Under Canvas Bryce Canyon

"Experience this otherworldly landscape with your mom with a glamping girls trip at Under Canvas. You can spend the days enjoying the great outdoors—hiking, whitewater rafting, or fly fishing—and relax in your very own safari-style canvas tent, complete with a private bathroom." - Nicole Kliest

"At Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, a 50-tent camp in a juniper forest in southwestern Utah, a new hiking excursion sends guests rappelling through Dunham Slot Canyon before returning for s'mores by the firepit."

"Why book? All the bells and whistles of an upscale glamping experience, while still feeling like you’re out in the wilderness—if the wilderness had comfortable queen-sized beds to collapse into after a day of hiking, that is. Set the scene Unless you’re coming from the nearby Under Canvas in Zion, it’s likely that you’re feeling a little travel weary—most guests fly in and out of Las Vegas, a four hour drive away—but the scenery as you approach the property is a reminder of why it took so long to get here: near-endless green plateaus dotted with wildflowers, and towering mountains illuminated by the sun, some of which give you a glimpse of the famous reddish pink rock you came all the way to Bryce Canyon for. Arrive at the camp in the peak of summer (the season runs from May to late September) and you’ll likely run into as many Europeans as Americans driving around the region in search of the Mighty Five. The crowd gives a sense of international joviality that makes for excellent campfire conversation come nightfall. The backstory Under Canvas made a name for itself during the pandemic thanks to its ability to create upscale camping experiences that provided equal doses of fresh air and community during a time of social distancing. The brand hasn’t veered away from the formula with its latest Bryce Canyon location, which opened August 2022—and why would they? This is a property for outdoorsy types who don’t plan on spending much time at camp (most guests were arriving from other nearby parks and monuments like Zion and Grand Staircase-Escalante), opting to spend the day clocking up some serious hiking mileage instead, but also want to treat themselves to a real bed, hot water, and fresh food that they didn’t have to prepare themselves over a camping stove. Under Canvas is by far the only brand to have pursued the concept—Collective Retreats can also be found in locations across the country—but they nail it with the warm, communal atmosphere and little touches like endless supplies of s’mores, the safari tents’ minimal yet thoughtful furnishings, and proximity to so many breathtaking national parks. The rooms The safari-style tents stick to the same style as other Under Canvas properties: Thick, heavy duty canvas that’s ready to be battered by the weather and solid wood floors, as well as leather butterfly chairs, a queen-sized bed that was more comfortable than some five-star hotel ones I’ve slept in, vintage-style wood burning stoves (complete with instructions!) for guests to light themselves when the evening temps start to get chilly. There are five types of tents available to book, starting with kids tents (this is a family-friendly kind of joint) and ending with a suite that can sleep up to four people. We were in the Stargazer suite, which I personally find hard to beat given its unique amenity: a dome like window over the bed to allow you to fall asleep under the stars and wake up to the sunrise, all while still cocooned in the warmth of a down comforter. There are, however, a few charming gestures towards camping. Some tents have private bathrooms, but the showers operate on a pull chain, and the water only remains as hot as how hard you hold it down; bedside lamps, meanwhile, are replaced with chargeable lanterns, keeping electricity use at a minimum. Another nice detail? The small deck outside our tent made for a perfect morning coffee location. Food and drink I arrived at the camp during the first week after opening, and as a result the menu still felt limited—although the quality was good, and there was a smattering of specials through the weekend. My morning routine consisted of eggs any style with crisp bacon and rocket fuel strength coffee, while my hiking-packed days proved to be a good excuse to order the perfectly cooked bison burger more than once. On the second night we did have to resort to pre-prepared salads and sandwiches for dinner after the propane canister ran out and the gas burners went kaput, but hey, we were camping after all.The neighborhood/area The undisturbed, remote location makes for fantastic sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing, but it’s Bryce Canyon you’re here for. Just a 20-minute drive to the park entrance, you could feasibly shuttle yourself back and forth from camp during the day if you wanted, although I suggest packing a few sandwiches and snacks provided by the property and making a day of it. Even at peak season, only a few trails felt crowded (Fairyland Loop and Navajo Loop being two of them, but still awe-inspiringly worth it) while others like Mossy Cave and Bristlecone Loop we had almost entirely to ourselves—absolute bliss. The service Service is hands off, every staff member was warm, attentive, and so knowledgeable of the area. Make sure to track down Matt in the main dining and lobby area for trail recommendations—it’s thanks to him that we ended up on pindrop quiet Bristlecone, where we got to watch a peregrine falcon swoop in and out of the canyon’s caves.\ For families This is one of those rare places that is truly as appropriate for families as it is for couples, and there was a considerable number of families staying there from all around the world. The aforementioned kid’s tents mean they can feel like they’re having their own independent camping experience, and there are kid-friendly experiences like a stargazing walk in the evening—although, admittedly, it’s just as wonderful an option for adults. Eco effort Because this is a glamping spot, it lends itself to being an inherently sustainable experience. The pull chain on the shower leaves you feeling pretty virtuous, especially after a long hike. Accessibility The paths aren’t paved, and some of the tents, like ours, are up a relatively steep hill. However, there are golf buggies to zip guests around with ease. One other thing to note, though: Many of the tents have a small flight of steps up to the entrance. Anything left to mention? Don’t sleep on the wood burning stove, and book the Stargazer Suite if you can: cozied up under that window with the soft smell of woodsmoke wafting through the tent was a wonderful way to be lulled to sleep—being woken up by the glow of the Supermoon was pretty magical, too." - Lale Arikoglu

"Under Canvas Bryce Canyon offers safari-style tents with West Elm furnishings, en suite bathrooms, king-size beds, and wood-fired stoves. The camp provides amenities such as a kitchen serving meals, grab-n-go options, free s'mores kits, and complimentary programming including yoga classes, live music, and astrology readings." - Jennifer Flowers

"Located in: Bryce Canyon National Park Though Under Canvas has glamping sites in a dozen national parks across the country, we’re particularly taken with the brand’s Bryce Canyon outpost, which opened in the summer of 2022. While the camp is technically located about 15 minutes from the entrance of Bryce Canyon National Park, it’s by far the best option for outdoorsy types who want to enjoy the hiking trails and hoodoo-filled vistas the park is known for—without sacrificing hot water, fresh food, or a real bed." - Kristin Conard, Caitlin Morton