Is Bryce Canyon Open in the Winter?

The answer to the question “Is Bryce Canyon open in the winter?” is yes with provisions.  Bryce Canyon National Park is indeed open year round but not all of the park is open.  Bryce Canyon has an average elevation of 7700 feet.  However, at it’s highest point, it’s almost 9000 feet above sea level.  This elevation breeds some bad winter weather and difficult road conditions in the wintertime.

Leaving Bryce City Utah open year round billboard by Cramer Imaging

What’s Closed in Bryce Canyon During Winter

Much of Bryce Canyon National Park closes for the season once the snow starts flying.  Examples of closed areas include:

  • Inspiration Point
  • Bryce Point
  • Rainbow Point
  • Fairyland
  • Dangerous hiking trails (Navajo trail, Queen’s Garden, Peekaboo Loop, Wall Street, the Rim Trail, etc.)
  • Backcountry areas
  • Campgrounds
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a winter sunset at blue hour in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Backcountry Area
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of Inspiration Point at sunrise or dawn at Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Inspiration Point
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of dramatic stormy skies at Bryce Point of Bryce Canyon Utah at sunset
Bryce Point
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a snowy Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Natural Bridge beyond Bryce Point Gate
Cramer Imaging's professional quality landscape photograph of a rainbow over Fairyland Point at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Fairyland
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a Bryce Canyon wall with the moon overhead in Utah
Navajo Trail
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a slot canyon with a tree at the end in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Wall Street

All of these areas of the park have a couple things in common during winter: bad road conditions and poor accessibility at best.  This means that you have a much greater risk of having a problem and a much lower chance of being rescued.  This is why those areas of the park are closed to visitors.

What’s Open in Bryce Canyon During Winter

Since we’ve covered what’s closed during the winter, it only seems fair to let you know what is open.  Since the park is open year round, there must be something to see.  Examples of open areas include:

  • Sunrise Point
  • Sunset Point
  • The Lodge
  • The Visitors’ Center
  • Mossy Cave Trail
  • Hiking trails deemed safe
  • Safe portions of otherwise dangerous hiking trails (Thor’s Hammer on the Navajo trail)

Cramer Imaging's professional quality landscape panorama photograph of the view at Sunrise Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Cramer Imaging's professional quality landscape and nature photograph of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah at Sunset Point
Sunset Point
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of Thor's Hammer hoodoo in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Thor’s Hammer visible from the Navajo Trail and the Sunset Point Rim
Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the bridge over the Tropic ditch with hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
Mossy Cave Trail

All of these open locations are generalizations and subject to change year to year depending upon individual conditions.  So, don’t take this list as more than a suggestion of what’s USUALLY available to see at Bryce Canyon during the winter.  If you have any questions about whether or not a particular attraction or hiking trail is open currently in the winter, please check with the park.  They will be able to tell you the most current information regarding park attractions closures.

My Confirmation

I can confirm 100% that Bryce Canyon is open to the public during the wintertime.  If it wasn’t, then I would not have been able to capture the following landscape photos in my portfolio.

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of dawn rising over magical fog the landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a low-lying cloud obscuring the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of the sun shining into a foggy snow-covered landscape at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Cramer Imaging's fine art landscape photograph of a snow-covered Sunset Point at Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

In conclusion, if a wintertime visit to Bryce Canyon National Park sounds like your thing, then you can safely book your plans knowing that you’ll be able to see several amazing portions of the park in conditions which people usually don’t see the park in.  Please keep in mind that there is little in the way of winter sports in the area so don’t plan on skiing, ice skating, or several other winter activities during your trip.