Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bryce isn't really a canyon. It's a series of amphitheaters filled with thousands of orange and pink rock spires called hoodoos. From the rim it's stunning; from the trails winding between the spires it's even better. One full day covers the classics, and two lets you add a long loop and a sunrise. Come at dawn or dusk, when the hoodoos glow.
TRAILS
1 OF 6
Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2.9 mi
Elevation gain
625 ft
Bryce Amphitheater · Sunrise Point to Sunset Point — The essential Bryce hike. Go down Queen's Garden among the hoodoos, wander the forested canyon floor, then climb out through Wall Street, a deep slot with Douglas firs reaching for the light. Hiking it in this direction puts the steepest part on the way down. Walk the rim back to your start, or take the shuttle.
⚠︎ Parts of the Navajo Loop (Wall Street or Two Bridges side) close at times for rockfall.
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 6
Peekaboo Loop
Difficulty
Hard
Length
5.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,550 ft
Bryce Amphitheater · Bryce Point — A rollercoaster loop deep in the amphitheater, with some of the densest hoodoos in the park, the Wall of Windows and plenty of short, steep climbs. It's busier with horses than hikers in some seasons, so yield to riders. Connect it with the Navajo Loop for a longer day. The climb back to Bryce Point at the end is a real effort.
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 6
Fairyland Loop
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
8 mi loop
Elevation gain
1,900 ft
Fairyland Point · Fairyland Point trailhead — The quietest of the big loops, winding through hoodoos, past China Wall and Tower Bridge and back along the rim. You'll climb out of and back into side canyons several times, so it feels longer than the miles suggest. Start in the morning, carry plenty of water, and save the rim section for the end with the best views.
Photo: Frypie, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 6
Rim Trail: Sunrise to Sunset Point
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1 mi one way
Elevation gain
40 ft
Bryce Amphitheater · Sunrise or Sunset Point — A paved stretch of the rim with the whole amphitheater below you the entire way. It's the easiest way to see Bryce and perfect at sunrise, when the first light turns the hoodoos orange. Keep going on the unpaved rim toward Inspiration and Bryce points for bigger views and fewer people.
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 6
Mossy Cave
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.8 mi
Elevation gain
150 ft
Highway 12 · Mossy Cave trailhead — A short streamside walk to a shady grotto dripping with moss in summer and hung with icicles in winter. A side spur leads to a small waterfall fed by a pioneer-era irrigation ditch, a rare sight in this dry country. It's outside the main park road, so stop on the drive in from Tropic.
Photo: Julianibarra, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 6
Bristlecone Loop
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1 mi loop
Elevation gain
200 ft
Southern Scenic Drive · Rainbow Point — At the end of the scenic drive and the highest point in the park, this loop wanders through spruce and fir to cliff-edge views over the Grand Staircase. Ancient bristlecone pines cling to the rim, some well over a thousand years old. It's cooler up here, so bring a layer even in summer.
Photo: Milo44, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Bryce Canyon trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.