Utah
Nature|National & State Parks

Winter Is One Of The Best Times To Visit Bryce Canyon National Park In Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park offers a stunning and peaceful winter experience with fewer tourists and beautiful snowy landscapes.

Published Feb 4, 2021

Written by 

Catherine Armstrong

More than 2,500,000 people visit Bryce Canyon National Park every year. Its amphitheaters of stunning hoodoos and vast, untouched landscape beckon folks from all over the world, and during tourist season it can get pretty crowded.

The park is very different during winter months. While there are fewer services available, there are also way fewer tourists. If you're willing to bundle up before heading out on your Bryce Canyon adventure, you'll be richly rewarded with an enchanting, snowy landscape, and you might have the view all to yourself.

Bryce Canyon National Park covers 35,835 acres, and its hoodoos and red-rock cliffs are absolutely stunning.

alt
Dana Michelle Allen/EyeEm via Getty Images

Because this beautiful park is located in Southern Utah, you might think that it's balmy and warm year-round. Nope! Bryce Canyon sits high up on the Colorado Plateau, so it gets a fair amount of snow during winter months.

advertisement
alt
Kryssia Campos/Moment Collection via Getty Images

The Visitor Center sits at 7,894 feet elevation, and Rainbow Point is a whopping 9,115 feet above sea level. In February, the average high temperature here is just 38.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

alt
James Faulkner/EyeEm Collection via Getty Images

The contrast of the brightly-colored hoodoos and a dusting of pure, white snow makes the amphitheaters even more compelling on a sunny, winter day...

alt
Kryssia Campos/Moment Collection via Getty Images

...but even when it's overcast here, it's still absolutely gorgeous.

alt
Diana Robinson Photography/Moment Collection via Getty Images

This place truly is a winter wonderland, and when the fog rolls in, it has an ethereal beauty that's hard to beat.

advertisement
alt
yenwen/iStock via Getty Images

Just because it's chilly, there's no reason not to visit. You'll still find plenty to see and do when snow blankets the park.

alt
imageBROKER/Nathalie Lieckfeld/Getty Images

Bundle up and explore the trails here. Instead of fighting tourists for space, you'll have plenty of room to stroll along and enjoy the quiet, peaceful surroundings.

alt
travelview/iStock via Getty Images

You'll want to have a pair of traction cleats or snowshoes in order to explore the steep paths safely. Hiking poles are a good idea as well.

alt
stanley45/iStock via Getty Images

Don't forget to bring your camera along! You'll definitely want to capture this magical, winter landscape.

alt
imageBROKER/Nathalie Lieckfeld/Getty Images

Have you visited Bryce Canyon National Park during the winter? If not, consider making a trip soon!

Want to find out more about Bryce Canyon National Park? Visit its website, and check out its Facebook page, too.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Nature|Hiking

The Iconic Trail in Utah Everyone Should Hike Once in Their Lifetime

One of Zion's most popular trails is the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail, and for good reason. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's one of those bucket list-worthy adventures everyone should experience at least once.

Published Oct 28, 2024

Written by 

Katie Lawrence

When it comes to iconic hikes in Utah, Zion National Park is the first place I think of (along with Arches and Bryce Canyon, of course). After all, it's home to some of the most stunning views our state has to offer, and millions of people travel from all over the world each year to revel in its magic. One of Zion's most popular trails is the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail, and for good reason. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's one of those bucket list-worthy adventures everyone should experience at least once.

advertisement
alt
AllTrails Kristin Kozelsky

At 3.6 miles long, the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail is by no means the longest hike in the park, but it is one of the most challenging. The out-and-back trail is rated as hard on AllTrails due to its steep ascent. You'll climb over 1,100 feet in a relatively short distance, navigating tight switchbacks before arriving at the final viewpoint known as Scout Lookout.

While the view at the top is definitely the pièce de résistance, you'll enjoy breathtaking scenery along the entire trail. At the beginning, the path crosses the Virgin River on a bridge before paralleling the river for a short time. From there, the ascent begins, and as the scene unfolds before your eyes, it only gets more picturesque with every step you take. With the ancient, majestic canyon walls rising up all around, you'll swear you're looking at a painting or a postcard. That's just part of living in Utah - what a blessing to call such a state home where the scenery is almost too beautiful to be real.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can continue past Scout Lookout to Angel's Landing, but only experienced hikers should attempt this. Additionally, the trail does not offer much shade, so consider starting either in the early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat if you're visiting in the warmer months.

Visit AllTrails for more information about the Scout Lookout via West Rim Trail. I also recommend signing up for AllTrails+ if you're an avid hiker. The app is an incredible resource with features like 3D flyovers, wrong-turn alerts, and offline map access. Your first week is free, so there's no risk involved in trying it out.

Have you ever embarked on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure? What are your favorite iconic hikes in Utah? Tell us in the comments!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Nature|Caves & Rock Formations

The Most Iconic View in Utah Is Also a Stunning Slice of History

Arches National Park has the most iconic view in Utah. Even with over 2,000 arches, one stands out from the rest.

Published Oct 4, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

Arches National Park is one of the most iconic views in Utah. Located just north of Moab and adjacent to the Colorado River, Arches National Park boasts more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Delicate Arch is the most well-known, but with over 2,000 to see, you could easily find a new favorite arch here. 

advertisement

With so many arches, this is the highest density of natural arches in the world. But why are there so many arches in Arches National Park? Well, the answer may surprise you!

alt
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, UT.

The national park lies above an underground salt bed, which causes the arches, spires, and sandstone fins that Arches National Park is so well known for. Water erosion is a key ingredient to form these arches, and a lack of earthquakes ensures that these delicate arches are geologically stable. 

These stunning arches are truly slices of history. If you were to stand in this spot a million years ago, you’d only see a desert—no arches to be found. There may have even been vegetation growing!

These arches were formed over many, many years of erosion. And they will continue to form. Who knows what this landscape will look like a million years from now? It certainly won’t look like this. 

alt
Jamie Seidel/500px Collection via Getty Images

Fun fact: to become one of the park’s official arches, a hole must have an opening of at least three feet. There isn’t any requirement for width, and there are plenty of super skinny arches here. 

The only thing better than seeing Delicate Arch during the day is waiting around until nightfall. Arches National Park is one of the best places to go stargazing, and if you have the right camera gear you could capture some phenomenal shots!

alt
Photo taken in Moab, United States

April, May, September, and October are the best months to visit Arches National Park. Because the park is so popular, you’ll need a timed entry reservation if you’re planning on visiting Arches National Park between April 1 and October 31. Visitors to Arches National Park also need an entrance pass, which starts at $15.00.

Taking a tour of Arches National Park is the most eco-friendly way to visit this national treasure. Tourism is one of the major players in this fragile ecosystem, and for some reason, we just can’t be trusted to leave no trace. Tours reduce the amount of vehicles that enter the park, plus you’ll be with a knowledgeable guide the entire time who will regale you with all of the fascinating history of Arches National Park. 

Read on to discover some of our favorite places to stay in Utah and start planning your epic Utah adventure. 

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Food
Restaurants

This Rhode Island Dining Experience Has Been Called One of the Best Restaurants in the U.S.

by Beth Price-Williams
on Oct 30
alt
Nature
Hiking

I Love To Escape the Crowds and Explore the Hidden Beauty of Campbell Creek Estuary in Alaska

by Megan McDonald
on Oct 30
alt
Experiences
Attractions

I’ve Visited Dozens of Hot Springs and Durango Hot Springs is One of My New Favorites

by Christy Articola
on Oct 30
Hot spring at Durango Hot Springs in Durango, Colorado
Food
Cafes & Coffee Shops

This New Mexico Dining Experience Has Been Called One of the Best Restaurants in the U.S.

by Christy Articola
on Oct 30
Exterior of St. James Tearoom in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Food
Restaurants

The Off-the-Beaten-Path Restaurant in New Mexico That Is Worth the Day Trip

by Christy Articola
on Oct 30
Exterior of Tucumcari Ranch Supply in Tucumcari, New Mexico - home of Watson's BBQ