Sunset Point

Sunset Point sits at roughly 8,000 feet on the Bryce Amphitheater rim, about 1.5 miles south of the Visitor Center on the main park road. It is the busiest viewpoint in the park, serving as both a standalone overlook and the trailhead for the Navajo Loop, the most popular below-rim hike in Bryce Canyon.

The View from Sunset Point

The view looks east directly into the densest section of the Amphitheater. Thor's Hammer, the park's most photographed hoodoo, stands almost directly below the railing. To the south, the tightly packed formation known as the Silent City fills a broad bowl below the rising rim toward Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Beyond the hoodoos, the Table Cliff Plateau and Powell Point rise 2,000 feet higher on the horizon 13 miles to the east. On especially clear days, the dome of Navajo Mountain is visible 80 miles to the southeast.

The rock layers here display the Claron Formation's full color range. Iron oxides create the reds, oranges, and yellows of the lower Pink Member. Manganese oxides add patches of pink and purple. The transition to white marks the purer limestone of the Upper Member. NPS interpretive signs at the viewpoint explain the geology in detail.

Best Times to Visit

Despite its name, Sunset Point is better for sunrise than sunset. The viewpoint faces east, so morning light illuminates the hoodoos from the front. At actual sunset, the sun drops behind the viewer to the west, and the canyon falls into shadow. The late-afternoon glow is still worth seeing as warm light washes across the formations, but for a true horizon sunset, Paria View or Yovimpa Point are better options.

The viewpoint is not fenced in along its full length. It extends along the rim, which means even on busy days there is room to find a spot away from the crowd.

Trails from Sunset Point

The Navajo Loop Trail descends from the overlook on switchbacks through Wall Street, a narrow corridor between sheer limestone walls with towering Douglas fir trees at the bottom. The full loop is 1.3 miles with 515 feet of elevation gain and takes one to two hours. Most visitors combine it with the Queen's Garden Trail from Sunrise Point for a 2.9-mile circuit. Note: as of early 2026, the entire Navajo Loop is temporarily closed due to mudslides on the Two Bridges section. Check the NPS alerts page for current status before planning a hike from this trailhead.

The 0.5-mile paved Rim Trail between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point is flat, wide, and wheelchair accessible. Leashed dogs are permitted on this paved section. Benches line the path, and the Amphitheater views are continuous. The Bryce Canyon Lodge is accessible via a short connecting trail from the Rim Trail midpoint.

Facilities and Services

Sunset Point has year-round facilities including:

• Flush restrooms

• Drinking water

• Picnic tables

• Bicycle rack

• Interpretive exhibits

The General Store near the Sunrise Point parking area (about 0.5 mi north on the Rim Trail) offers snacks, groceries, coin laundry, and showers from mid-April through October. Sunset Campground sits directly across the road from the parking lot.

Parking and Transportation

Parking fills by 9 AM on summer mornings. The free park shuttle stops at Sunset Point every 15 minutes during its operating season (mid-April through mid-October) and is the easiest way to avoid the parking crunch. Arriving before 8 AM or after 4 PM also helps. Oversized vehicles (23 feet and longer) are restricted from the parking area during shuttle hours.

Ranger-led programs originate at Sunset Point during the spring-through-fall season, including half-hour Geology Talks and 1.5-hour interpretive rim walks. Both are free and wheelchair accessible.