Can I Camp at Bryce Canyon During the Winter?

The Bryce Canyon area is full of outdoor adventure.  The local surrounding area caters to this outdoor adventure a great deal.  There are outdoor activities everywhere.  Camping is super common.  So, lots of people naturally ask the question, “Can I camp at Bryce Canyon during the winter?”  Today, we’re discussing that very topic.


I was surprised to learn just how common a question this is.  Campgrounds in the area receive lots of calls from people wanting to book a campsite over Thanksgiving or even later in the winter season.  Let’s start by discussing why people want to camp

Why Might You Want to Camp at Bryce Canyon During Winter?

Given how some people like to travel to the warmer American Southwest in the winter, it seems logical to investigate what Bryce Canyon has to offer.  Southern Utah, where Bryce Canyon resides, is part of the American Southwest.  So, naturally, some people might consider visiting and even camping in the area.  If you camp in the area, you gain access to all the outdoor adventure at a reduced (or even free if you know where to go) price tag.  There’s many advantages to camping.  I understand why people would consider camping in general.

If you’ve got time during Thanksgiving break or during the rest of winter, you might consider camping at Bryce Canyon during the winter.  It seems like a family-friendly activity which will create bonds and good times together.  You gain quick and easy access to all the outdoor adventure while maintaining some of the more raw and natural environment in your accommodations.  I also understand why someone might try to camp at Bryce Canyon during the winter.  It sounds like a good time.

Why You Might Want to Rethink That Idea

While Bryce Canyon is indeed part of the American Southwest technically, it doesn’t share the mild winter climate which people expect.  Let’s break down what happens in the area during wintertime.

Bryce Canyon Winter Weather

You might as well consider Bryce Canyon as being up in the mountains as it’s located at 7664 feet above sea level at the low end.  It’s highest point is at 9105 feet above sea level.  This elevation brings much harsher winters with it.  Let’s chart out some of the conditions you’ll face in Bryce and the surrounding area over the winter.  Please keep in mind that these are averages.  You might encounter conditions which are better or worse than the listed averages.

As you can see, Bryce Canyon and the surrounding area routinely dip below freezing at night during winter.  The wind usually blows and is very cutting.  The variable condition is whether or not there’s snow on the ground at the time.  You really might as well consider camping at Bryce Canyon during winter as camping in the mountains.  You’ll face conditions very similar to mountain winter camping.

Are Campgrounds Open During Winter?

If you’re into winter camping, then you still might consider camping at or near Bryce Canyon during winter.  You next logical question should be, “What campgrounds are open?”  So, let’s talk about that.

During winter, you’ll find a couple campgrounds within Bryce Canyon are open.  However, they do offer reduced services.  The showers, for example, will not be available.  The open campgrounds are the Sunset Campground and the North Campground.  They are very much on a first come, first served basis.  However, most people elect not to camp during winter so you might have the grounds to yourself.

Other surrounding campgrounds (such as Ruby’s Inn Campgrounds, Bryce Canyon Pines Campgrounds, and the Red Canyon Campground) will be closed.  They’ll close off online booking for the season.  They may not answer the phone.  You may only hear a voicemail message telling you that they’re closed and when they reopen.  There are other smaller campgrounds in the area.  While you’re welcome to try them out as well, be prepared for a no.  Most of the local businesses in the area, including most local hotels and restaurants, close down for the winter.

What Activities are Available?

During the warmer part of the year, Bryce Canyon National Park offers many different family-friendly outdoor activities for visitors.  These range from astronomy events, geology talks, extensive outdoor hiking, and more.  So, naturally, you want to know what they offer during the winter.

According to the NPS website page featuring the park itself, Bryce Canyon offers only limited activities during the winter.  They offer winter hiking and backpacking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter astronomy.  Due to general winter conditions, these activities are often unsuitable for young children.  Please keep in mind that any or all of these available activities may be cancelled due to inclimate weather.  This includes if the wind chill drops below 10°F (-12°c).  Other activities such as skiing, sledding, or snowboarding off the rim are illegal due to high danger to both person and the park.

Also, please keep in mind that several portions of the park will be closed off for the season.  This is because of dangerous road/trail conditions.  The rangers won’t reopen these areas until the weather warms up in spring.  Check out this article on Bryce Canyon closures for more details.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the answer to “Can I camp at Bryce Canyon during the winter?” is a yes with qualifications.  Winter camping at Bryce is restricted by availability and certainly not for the faint-hearted.  You must expect serious winter conditions and prepare accordingly.  If something goes wrong, most of the local area is shut down so help is limited.  Also, you won’t find the breadth of activities available which warmer months offer.

In short, camping at Bryce Canyon during the winter is not a family-friendly activity.  It’s cold and miserable thanks to a much higher elevation than other parts of the American Southwest.  If you want to escape the cold of winter, then Bryce Canyon is the wrong place to go.  You might consider Zion National Park, Sedona, Phoenix, St. George, or many other warmer locations at much lower elevations instead.