Full Moon Hike

The Full Moon Hike is a ranger-led program that runs once a month, timed to the full moon, at Bryce Canyon National Park. It's billed as a "ranger's choice" outing — some months it stays up on the rim, other months it drops down into the amphitheater on steep, rocky switchbacks, so the route and difficulty change from hike to hike. Expect 1 to 2 miles round trip, walked by moonlight with no white-light flashlights allowed (a small red light is fine).

Good to know

• Reservations go through Recreation.gov, released in two waves — 14 days and 5 days before the date — and each account can book up to six spots
• Hikers must be at least 8 years old, and hiking boots or lugged-sole shoes are required and checked at check-in
• The hike is called off for cloud cover or temperatures below 10°F, so late-fall and winter dates carry real cancellation risk
• Pets aren't allowed, and the route isn't wheelchair accessible

Check in at the Visitor Center by mid-afternoon on hike day to confirm the meeting time and spot. Bring a jacket — even summer nights on the 8,000-plus-foot rim get cold once the sun's down.