Things to Do in Bryce Canyon in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Bryce Canyon
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Clear winter skies create the most dramatic hoodoo photography - the low angle of January sun casts deep shadows that make the orange and red rock formations pop like nowhere else in the year. Sunrise at Bryce Point typically happens around 7:30am with temps around 17°C (62°F), giving you that perfect golden light without the summer crowds blocking your shots.
- Snow-covered hoodoos transform the canyon into something genuinely surreal - you get this bizarre contrast of desert rock formations dusted with white that looks almost Martian. The park averages 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) of snow on the ground in January, and the trails get packed down enough to be walkable with microspikes rather than full snowshoes.
- Accommodation prices drop 40-60% compared to peak summer season - lodges in nearby Bryce Canyon City that run $280-350 in July go for $120-180 in January. Book 3-4 weeks ahead and you'll have your pick of properties without the summer sticker shock.
- The park sees roughly 25,000 visitors in January versus 200,000+ in July - you can actually stand at Sunset Point without someone's selfie stick in your peripheral vision. Shuttle buses aren't running, but frankly you don't need them when parking lots have open spots even at 9am.
Considerations
- Rim Trail sections close unpredictably based on ice conditions - the park service posts updates daily, but you might show up planning to hike Queens Garden only to find it's been closed since the previous night's freeze. The Navajo Loop typically closes 8-12 days per month in January due to ice on the switchbacks, which eliminates the most popular below-rim route.
- That 20°C (68°F) temperature swing from day to night is no joke - you'll start your morning hike in insulated layers at 17°C (62°F), strip down to a t-shirt by 11am when it hits 32°C (90°F) in the sun, then scramble to layer back up when you're hiking out at 4pm as temps drop back to 21°C (70°F). The constant on-off-on with layers gets genuinely annoying.
- Limited food options once you're in the park area - the Lodge at Bryce Canyon restaurant operates on reduced winter hours (typically 7am-2pm and 5pm-8pm), and several restaurants in Bryce Canyon City close entirely for the season. You'll want to stock up on snacks in Panguitch or Tropic before arriving, because your dinner options shrink to maybe 3-4 places within 15 km (9 miles) of the park entrance.
Best Activities in January
Sunrise Point to Sunset Point Rim Walk
This 1.6 km (1 mile) paved section gives you the canyon's most iconic views without descending into potentially icy below-rim trails. January's clear, dry air means visibility often exceeds 160 km (100 miles) - you'll actually see the Aquarius Plateau and sometimes even Navajo Mountain. The paved surface gets plowed within hours of snowfall, making it the most reliable trail when other routes close. Go at actual sunrise around 7:30am when the low winter sun angle creates those dramatic side-lit hoodoos, and you'll likely have entire viewpoints to yourself for 15-20 minutes before other visitors arrive.
Guided Snowshoe Tours Through Hoodoo Forests
When there's sufficient snowpack (which happens most Januaries), ranger-led snowshoe programs take you off-trail into areas you can't access in summer. These typically run on weekends and holidays, departing around 10am when temps have warmed to 26-29°C (78-84°F) but snow is still firm. You'll tromp through ponderosa pine forests between hoodoo formations, learning about winter ecology while getting that below-rim experience without dealing with icy maintained trails. The park provides snowshoes free on a first-come basis, though they run out by 9:30am on busy weekends.
Full Moon Snowshoe or Winter Hiking
January 2026 has a full moon on the 13th, and if you've never experienced the canyon under moonlight with snow cover, it's genuinely otherworldly - the white snow reflects enough light that you can hike without a headlamp, and the hoodoos cast these long blue shadows across the amphitheater. The park doesn't close at night in winter (unlike summer when they lock gates), so you can access viewpoints 24 hours. Temps will drop to around 12-15°C (54-59°F) after sunset, but the lack of wind in the canyon makes it manageable with proper layers.
Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point with Winter Stops
The 29 km (18 mile) road to Rainbow Point stays plowed in winter (conditions permitting) and becomes this peaceful scenic drive without the summer traffic jams. You'll climb from 2,400 m to 2,775 m (7,874 ft to 9,105 ft) elevation, passing through different vegetation zones and getting progressively more expansive views. Natural Bridge viewpoint at km 17 (mile 10.5) is especially photogenic in January when snow outlines the arch. The drive takes 90 minutes round-trip if you stop at all 13 viewpoints, or 45 minutes if you just drive straight to Rainbow Point and back.
Astronomy Programs at Dark Sky Designation Site
Bryce Canyon has some of the darkest skies in the American Southwest, and January's long nights (sunset around 5:15pm) plus typically clear conditions make it prime stargazing season. On clear nights you can see the Milky Way core, Orion Nebula, and Andromeda Galaxy with naked eyes from the rim. The park occasionally runs ranger astronomy programs on winter weekends (check schedule), but honestly the sky is spectacular enough that you can just show up at any viewpoint after dark with a star chart app.
Photography Workshops for Winter Landscape
Several local photographers run winter-specific workshops timed around optimal light conditions. You'll learn techniques for capturing snow-covered hoodoos, dealing with the extreme contrast between shadowed canyons and bright snow, and working with the low-angle winter sun. These typically run 3-4 hours starting pre-sunrise, hitting multiple viewpoints as the light changes. Worth it if you're serious about photography, less valuable if you're just taking phone snapshots.
January Events & Festivals
Winter Full Moon Hike (January 13, 2026)
While not an organized event per se, the full moon on January 13th creates optimal conditions for moonlit canyon viewing. Local guides and the park itself see increased evening activity around full moon dates. The combination of snow cover and moonlight makes this the single best night of the month for after-dark canyon experiences.