8 Best PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS in BRYCE CANYON (+Useful Photo Tips)

Inspiration Point is the most popular photography location in Bryce Canyon National Park. The views of the main amphitheater are simply off the charts!

The Silent City with its many rows of hoodoos set against the backdrop of Boat Mesa is, no doubt, one of the most famous images of Bryce Canyon National Park.

All in all, I have to say that Inspiration Point is one of the most instagrammable places in Bryce Canyon!

Inspiration Point is a popular spot to photograph sunrise as well as a sunset. Or, photograph the Bryce Canyon at any time of the day from sunrise to sunset. It is the best place to catch all the colors of Bryce Canyon from glowing reds, and oranges, to bright pinks.

Also, Inspiration Point is the best place to see Bryce Canyon and get an idea of how vast the entire area is.

So, if your time is limited, then head directly to Inspiration Point. It is a great photography location in Bryce Canyon!

Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon National Park is located no more than 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center. You can drive or you can take the Park Shuttle to the Inspiration Point parking lot.

If you decide to drive, then proceed south from the Visitor Center, next make a left and then another left until you reach the Inspiration Point parking area. However, be prepared that it might be challenging to find a parking spot.

YES! You are reading this correctly!

Sunrise Point is one of the best sunset photography locations in Bryce Canyon National Park. It is my favorite spot to photograph sunsets in Bryce Canyon as well.

What you need to know is that Sunrise Point is the most northern spot in the Bryce Canyon and you will get the best views of the Bryce Amphitheater at sunset.

In addition, it is also the best photography location in Bryce Canyon to see the sun’s final light along the western horizon.

Once you get to the Visitor Center, continue south for no more than 0.5 miles until you reach a junction. Be on the lookout for the sign pointing to Sunrise Point. At the junction, turn left and continue for about 0.5 miles until you reach another junction. Next, follow the sign pointing in the direction of Sunset Point/General Store.

Finally, turn left again and continue for about 0.2 miles until you reach the Sunrise Point parking area.

If you are looking for a stunning sunset photography location in Bryce Canyon National Park, then head to Paria View!

Paria View is an overlook that sits in the north section of the part and where the rock formations face west. Needless to say, it is a perfect spot to catch the evening light.

If at all possible, go to Bryce Canyon National Park in winter. The entire park takes on a complexity different look all blanketed in snow. Needless to say, the sunsets off Paria View are even more dramatic in winter!

To be honest, if you are visiting Bryce Canyon National Park during summertime then use the shuttle! It is easy to use and it stops at all the major viewpoints and you don’t have to waste time looking and waiting for a parking spot. Trust me, finding a parking spot can be tough during the summer months.

If you decide to take a shuttle, then get off at Bryce Point and walk over to Paria View. If you decide to drive, then there is a small parking lot next to Paria View and hopefully, you can find some empty spots.

Sunset Point sits at 8,000 feet and offers the most dramatic views of Bryce Canyon’s Main Amphitheater.

I think that is the best sunrise photography location in Bryce Canyon National Park. However, I have to tell you that, it is absolutely stunning at any time of the day! The hoodoos seem to come alive in a. rainbow of color as the. light changes throughout the day.

Do not miss Thor’s Hammer! It is one of the most well-known and most photographed hoodoo formations in Bryce Canyon National Park. Thor’s Hammer towers over the Silent City from Sunset Point’s vista.

The best part is that Navajo Loop Trail starts right at Sunset Point. It is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park descending 550 feet into Bryce Canyon and allowing you to take some incredible photos of hoodoos up close and personal!

Sunset Point is located about 2.5 miles from the Visitor Center.

In order to get to Sunset Point, you can the shuttle, which I am highly recommending if you are visiting during the summer months.

Otherwise, from the Visitor Center take the main road and proceed for about 2.5 miles until you reach the junction marked with a sign pointing towards Sunset Point.

Next, turn left at the junction and drive for no more than 0.3 miles until you the parking area located next to Sunset Point.

Bryce Point is famous for the sweeping views to the north, across the full length of the hoodoo-filled Bryce Amphitheater.

Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points can all be seen along the edge of the rim.

Bryce Point is well known for its breathtaking sunrises as well as stunning sunsets. You will not go wrong if you head directly to Bryce Point for a chance to catch a great sunset. This is a great spot to see a view of Boat Mesa reflecting the colors of the setting sun.

Bryce Point is the trailhead for Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail.

It is a great hike that will take you down to see the Wall of the Windows and Three Wise Men formations.

Also, do you ever wonder how Bryce Canyon got its name?

Sometime in the 1850s, scouts were sent by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) to assess the land for its potential agricultural and grazing use. The church then sent Ebenezer Bryce and his wife Mary to settle in the Paria Valley, near Tropic, Utah.

Ebenezer and his family decided to settle right below what is now called the “Bryce Amphitheater” – today, this is the main part of the Park; the largest collection of hoodoos. Ebenezer grazed his cattle near the hoodoos and canyons and once wrote that this was a “helluva place to lose a cow”. If you’ve ever been to Bryce Canyon, I’m sure you’d agree! Regardless of losing cows, Bryce Canyon National Park is indeed one “helluva place”. Ebenezer Bryce built a road to the top of the Paunsaugunt Plateau for hauling timber. Pioneers started calling the place “Bryce’s Canyon” and that’s how Bryce Canyon got its name.

Source: Bryce Canyon

Bryce Point is located no more than 5.5 miles from the Visitor Center.

Starting at the Visitor Center, take the main road and continue for about 2.5 miles until you reach the junction. Turn left at the junction and continue for about 2 miles until you reach another junction. Turn left again and continue for about 1 mile until you reach a parking area.

Yovimpa Point sitting at 9,100 feet, the highest elevation in Bryce Canyon National Park, offers a great view of the geological Grand Staircase rock layers.

The Grand Staircase is an immense sequence of sedimentary rock layers that stretch south from Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, through Zion National Park, and into the Grand Canyon National Park.

Image Credit: Wikipedia / Best Photography Locations in Bryce Canyon

Yovimpa Point is located at the very end of Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive.

From the Visitor Center take the main road and continue for about 14 miles until you reach Yovimpa Point. Check out my post and make some stops along the way to catch some of Bryce Canyon’s best views.

Wall Street and Sunrise Point are two of my favorite locations for nighttime photography in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Wall Street is the western section of the Navajo Loop Trail and gets its name from high, vertical cliffs and very narrow passages. It is a great location to get some awesome photos of hoodoos during the day as well.

Another location that I highly recommended for nighttime photography in Bryce Canyon National Park is Sunrise Point.

Wall Street is the first section along Navajo Loop Trail. Navajo Loop Trailhead is located at Sunset Point.

Sunrise Point is located along the Rim Trail about 0.5 miles from Sunset Point.

You can take a shuttle which is super easy to use and get off at Sunset Point. Or, if you prefer to use your own vehicle, then, from the Visitor Center take a main road and follow the signs pointing towards Sunset Point.

Queens Garden Trail starts at Sunrise Point and descends about 320 feet into the canyon.

Queens Garden Trail is a short hike at no more than 0.9 miles and can be combined with Navajo Loop Trail. However, if you decide to do this short hike, you will get to some of the best rock formations in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Queens Garden Trailhead is located at Sunrise Point.

It is super easy to get to Sunrise Point. Once you get to the Visitor Center, which is about 1 mile past the entrance to the park, continue south for no more than 0.5 miles until you reach a junction.

At the junction, turn left and continue for about 0.5 miles until you reach another junction. Next, follow the sign pointing in the direction of Sunset Point/General Store.

Finally, turn left again and continue for about 0.2 miles until you reach the Sunrise Point parking area.

Actually, Bryce Canyon is the most beautiful just before sunrise. The light is softer and warmer before the sun appears on the horizon. It is known as the Golden Hour.

So, first of all, make sure to arrive at your favorite sunrise location in Bryce Canyon way before sunrise. I would say at least 30 minutes before sunrise. Just about 10 minutes before the actual sunrise, you will capture some awesome images.

Next, when the first rays of the sun start appearing above the horizon, hoodoos will reflect the light and literally start glowing. This is a great time to get more great pictures.

During this time use a tripod and remote shutter release. However, be quick because the rising sun will make the light too intense to take good pictures.

Also, a reminder! Since you. will be arriving well before sunrise, make sure to have a headlamp or a flashlight to help you navigate. from the parking lot to your favorite sunrise photography spot.

All in all, the best light happens just after sunset. It is known as the Golden Hour. The light is warmer and softer and there are no sharp shadows during the Golden Hour.

In Bryce Canyon, during the Golden Hour, the hoodoos produce even warmer colors. In order to capture these colors you will need to use a long exposure selection on your camera.

How do you do a long exposure? Simply, turn your camera’s mode dial to Manual and use a slow shutter speed (5-30 seconds) for a longer exposure. Additionally, use your camera self-timer to take a photo.

Now, hang around a little bit more after the sunset and wait for the famous Blue Hour.

The Blue Hour happens when the sun is at a significant depth below the horizon and residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue shade.

During the Blue Hour, the Bryce Amphitheatre completely changes and the white tops of the hoodoos beautifully contrast with the deep dark orange colors of the canyon.

Also, pay attention to the sky! If you are lucky, you might get some beautiful shots of the background with an awesome sky.

First of all, be patient and practice. It takes time to capture great images of the night sky. And, it takes a lot of experimenting with the camera settings.

Follow these nighttime photography rules:

• Have the camera on manual mode on a sturdy tripod. Turn off image stabilization.
• Have a wide-angle lens between 14mm to 24mm to get a good view of the Milky Way in the frame along with the foreground.
• Set the aperture to the widest – at least f2.8, but if you have only the kit lens, use it at 18mm / f3.5.
• Start with the lowest ISO possible, about 1600. Depending on the result, you can decrease further or increase the ISO up to 3200, above which the image quality can start to deteriorate.
• Put your lens on manual focus and focus on the brightest star in the sky. Zoom in on live view and turn the focus ring till the star shows up as a bright point on the screen.
• Use the mirror lockup feature if using a DSLR to avoid blur due to camera movement.