Sunrise Point
The view to the northeast from Sunrise Point captures Boat Mesa and the Sinking Ship.
Plan Around Sunrise Point
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Sunrise Point Details
Sunrise Point is the Bryce Canyon overlook closest to the park Visitor Center, the Bryce Canyon Lodge and the North Campground, so it gets plenty of visitors. That's not just a matter of convenience, however -- the views from Sunrise Point, whether you're actually here to see the sun rise over the Bryce Amphitheater or visiting any time of day, are awe-inspiring. In the foreground, you'll see row upon row of Bryce's famous "hoodoos" -- tall, thin columns and rock spires eroded from the edge of the plateau you are standing on. To the northeast, you can see 8,073-foot Boat Mesa and the Sinking Ship, a tilted rock formation that demonstrates the tectonic uplift forces that created Bryce Canyon. In the distance, you'll also see the Pink Cliffs of the Aquarius Plateau. Eventually, the ground you are standing on at Sunrise Point also will erode to create more hoodoos -- in fact, the Paunsaugunt Plateau crumbles away at a rate of two to four feet every century. Clinging to the edge of the canyon with their roots exposed are hardy limber pines, while the Ponderosa pines so common above the rim thin out rapidly as you descent from Sunrise Point via the popular Queen's Garden Trail.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Nearby Parks Around Sunrise Point
Compare nearby parks around Sunrise Point when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Sunrise Point
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Sunrise Point while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Tower Bridge Trail
The trail to Tower Bridge begins at Sunrise Point and mostly follows the Fairyland Loop Trail.
0.2 mi away
The China Wall
An excellent example of a Bryce Canyon fin, with clues to how such structures form.
0.2 mi away
Queen's Garden Trail
This lovely trail is also the easiest route into the Bryce Amphitheater.
