Red Canyon Utah Hiking Guide and Scenic Bryce Canyon Adventure

If you’ve been planning your epic Southern Utah adventure and your first thought is “Bryce Canyon, obviously,” you’re not wrong, but you’re definitely not alone. Every year, over 2 million people flock to Bryce to check out its famous hoodoos, panoramic viewpoints, and those instantly recognizable amphitheaters. It’s dramatic. It’s iconic. At times it can also be packed with tourists, traffic, and trailheads that can feel more like theme park entrances by midday. So what if I told you there’s a spot just a few miles down the road that offers jaw-dropping scenery, amazing hikes, and hardly any crowds? Say hello to Red Canyon, Utah.

What is Red Canyon and Why Haven’t More People Heard of It?

Here’s the thing, Red Canyon isn’t some hidden slot canyon that requires a five-hour 4x4 approach and a permit you had to enter a lottery to get six months ago. It’s literally on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park. Like, on the way. You’ve probably driven past it without even realizing it. The entrance is on Scenic Byway 12, one of the most gorgeous stretches of road in the country. The thing is, because Red Canyon isn’t a national park, it doesn’t have the same crowds or marketing machine behind it. No entrance fee. No lines. No buses filled with tourists armed with matching hiking poles and Bluetooth speakers. It’s public land, managed by the Dixie National Forest, and it’s just quietly sitting there… being awesome.

The Landscape Is… a Little Unbelievable

If Bryce Canyon is the showstopper in a Broadway play, Red Canyon is the wildly talented understudy that steals the scene and makes you wonder why it wasn’t cast as the lead in the first place. The similarities are obvious, orange and red rock formations, hoodoos, cliffs, pine trees perched in gravity-defying places. But Red Canyon has its own vibe. The formations are closer to the road, more intimate. You don’t have to hike five miles to get a great view. You can park, step out of your car, and be in it. And yes, there are hoodoos. Maybe not the amphitheater-style “sea of spires” like you’ll see in Bryce, but plenty of them. Enough to fill your camera roll with every shade of red, orange, and gold you could want. There’s a rawness to the place, less curated, more natural. You feel like you’ve discovered something, which is rare these days.

Hiking in Red Canyon: The Trails are Seriously Underrated

Let’s talk trails, because if you’re coming to Southern Utah, you’re here to move your legs, not just sit in the car. Red Canyon has a handful of hiking options that pack a punch without requiring a full day’s commitment (or a recovery massage). The Pink Ledges Trail is the perfect warm-up, just under a mile but filled with Instagram-worthy views. If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, the Birdseye Trail gives you elevated views of the canyon floor and some seriously photogenic rock spires. Want something longer? Golden Wall Trail is a solid choice. It’s about 4 miles one-way, connects to other trails, and gives you everything from thick forest to dramatic cliffside views. And the best part? You might only see a handful of people the entire time. No fighting for trail space, no tour groups doing a loud play-by-play of every cactus they pass. Just you and the landscape.

An Actual Bryce Canyon Alternative, Not Just a Consolation Prize

Sometimes when people say “alternative,” what they really mean is “cheaper, smaller, or not quite as good.” Not the case here. Red Canyon is the real deal. If you’re short on time or energy, this is a way to experience the best of Southern Utah hiking without the logistics of entering a national park. And if you are planning to visit Bryce anyway, Red Canyon adds an extra layer to your adventure. It’s a different kind of beautiful. Less manicured, more raw. Think of Bryce as a museum, and Red Canyon as an open studio where the artist is still working. Same material, totally different energy.

The Best Part? No Reservation Needed

Let’s be honest, national parks are amazing, but they’ve gotten complicated. Timed entry systems, parking shuttles, one-way trails… you practically need a travel agent just to plan your hike. Red Canyon has none of that. Show up when you want. Stay as long as you want. There’s a visitor center (with actual humans inside), clean restrooms, and trail maps. It’s easy. And these days, easy is underrated.

Nearby Perks and Hidden Gems

If you’re road-tripping through Southern Utah, Red Canyon is an ideal stop to break up the drive. It’s just minutes from Bryce Canyon and only a couple hours from Zion, Escalante, and Capitol Reef. That means you can hit multiple major destinations and still carve out time for this lesser-known gem without throwing off your entire itinerary. And let’s not forget the area’s mountain biking scene. Red Canyon’s Thunder Mountain Trail is a bucket-list ride for cyclists, flowy singletrack, epic views, and more red rock than your GoPro can handle. Not into bikes? No worries. You can also camp, picnic, or just sit in the shade and try to count hoodoos. Spoiler: you won’t.

Want to Level Up the View? See It All from the Sky

Of course, the trails and scenic drives are amazing, but if you really want to understand just how wild and layered this landscape is, you’ve got to see it from above. Bryce Canyon Helicopters offers helicopter tours that fly over Bryce Canyon National Park and, yes, Red Canyon too. It’s one thing to hike around the cliffs and canyons. It’s another thing entirely to soar over them, watching the sun light up the rock layers from thousands of feet in the air. Whether you opt for the quick panoramic tour, the extended highlights tour, or the full Bryce Canyon & Grand Staircase combo, it’s hands down the most unforgettable way to see this terrain. Stadium-style seating and 180-degree views mean everyone gets the window seat. If you’re already exploring Southern Utah on foot, why not top it off with something you literally can’t do anywhere else?

So Should You Add Red Canyon to Your Itinerary?

Absolutely. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes finding the spots just off the main road, the ones that aren’t printed on every guidebook map, Red Canyon is your place. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Southern Utah, and it delivers everything people love about Bryce Canyon without the traffic, the tour buses, or the sensory overload. So next time you’re headed to Bryce Canyon and thinking “I wonder what else is around here,” don’t just drive past those striking red cliffs on Highway 12. Pull over. Take a hike. Or, if you’re ready to take it to the next level, book a seat with us at Bryce Canyon Helicopters and see what this landscape really looks like. Either way, Red Canyon won’t disappoint. And hey, if you walk away thinking it was better than Bryce? We won’t tell.

Created On 14 Apr 2025