Top Things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park
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10 Nature & Parks in Bryce Canyon National Park That You Shouldn't Miss
Pink cliffs, dramatic hoodoos and towering red and yellow spires make Bryce Canyon a geological wonder. While its founder, Ebenezer Bryce, thought that the canyon was just "a helluva place to lose a cow," visitors today will appreciate the panoramas, the flora and fauna and the limestone formations. Hike on the mile-long Bristlecone Loop or on the 22-plus mile Under the Rim trail. With 50 miles of trails, mountain biking, horseback riding and star talks, Bryce is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.
1. Fairyland Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 338 reviews
8-mile loop strenuous hike to Fairyland and Campbell Canyons.
Reviewed By artdob - Simi Valley, United States
This was our main hike at Bryce Canyon National Park.. We did the whole thing and then some. We started I believe at Sunrise Point. Plan on this hike to take a good portion of your day if you intend to hike the entire trail. This hike will take roughly 5 hours and the visual rewards are great. As you make your way into the initial portion of the hike, you’ll soon come across spectacular hoodoos. They are everywhere. Be prepared to stop often and admire these geological wonders. The scenery along the way is stunning. You’ll get a nice view of Tower Bridge – not the one in London England, but the Utah version. The trail is well maintained, wide enough and generally even without too many rocks to stumble over on the trail itself. The terrain is primarily dry, though you’ll be treated to occasional flowers along the walk in spring and summer. There are great vistas along the journey. Perhaps because of its length and difficulty level, this trail is less travelled as compared to the popular Navajo and Queens trails. As a result, you’ll likely enjoy much of the hike without a sense of being in a crowd. This loop trail also includes a portion of the Rim Trail from Sunset Point back to the Fairyland Point, completing the “loop”. It is easy to get carried away with photography on this hike. Everywhere you look, the trail offers something amazing. One major tip – don’t walk and photo at the same time. You wouldn’t want to take a step over a ledge anywhere – which could be easier to do than you might think. Yes, I’m talking to you GoPro folks walking and talking at the same time. And yes, guilty here too. This hike is rated as strenuous. You’ll be walking for nearly 8 miles and be logging in roughly 1,545 feet in elevation change along the walk. You’ll fare better if you are in decent physical shape and have done a similar hike before. EQUIPMENT -Water: This is essential. We came with 2 liters a piece on a day where the temperatures were in the low 80s. We would have needed more if the day was hotter. -Sun screen: You’ll be better off with some of this on the exposed areas of your body. -Hat: Keep the sun off your face. -Trekking Poles: These just make this type of hike easier and more enjoyable. They also are helpful in mitigating injury risk. We are approaching 60 years of age (not quite there yet), but we were able to complete the hike without any challenges.
2. Peek-A-Boo Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 491 reviews
4.1-mile Hiking Trail, Often Steep, Which Is Used By People And Horses, And Has A Picnic Area At The Bottom.
Reviewed By AeneasAtSea - Salt Lake City, United States
This easternmost loop inside Bryce Canyon is probably the most strenuous of the amphitheater trails, since it is relatively shadeless and has a lot of up and down. But it is spectacular, with a number of fun tunnel arches along the way. It is accessed either by the little connector trail from the Navajo loop or from the east rim. The trail itself is about 4 miles long, not counting whatever trails are used to access it. If you have time and energy, it is one of the canyon's best hikes, especially if you can combine it with either the rim trail or the Queen's Garden loop.
3. Riggs Spring Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
This 8.8-mile hiking trail affords excellent views of Bryce Canyon's famous rock formations and features the changing forests from spruce and Douglas fir at higher elevations, to ponderosa pine toward the bottom.
4. Navajo/Queens Garden Loop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,703 reviews
2.9-mile hiking trail that leads to rock formations shaped like Queen Victoria and her garden.
Reviewed By JayG2720 - Frisco, United States
My wife and I Hike the combined Navajo/Queens Garden loop at Bryce Natl Park and really enjoyed it. Definitely would recommend it for anyone visiting the park as it was an easy to moderate hike that allows you to experience the hoo doo amphitheater up close and provides a great perspective looking up through them up to the ridge. Would agree with the recommendation to start at sunrise point and proceed clockwise as it gives you a much more gradual descent and leaves you a ascent to sunset point that provides great views of Thor’s Hammer and the overall amphitheater. Definitely a highlight of our four park circle tour this fall!
5. Wall Street
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 311 reviews
Narrow walking area between rock walls.
Reviewed By Bandit331 - North Salt Lake, United States
Start at Sunrise Point and follow the "Wall Street" sign descending down a winding path to a wonderful slot canyon with tall trees growing within it. Beautiful colors and cool shade areas. Easy going down but a good hike back up. Take your time and bring water; about an hour roundtrip.
6. Navajo Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 769 reviews
The 2.2-mile trail takes hikers down 521 feet into the magnificent canyon, so make sure you bring lots of film.
Reviewed By 919cherylj - Bloomington, United States
We started at Sunset Point (very steep and easier to descend than ascend), hiked down Wall Street, and then completed the Navajo Loop. The amazing rock formations, Thor's Hammer and the 3 Sisters, can be viewed at the end of this loop.
7. Sunset Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 794 reviews
See the canyon spread out below you, and the hoodoos rise up.
Reviewed By richardsM2843GS - Maricopa, United States
Stunning views and each is different from each view point. Take the time to stop inhale the fresh mountain air, you will be at about 7,000 feet so if your not in shape you will get out of breath walking around.
8. Queen's Garden Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 510 reviews
This 1.5 mile loop is an extremely colorful trail with views of some interesting hoodoos.
Reviewed By robb118 - Las Vegas, United States
I was reluctant to write a review, as I wasn’t sure I would be able to provide any more superlatives to those already provided. Just know that I agree with all of the most positive reviews about the beauty and texture of this very unique place. There is one item I would like to add is in regard to the Navajo Loop, which connects to Queens Garden Trail. If you use the NL to ascend, please consider using the Left trail, known as Wall Street, which has many of the element ms of Bryce Canyon, as well as some very nice little slot canyons of it’s own. The route up Wall Street is slightly longer than the alternate route, but I’m told it’s better to see on the ascent than in the descent. Just wanted to point that route out, as it is mentioned in many of the guide books but IMO, it’s not really features as it should be.
9. Bryce Canyon National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,778 reviews
Reviewed By HeidiGrebeinTC - Traverse City, United States
We 3 (mom, dad, and tween son) ventured to Bryce after a 3 day experience in Zion and were just as amazed! Praise God they are different! We drove the scenic drive upon arrival one afternoon after studying the park brochure and map from the ranger's station. We got out at every stop on the map! Took pix and did some hikes which were wonderful! Highly recommend hiking the Bristlecone Trail at the last stop out on the point as well as hiking down either Sunrise or Sunset Points to the valley and also checking out Inspiration Point hike, all easy to moderate. Remember water, sun hat, sunglasses, and good shoes with traction when hiking in southern Utah! So the special things about Bryce include the hoodoos, the pine trees, the light colored stone, and the free shuttles (Zion has them too). You gotta go!
10. Rim Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By Hermes_NL - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Rim Trail follows the cliff of the the Bryce Amphitheatre - a horseshoe shaped one-sided erosional feature which is the main attraction at Bryce. The rim trail is fairly flat and very close to various parking lots. It features four well layed out view points: Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Just walking the rim trail and visiting these four points is an easy exercise and could even be done with a wheelchair - and yet this will give you a fantastic impression of Bryce. The rim trail is only a few hundred meters away also from the Lodge at Bryce Canyon (the only accomodation inside the park) If you have a bit more time and you are reasonably fit, you can also hike the Navajo Trail into the Amphitheatre which runs from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point or vice versa. Better to bring water for this hike which is about two-three hours, certainly if you include Wall Street.
