famous Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. You’ll continue on UT-9 for 25 miles to the town of Mt. Carmel Junction. From there, you’ll head North on UT-89 for 43 miles, before catching UT-12 to head East for 13 miles. This will take you to Bryce Canyon City and UT-63 S, which leads directly into the national park.
Like all of Utah’s Mighty 5, Bryce Canyon does charge an entrance fee. This fee is $35 for a personal vehicle with up to 15 passengers, or $20 per person for those entering on foot. This fee will get you entry to the park for seven consecutive days, which means that if you decide to do a second day trip to Bryce Canyon during your stay, you won’t need to pay the entrance fee a second time.
If you do plan to visit both Bryce Canyon and Zion, as well as one more national park site during your visit, it could be worth purchasing a national park annual pass. This pass costs $80, and provides access to any National Park Service sites with an entrance fee for a cardholder and up to three guests.
Bryce Canyon National Park
While it might be located just two hours away, Bryce Canyon National Park is completely unique from Zion. This park is known for its incredible panoramic views and intricate rock formations. The most famous of those formations are called “hoodoos.” These spires look like stacks of rocks, but are actually columns of limestone and sandstone that have been weathered by millions of years of erosion by wind, rain, and freezing temperatures.
These hoodoos are located throughout the park, with the highest concentration located in the park’s central feature; the Bryce Amphitheater. The natural amphitheater is filled with hundreds of hoodoos—the largest concentration of these rock formations in the world.
As the sun rises or sets over the park, the red and orange hues of the hoodoos become even brighter and more sharp. This makes for an incredible view in the amphitheater. In fact, watching the sunset or sunrise in the park is a must-do during your visit!
Hiking in Bryce Canyon
In addition to taking in a sunset or sunrise, another popular activity in the park is hiking. Like Zion, Bryce Canyon has a wide variety of trails to choose from. They range from easy hikes to challenging treks.
The Rim Trail is one of the most popular in the park. You can hike the full 9 miles, or just a portion of this trail, to enjoy incredible views of the amphitheater. If you’re only going to hike a section of the trail, you’ll want to hike from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point. This hike will take less than an hour and is fully paved, making it a great choice for visitors of all ages and abilities.
While Bryce Canyon doesn’t restrict personal vehicles on roadways like Zion, they do operate a shuttle during their busier months. You can use this shuttle to get to popular trailheads without having to find parking. This is a great choice on busy days in the park.
Planning a Day Trip to Bryce From Hotels in Springdale
If you’re looking for a fun day trip to take from hotels in Springdale, Bryce Canyon is a great choice. Despite being located close together, this beautiful national park is completely unique from Zion. It’s full of incredible views and beautiful trails. If you have time during your stay at Cliffrose Lodge, plan to make the drive to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Ready to start planning your next stay in our Utah resort? Check out our room options today to find the right one for your stay!