Things to Do in Bryce Canyon in September
September weather, activities, events & insider tips
September Weather in Bryce Canyon
Is September Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing kicks in after Labor Day - lodge rates drop 20-30% compared to summer peak, and you can actually book same-week without everything being sold out months in advance
- Goldilocks hiking temperatures in early September - mornings start around 7-10°C (45-50°F) and warm to pleasant 18-21°C (65-70°F) by midday, which is genuinely perfect for the Rim Trail without the summer heat exhaustion risk
- Aspen trees turn brilliant gold in the surrounding high country during mid-to-late September, adding an entirely different color palette to the red rock amphitheater that you simply cannot see any other time of year
- Significantly thinner crowds after the second week - you can photograph Sunrise Point at actual sunrise without 50 people in your frame, and shuttle buses rarely fill to capacity outside holiday weekends
Considerations
- Weather becomes genuinely unpredictable by mid-month - you might get 21°C (70°F) and sunshine one day, then wake up to snow flurries the next, which makes packing a real challenge and can close higher elevation trails without warning
- Afternoon thunderstorms happen roughly 10 days throughout the month, typically between 2-5pm, and lightning is no joke at 2,400-2,700 m (8,000-9,000 ft) elevation with limited shelter once you are below the rim
- Some park services start scaling back after mid-September - the Bryce Canyon Lodge dining room reduces hours, ranger programs become less frequent, and if you are planning evening activities your options narrow considerably
Best Activities in September
Rim Trail Walking (Sunrise to Bryce Point)
September mornings are absolutely ideal for the 9 km (5.6 mile) paved Rim Trail - you get crisp air around 7-10°C (45-50°F) at sunrise, incredible light on the hoodoos, and by mid-month the crowds thin enough that you can actually hear the silence between viewpoints. The aspen groves along the plateau edge start turning gold in the second half of September, which adds unexpected pops of color against the red rock. Start at Sunrise Point by 6:30am when temperatures are still cool, and you will finish before afternoon storms typically roll in around 2pm.
Below-Rim Hiking (Queens Garden and Navajo Loop)
The two most popular below-rim trails are genuinely more pleasant in September than summer - you avoid the 32°C (90°F) heat that makes the 158 m (520 ft) elevation gain on the way out absolutely brutal. Morning temperatures in the canyon bottom stay around 10-13°C (50-55°F), warming to comfortable 18-21°C (65-70°F) by late morning. That said, be off these trails by 1pm - you do not want to be in the narrow canyon sections when afternoon thunderstorms hit. The Queens Garden to Navajo Loop combination is 4.6 km (2.9 miles) and takes most people 2.5-3 hours.
Sunrise Photography Sessions
September sunrise happens around 6:45-7:15am (progressively later through the month), which is a far more reasonable wake-up time than summer's 5:30am starts. The air tends to be clearer in September with less haze, and you get interesting fog effects in the amphitheater maybe 3-4 mornings per week when overnight temperatures drop. Sunrise Point and Bryce Point are the classic spots, but by mid-September you can also try Inspiration Point without fighting for tripod space. Light is best for about 45 minutes after sunrise, then you have gorgeous conditions for another hour or two.
Scenic Drive to Rainbow Point
The 29 km (18 mile) dead-end road to Rainbow Point at 2,775 m (9,105 ft) elevation becomes especially worthwhile in September when aspen and oak brush turn gold and red in the Ponderosa pine forests. You will gain 335 m (1,100 ft) in elevation from the visitor center, which means temperatures drop noticeably - bring a jacket even if it feels warm at park headquarters. Stop at all the viewpoints on the way down rather than up, since afternoon light is better for photography and you will be heading back before storms typically develop. Budget 2-3 hours round-trip with stops.
Night Sky Stargazing Programs
September offers some of the best stargazing of the year at Bryce - you get longer nights than summer (astronomical darkness by 8:30pm versus 10pm in July), typically clear skies between storm systems, and the Milky Way core is still visible in early September before it drops too low. Rangers run astronomy programs 2-3 evenings per week through mid-September, weather permitting. Temperatures drop to 4-7°C (40-45°F) after dark, so you will genuinely need winter layers even though it was pleasant during the day.
Horseback Riding into the Canyon
The concessionaire-operated horseback rides into the canyon are more comfortable in September than summer heat, though they typically end operations by late September or early October depending on weather. The 2-hour ride drops 200 m (650 ft) into the amphitheater and back up, following parts of the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail that most hikers skip. Morning rides around 8-9am offer the best temperatures and light. Weight limit is typically 100 kg (220 lbs), and you need to be reasonably comfortable on a horse for the steep sections.
September Events & Festivals
Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival
This multi-day event typically happens in mid-to-late June, NOT September, so if you are hoping to catch it, September is the wrong month. That said, the park's regular ranger-led astronomy programs run through mid-September and offer similar telescope viewing and constellation talks, just without the festival crowds and vendors.
Fall Foliage Peak
Not exactly an event, but the aspen groves surrounding the park typically hit peak gold color in the third and fourth weeks of September, usually around September 20-28 depending on that year's weather patterns. The best concentrations are along the road to Rainbow Point above 2,500 m (8,200 ft) elevation and in the Ponderosa pine forests. This is genuinely worth timing your trip around if you care about fall colors.