Explore the elevation of Bryce Canyon—ranging from 6,620 to over 9,100 feet above sea level, this otherworldly Utah park stuns with soaring hoodoos, dramatic amphitheaters, and high-altitude ecosystems shaped by millennia of erosion.
Table of Contents
Where is Bryce Canyon?
- Location: Bryce Canyon National Park lies in Garfield County and Kane County in southwestern Utah, along the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
Park Profile
- Name accuracy: Despite the name, Bryce Canyon is technically a series of natural amphitheaters, not a single canyon.
- Fame: Famous for its hoodoos—otherworldly rock spires sculpted by erosion—and dramatic rim views.
- Annual visitors: Welcomes over 2 million people annually.
- Founding date: Designated a national park in 1928, after being settled by Ebenezer Bryce in the late 1800s.
Elevation Basics
- Park elevation range: Ranges from 6,620 feet (2,020 m) at Yellow Creek to 9,105 feet (2,775 m) at Rainbow Point.
- Rim elevation: The Bryce Amphitheater rim varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet (2,400 to 2,700 m).
- Elevation impact: Elevation influences the park’s temperature zones, wildlife habitats, and ecological diversity.
- Name origin: Named after Ebenezer Bryce, who built a homestead, canal, and road in the area.
- Human history: Inhabited for thousands of years by Native American tribes prior to Mormon settler arrival.
Must-Know Elevation Facts
- Elevation difference: The park spans a 2,500-foot (762 m) difference from highest to lowest points.
- Altitude zones: Elevation divides the park into three ecological bands:
- Lower zone: Juniper and pinyon pine, with winter wildlife activity.
- Middle zone: Douglas fir and spruce forests.
- High zone: Bristlecone and limber pine near the rim.
- Altitude effects: Visitors may experience altitude sickness due to the park's high elevation.
- Mean state elevation: Utah has a mean elevation of 6,100 feet (1,860 m)—third highest in the U.S.
- Comparison to state: Bryce Canyon is significantly higher than Utah’s average, even at its lowest points.
- Highest point in Utah: Kings Peak – 13,534 feet (4,125 m), in the Uinta Mountains.
- Lowest point in Utah: Beaver Dam Wash – 2,180 feet (664 m), near the Arizona border.
- Major Utah city elevations:
- Salt Lake City: 4,226 feet (1,288 m)
- West Valley City: 4,304 feet (1,312 m)
- Provo: 4,551 feet (1,387 m)
- West Jordan: 4,373 feet (1,333 m)
Climate and Tourism
- Climate type: High elevation gives Bryce Canyon a cool, semi-arid climate.
- Winter: Snowfall is common and provides opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- Summer: Mild and pleasant with highs typically in the 60s–80s°F (15–30°C).
- Visitor center: Offers information, maps, and a bookstore.
- Activities: Includes hiking, horseback riding, stargazing, and ranger-led programs.
- Wildlife: Home to black bears, bobcats, deer, prairie dogs, and hundreds of bird species.
- Scenic drive: A 38-mile round trip route features overlooks at Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Yovimpa Point.
Plan Your Trip