Tips to Take Amazing Bryce Canyon Photos

We’ve asked fellow photographers to share their tips for taking amazing Bryce Canyon photos! Below you’ll see inspiring pictures of Bryce Canyon and tips to capture your own images!

Be sure to check out our Bryce Canyon travel guide to plan your entire vacation. We share things to do, what to pack, where to stay and more!

Tips for taking Bryce Canyon photos

Bryce Canyon is a colorful landscape with uniquely shaped formations. It’s all about the light when taking pictures at this stunning park!

Thank you to the photographers who share their photos and tips with us to capture jaw-dropping images at Bryce Canyon!

Bryce Canyon photo spots checklist
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Camera Gear for Landscape Photography

  • Tripod: take a look at these compact and lightweight travel tripods!
  • Camera Bag: protect your camera from sand and water → We use Lowepro camera backpacks for outdoor photography.
  • Neutral density filter: to compensate for variance of light you’ll need to use a neutral density filter. → Check out the Kase magnetic filters we use!
  • Camera cleaning kit: remove dust or water that WILL get on your lens. NOTE: this is not for cleaning the sensor.  
  • Memory cards: purchase name brand memory cards since you’re trusting your images to the card! → We use Lexar and Sandisk!
  • External hard drive: copy photos to a portable external hard drive ‘just in case’. 
  • Headlamp: use when taking sunrise and sunset photos!

Camera Gear at B&H Photo

camera accessories

A Photo Tour of Bryce Canyon National Park

Take a visual tour through Bryce Canyon National Park to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!

Bryce Canyon Photo Spots Map

Use this map of Bryce Canyon photo spots to navigate through the park to each location!

Tips for Taking Bryce Canyon Photos

Check out our Bryce Canyon Photography Guide with tips and best times to take pictures at each viewpoint!

Below are tips from fellow photographers to capture amazing Bryce Canyon images!

Bryce Canyon Morning Light

Roy Goldsberry shares this tip: Morning light is best. Visit all the many rim locations that have the best Bryce Canyon views, as well as some trails down into the canyon. It all faces east so by mid-late afternoon the hoodoos are in shadow.

Roy Goldsberry sunrise at Bryce Canyon
Photo Credit: Roy Goldsberry

Roy Goldsberry Bryce Canyon photo
Photo Credit: Roy Goldsberry

Bryce Canyon Hiking Trails

Dave Miller shares these tips: For me, sunrise was better than sunset in the park. Do your hiking and exploring earlier in the day to avoid the heat and bring lots of water.

The Navajo Loop Queen’s Garden Trail was an amazing hike. The park recommends doing it clockwise from Queens Garden, but I like starting at Navajo Trail at sunrise so you can capture the rising sun with Thor’s hammer.

Dave Miller sunrise at Bryce Canyon Thor's Hammer
Photo Credit: Dave Miller

You can capture amazing Bryce Canyon sunrise photography along the hiking trails!

Dave Miller sunrise photo through Bryce Canyon window
Photo Credit: Dave Miller

Dave Miller Bryce Canyon picture of Wall Street
Photo Credit: Dave Miller

Look up at Bryce Canyon

Tina Brasington shares this tip: Pay attention to the light and shadows. The sun can ruin the shot or totally make it. A lot of people shoot down into the canyon, but taking a Bryce Canyon hike and looking back up from the bottom is even more beautiful.

Tina Brasington Bryce Canyon switchbacks
Photo Tip: Tina Brasington

Tina Brasington tree and hoodoos at Bryce Canyon
Photo Tip: Tina Brasington

Wide Vistas and Up Close Views at Bryce Canyon

Dianne Saphiere shares these simple tips: Golden hour! Sunrise and sunset!!! Capture wide vistas, include interesting elements and zoom in close.

Dianne Saphiere Bryce Canyon sunset photo
Photo Credit: Dianne Saphiere

Dianne Saphiere Bryce Canyon tree rim photo
Photo Credit: Dianne Saphiere

Dianne Saphiere reflected light Bryce Canyon photo

Reflected Light at Bryce Canyon

Kevin Dobo shares this tip: I was most delighted by the way light bounces around in the nooks and crannies.

Move around a lot and look at everything from many different angles and perspectives.

Kevin Dobo Bryce Canyon image of hoodoos on Peekaboo Loop Trail
Photo Credit: Kevin Dobo

Kevin Dobo sunrise at Bryce Point
Photo Credit: Kevin Dobo

Don’t forget to take Bryce Canyon pictures of the sweeping views as well as focus on small parts of the landscape!

Kevin Dobo Thor's Hammer photo at Bryce Canyon
Photo Credit: Kevin Dobo

Look For Interesting Elements at Bryce Canyon

Jen Pratt shares these tips: Bryce Canyon is so unique and stunning. To give your photos an extra edge, go at sunrise, sunset, or under the Milky Way. Look for interesting clouds or focus on a unique rock formation. Beat the crowds into the park by going early or go in the off-season (Bryce Canyon in the winter is amazing!!) It is such a beautiful place, you can’t go wrong!

Jan Pratt sunrise at Bryce Canyon
Photo Credit: Jen Pratt from Utah Hiking Beauty

Jan Pratt Bryce Canyon image of switchbacks
Photo Credit: Jen Pratt from Utah Hiking Beauty

Move Your Feet at Bryce Canyon

Jennifer Wolff shares these tips: Honestly, I feel like I don’t have any great tips on photographing Bryce Canyon because Bryce does all the work for you! It’s just so naturally gorgeous!

Jennifer Wolff Bryce Canyon natural bridge
Photo Credit: Jennifer Wolff

But really, you do have to look at your subject and decide how you want your picture to look. For example, I moved around at Natural Bridge so that the pine tree was not in the middle of the arch opening.

I also got to Natural bridge in the morning which gave me this nice glow from the low sun.

And don’t forget to capture the fun of Bryce Canyon activities – horseback riding tours are the best!

Jennifer Wolff Bryce Canyon horseback riding
Photo Credit: Jennifer Wolff

Bryce Canyon Monsoon Season

Kevin Hehl shares these tips: Go during monsoon season. Go to the Bryce Canyon photo spots and vistas even on stormy days.

Walk around and look from different angles to get different backdrops, the tree against a blue sky, etc. Walk the rim and keep turning around, there is so much to see from different views.

Kevin Hehl stormy Bryce Canyon photo

Kevin Hehl Bryce Canyon rim tree photo

Bryce Canyon Winter Photos

You’ll love capturing Bryce Canyon winter photos when the landscape showcases white snow contrasting against the red orange hoodoos.

Bryce Canyon in the winter will be cold and you will need to bundle up! Don’t let the cold temperatures and snowy conditions deter you from visiting.

photographer at Bryce Canyon in the winter
Photographer at Bryce Canyon in the winter

With the right winter gear and clothing you will enjoy photographing the Bryce Canyon views that can’t be beat this time of year!

The Sinking Ship at Bryce Canyon with snow
The Sinking Ship at Bryce Canyon with snow
Bryce Canyon in the winter hoodoos with snow
Bryce Canyon in the winter

Bryce Canyon Itineraries

We’ve put together our favorite Bryce Canyon National Park Itineraries for 1, 2, or 3 days in the park! Grab a free copy by clicking the graphic below. Click on the links to read the detailed itinerary for Bryce Canyon based on the time you have to spend at the park!

Bryce Canyon Travel Bundle

Plan Your Bryce Canyon Vacation

Where to Stay near Bryce Canyon:

Bryce Canyon maps and guides

Check Amazon for: Bryce Canyon Guides and Maps

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