Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks Self-Driving Bundle Tour

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Named after the Mormon Pioneer Ebenezer Bryce, Bryce Canyon became a National Park in 1924. Bryce is famous for its unique geology, which consists of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. Named after the Mormon Pioneer Ebenezer Bryce, Bryce Canyon became a National Park in 1924. NOTE: The tour is over 20+ miles long per tour, with more than 50+ audio stories per tour, and takes about 2-3 hours per tour to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

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2. Bryce Canyon Visitor Center

   Embark on this epic adventure through Bryce Canyon National Park just before the Visitor Center. As we begin the drive, we'll learn about how the canyon got its namesake and about the original Paitue people who called this land home.

   120 minutes here

3. Our first detour is at the breathtaking Fairyland Point. This overlook offers a great sneak peek at everything Bryce Canyon contains: sweeping vistas, sheer cliffs, and, of course, the world-famous hoodoos!

   30 minutes here

4. Sunrise Point

   Our next stop is one of the most famous in the entire park: Sunrise Point. From this vantage point, we'll see unique, picturesque rock formations spread out in front of us and a plethora of natural trails leading into the vast, alient landscape.

   10 minutes here

5. Our self-guided driving tour continues around the famous Bryce Amphitheatre! The canyon curves around in the shape of a giant semicircle and dips far below our feet.

   10 minutes here

6. Our drive brings us to another striking vista point overlooking the Bryce Amphitheatre: Sunset Point. Here, as we gaze out over the implausible shapes below us, we'll learn about the science behind their formations and understand what, exactly, makes a hoodoo. We'll explore the impact of geology and erosion over a monumental time scale, hoping to understand how such a incredible landscape came into existence.

   10 minutes here

7. Inspiration Point

   We continue our self-guided tour deeper into Bryce Canyon, towards Inspiration Point. As we drive, we learn about the Paiute people and their mythologies. They had their own explanation for the uniqueness of this landscape and the origins of Bryce's famous hoodoos.

   10 minutes here

8. Bryce Point

   This brings us to Bryce Point, which offers one of the most scenic vistas of the full amphitheater. Bryce Point is also famous for its extraordinary sunrises. From here you can watch the tops of hoodoos set alight as if by fire from the first rays of the rising sun. Like fire, the orange light quickly spreads driving shadows from all but the deepest recesses of the amphitheater. As we drive here, we'll learn about the Mormon settlers who followed the Paitue and tried to eke out a living in this unforgiving climate.

   10 minutes here

9. Paria View

   Our self-guided tour continues to Paria View, where we see the effects of a centuries-old glacier. As the earth warmed about 12,000 years ago, the last ice age came to an end. As the enormous glaciers which covered the American continent melted, all that new water had to go somewhere. Answer: down the canyon!

   5 minutes here

10. Now our drive takes us into the lesser-trafficked part of the park. As we drive to Swamp Canyon Overlook, we'll learn about a famous local: Butch Cassidy! We'll learn all about Butch, Sundance, and the difference between fact and fiction as we continue the self-guided tour.

    10 minutes here

11. Our next stop is at Farview Point. It’s not just the elevation that allows for such incredible views here -- the land here also offers something becoming increasingly rare in today’s world. Can you guess what it is? Clean air! That's helped along by the abundance of bristlecone pines here, which are the Earth's oldest trees.

    5 minutes here

12. The self-guided tour passes by Natural Bridge next, which features unusual arches and formations -- in case we weren't already amazed by the hoodoos of the amphitheatre!

    10 minutes here

13. At Agua Canyon two prominent hoodoos command attention. On the left, is the taller of the two towers, "The Hunter." To the right, the "Rabbit". Neither look anything like a hunter or rabbit though! As we drive on, we'll learn about rabbits, deer, and other wildlife of Bryce. We'll also understand what tricks they use to survive the scorching hot summers and deeply freezing winters.

    10 minutes here

14. Ponderosa Canyon

    This brings us to Ponderosa Point, from which you can see the park’s iconic junipers sprawling out into the distance. We're now driving into the deepest recesses of Bryce Canyon National Park.

    10 minutes here

15. Our self-guided drive continues towards Black Birch Canyon Overlook. As we drive, we'll learn all about the night sky and opportunities for amateaur astronomy while you're here. The stargazing at Bryce is unparalleled.

    5 minutes here

16. Rainbow Point

    Finally, we reach the farthest overlooks inside Bryce Canyon: Rainbow and Yovimpa. From here, you can see nearly everything in Bryce Canyon -- the quintessential hoodoos, the verdant basin, the sheer cliffs. You can even see that you're on the top step of the incredibly massive "Grand Staircase" -- a geologic structure "stepping down" all the way to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

    10 minutes here

17. That arch up ahead and its twin a little ways down the road are the Red Canyon Arches. These might look a little like natural arches, but they’re actually made by people. Workers tunneled through solid rock here in 1914 to make room for the road. Since then, these have become a sort of gateway to the beautiful expanse of Bryce Canyon.

    10 minutes here

18. Zion National Park

    Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. The river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Also along the river, partly through deep chasms, is Zion Narrows wading hike.

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19. Springdale Visitor Center

    Welcome to Zion National Park! This raw landscape has it all: staggering mountain peaks, stunning natural pools, and gorgeous vistas. We’ll explore it all today.

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20. Zion Canyon Visitor Center

    Continue straight. Just before the bridge, you’ll see a path on the left. That’s the start of the Pa’rus Trail. And just after the bridge is another path -- the Watchman Trail. Both are popular hikes with great views at the end.

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21. While we don’t know too much about those Ice Age hunters, newer residents left their stories behind. Around 300 BCE, people started settling down here and farming. They grew squash and corn, and gradually learned how to better cultivate the land and survive the unforgiving climate. One group, the Fremont, cultivated a drought- and cold-resistant species of corn which could thrive even at high altitudes.

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22. We’re almost at Canyon Junction Bridge. There’s a lot going on there: First, it’s a great sunset spot. Be sure to come back here later. Second, there are great views of the Watchman and other mountains. If you find parking, take it and listen to the Learn More stories about the peaks. Third, this is where the road splits: Turn left if you want to drive along the Scenic Road and visit the Narrows, Angel’s Landing, or the Emerald Pools.

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23. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive

    Whew, what a view! Those three mountains are the iconic Court of the Patriarchs. And who are these patriarchs? Well, a local Christian minister named them after three figures from the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from left to right.

    180 minutes here

24. The park service works hard to keep this place as natural and untouched as possible… while simultaneously handling over 4 million visitors each year. But that wasn’t the case in the early 1900s. No one knew about this place and that meant no revenue... and that meant… development.

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25. Emerald Pools

    First, bring lots of water! You may think you’ve got enough… but you probably don’t. This might seem obvious, but Utah’s heat is unforgiving, and heat-stroke or sun-stroke can easily ruin a fun vacation. Second, make sure you don’t overtax yourself! Hiking around here is going to be more difficult than you might be used to, thanks to the elevation. Be sure you don’t embark on journeys you’re not certain you’ll be able to finish.

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Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Travel with Action

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Check current road, trail, weather, and park conditions before your visit.
• During shuttle season, private vehicles are not permitted on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Ride the free park shuttle and bring headphones to listen to the audio tour. When the shuttle is not operating, private vehicles may access the scenic drive, subject to parking availability.
• A permit is required to hike Angels Landing. Apply through either the seasonal lottery or the day-before lottery, and save a digital or printed copy of your permit before arriving.
• Wilderness permits are required for hikes such as The Subway and the top-down Narrows route. A permit is not required for the standard bottom-up Narrows hike beginning at the Temple of Sinawava.
• BRYCE: During shuttle season, vehicles measuring 23 feet or longer are restricted from parking at the Visitor Center, Sunrise Point, Bryce Lodge, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Bryce Point, and Paria View. Oversized vehicles should use designated parking areas and ride the free park shuttle.
• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
• Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
• More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
• Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
• Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
• Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
• Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

Photos

Traveler reviews

74 verified traveler reviews for Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks Self-Driving Bundle Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.