BRYCE CANYON SUNRISE & SUNSET PLANNER
Pick your date — get exact sunrise and sunset times, golden hour, and when to leave your hotel to reach the rim before first light. Free, no sign-up.
Plan your light
Pick a trip date to get your sunrise time and a "leave by" departure.
Your sun times
Pick a trip date to see exact sunrise, sunset, and golden-hour times.
Best sunrise viewpoints
Named for the moment — an easy, paved walk from the main parking and lodge, looking straight east over the Silent City as first light sets the hoodoos on fire.
The highest, most panoramic perch above the amphitheater. The wide eastern horizon makes it a favorite for watching the sun crest the distant rim and sweep down the hoodoos.
Tiered overlooks stacked above the densest hoodoos — climb to the upper level for a dramatic, layered view as the light moves across Thor's Hammer and the Silent City.
Why sunrise is the headline at Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon's amphitheater of hoodoos faces roughly east, so the first light of day strikes the rock head-on and sets the whole bowl glowing orange and red — it's the single most photographed moment in the park, and the overlooks are literally named Sunrise Point and Sunset Point for it. The catch is timing and cold: the popular overlooks fill early, the seasonal shuttle doesn't start until well after dawn, and at 8,000 feet the pre-dawn air bites even in July. Pick your date above to get the exact times and a departure plan so you're standing at the rim, coffee in hand, before the light arrives.
Bryce Canyon Sunrise & Sunset FAQ
What time is sunrise and sunset at Bryce Canyon on my visit date?
Pick your date in the planner above and it shows the exact sunrise and sunset times for Bryce Canyon in Mountain Time, plus the morning and evening golden-hour windows. Times swing widely by season: around the summer solstice the sun rises near 6:00 AM and sets close to 8:55 PM, while near the winter solstice sunrise is around 7:40 AM and sunset around 5:15 PM. The tool handles the Mountain Time daylight-saving change automatically.
What time should I leave my hotel to catch sunrise at Bryce Canyon?
Choose where you're staying in the planner and it works out a 'leave by' time — your sunrise time minus an estimated drive to the rim minus a 45-minute cushion, because the pre-dawn glow on the hoodoos is half the show and parking fills fast at the popular overlooks. From the Bryce Canyon Lodge inside the park it's only a few minutes to Sunrise Point; from Tropic budget about 15–20 minutes, and from Panguitch closer to 30–35.
Which viewpoint is best for sunrise versus sunset at Bryce Canyon?
The amphitheater faces roughly east, so sunrise is the headline event — Sunrise Point, Bryce Point, and Inspiration Point all catch first light directly on the hoodoos. At sunset the light goes warm and low across the same overlooks, but Paria View is the only major overlook that faces southwest, so it's the one place you can watch the sun itself drop toward the horizon.
Does the Bryce Canyon shuttle run early enough for sunrise?
No. The seasonal Bryce Canyon shuttle typically starts around 8:00 AM, which is well after sunrise for most of the year, so you'll need to drive yourself to the rim for the sunrise window. The shuttle can be a good option for daytime viewpoints, but for both an early sunrise and a late summer sunset, plan to take your own car.
When is golden hour at Bryce Canyon?
Golden hour is the roughly 30–40 minutes after sunrise and before sunset when the low sun turns the hoodoos a deep orange-red — the best light for photography. The planner shows both the morning window (from sunrise until the sun climbs to about 6° above the horizon) and the evening window (from 6° down to sunset) for your specific date.