Zion to Bryce Canyon by motorcycle
This is the ride ZionRider is named for: up through Zion Canyon's east side, through the tunnel, across the slickrock and on to the pink cliffs of Bryce. Do it as a long day out and back, or as the first leg of a bigger loop.
The route at a glance
- Start: Springdale, at Zion's south entrance
- Roads: UT-9 (Zion-Mount Carmel Highway) east to Mount Carmel Junction, US-89 north, UT-12 east through Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon
- Return: the same way, or loop back south on US-89 through Kanab
- Distance: about 85 miles one way (estimate; check your map app)
- Riding time: about 2 hours one way without stops (estimate). Plan a full day with stops.
- Best for: any road bike. Cruisers and tourers are right at home here.
Mile by mile
Springdale to the tunnel. UT-9 climbs out of Zion Canyon in a run of tight switchbacks. Take them easy: the view pulls your eyes off the road, and the pull-outs fill up fast in summer.
The Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel. The highway through here dates from 1930 (NPS). Large RVs and trailers need a special escort through it, and the size limits apply between Canyon Junction and the East Entrance. Expect short waits while they run. On a bike you just roll through with traffic; turn your headlight on and keep it steady inside.
East Zion slickrock. Past the tunnel the road opens into checkerboard sandstone. Watch for bighorn sheep on the shoulders and for cars stopped suddenly in the lane.
Mount Carmel Junction to Red Canyon. US-89 north is a relaxed valley ride. Turn east on UT-12 and you're on Scenic Byway 12. Red Canyon's arches and hoodoos come first, about 16 miles before Bryce Canyon City (Visit Utah).
Bryce Canyon. The rim sits around 9,000 feet (Visit Utah), so it can be 20+ degrees cooler than Springdale (estimate). Pack a warm layer even in summer.
Park fees for motorcycles
- Zion charges $30 per motorcycle, valid 7 days (NPS Zion fees). (Whether a pass-through on UT-9 is charged: verify with the park before publishing.)
- From 2026, non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual America the Beautiful pass (NPS Zion fees). Bryce Canyon is on the same list of parks (TownLift).
- Doing more than two or three parks? The annual pass usually works out cheaper.
Tips
- Fuel: top up in Springdale or at Mount Carmel Junction. Services thin out on UT-12.
- Heat: summer afternoons in Zion are hot. Ride the canyon early, then climb to Bryce where it's cooler.
- Altitude: you gain about 5,000 feet between Springdale and the Bryce rim (estimate). Drink water, and take a break if you feel lightheaded.
- Weather: check road conditions before you leave. Bryce can see snow in spring and fall.
- Rules: helmet law, eye protection and lane filtering are covered in Riding in Utah.
Extend it
- Keep going east on Scenic Byway 12 to Escalante and Boulder: see Moab to Bryce via Highways 24 and 12, ridden in reverse.
- Make it a week: the Mighty 5 by motorcycle.