Bryce Canyon National Park Hiking Guide
Welcome to the Bryce Canyon National Park Hiking Guide
Here you will find information on hiking trails for day hikes and backcountry exploration, biking paths, and wilderness areas of interest for hikers.
Here you will find information on hiking trails for day hikes and backcountry exploration, biking paths, and wilderness areas of interest for hikers.
|
|
|
| Biking Information | Hiking Information | Hiking Tips |
Hiking Information
Hiking in the Bryce Canyon National Park can be a fun and rewarding experience as in other national parks. It is a great way to both see and experience the park.
| Trail | Length | Time | Elevation Change | Description |
| Bristlecone Loop | 1.0 mi 1.6 km |
1 Hour | 100 ft 31 m |
Hike through dense spruce-fir forests to exposed cliffs where bristlecone pines survive and distant views are exceptional. |
| Fairyland Loop | 8.0 mi 12.9 km |
4 - 5 Hours | 900 ft 275 m |
Hike into Fairyland and Campbell Canyons and around Boat Mesa on this strenuous but less crowded trail dotted with juniper and mountain mahogany. |
| Navajo Loop | 1.4 mi 2.2 km |
1 - 2 Hours | 521 ft 159 m |
A series of switchbacks leads to Wall Street, a narrow canyon with high rock walls and Douglas fir trees stretching to reach the sun. Northern section of trail affords close-up views of Thor's Hammer. |
| Navajo / Queen's | 2.9 mi 4.6 km |
2 - 3 Hour | 521 ft 159 m |
Combine two trails with a connecting trail that winds along the canyon floor through an open forest of pine and juniper. Hike the rim back to your starting point. |
| Peekaboo Loop | 4.8 mi 7.8 km |
3 - 4 Hours | 521 ft 159 m |
Steep hike past Wall of Windows and Three Wisemen. Trail is also used by horses in the summer and fall. Pit toilets and a picnic area are available at the bottom. This hike starts at Sunset Point. |
| Peekaboo Loop | 6.8 mi 10.9 km |
3 - 4 Hours | 521 ft 159 m |
Steep hike past Wall of Windows and Three Wisemen. Trail is also used by horses in the summer and fall. Pit toilets and a picnic area are available at the bottom. This hike starts at Sunrise Point. |
| Queen's Garden | 1.8 mi 2.9 km |
1 - 2 Hours | 320 ft 98 m |
Considered the easiest trail for descending below the rim. Portals carved into the rock offer the opportunity to see formations in the shapes of Queen Victoria and her "garden". |
| Rim | 11.0 mi 17.7 km |
5 - 6 Hours | 550 ft 168 m |
Parallels Bryce Amphitheater between Fairyland and Bryce points. Hike all or part of the trail for outstanding views of hoodoos from above, as well as panoramic vistas of over 100 miles. Section between Sunset and Sunrise Points is paved and fairly level. |
| Tower Bridge | 3.0 mi 4.8 km |
2 - 3 Hours | 800 ft 244 m |
Descend past bristlecone pines and the Chinese Wall along this beautiful stretch of the Fairyland Trail. Follow a shady side trail south 0.25 mile to the bridge. |
| Top Hat | 3.8 mi 6.0 km |
3 - 4 Hours | 900 ft 275 m |
Leads to the Hat Shop, where hard gray caps balance precariously on top of narrow pedestals of softer rust-colored rock. |
Hiking Tips
- Be aware of the altitude. Park elevations reach 9115 feet (2778 meters).
- Know and respect your limitations.
- Stay on designated trails away from cliff edges. Loose and crumbly rocks can make footing treacherous. Falls on steep slopes can be deadly.
- Ankle injuries are a number one safety problem. Wear boots with good ankle support and traction.
- Avoid dehydration, drink plenty of water.
- Wear a hat and long sleeves. High altitude sun can burn quickly. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses that block ultraviolet light.
- Watch wildlife from a distance.
- Do not take shelter under trees during lightning storms.
Biking Information
Bicycling is permitted only on paved roads in Bryce Canyon National Park. An entry fee of $3.00 per bicyclist is charged. Stop at the entrance station or the visitor center for details on biking in the park.
Bryce Canyon
The narrow and winding main road to Rainbow point at the end of the park is 17 miles long and ascends from 7900 to 9105 feet. The road is narrow and winds through forest and meadows to top of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The amphitheater's colorful pinnacles, spires and monuments can be seen from viewpoints along the east side of the road. A Note of Caution Watch for cars pulling in and out of the viewpoints.
Dave's Hollow & Johnson Hollow
This easy double track trail is a connecting route between Bryce Canyon National Park entrance and Tropic Reservoir. It follows the Great Western Trail through ponderosa pine forests and meadows.
The ride starts at the large Bryce Canyon National Park boundary sign on Hwy 63, about 1.0 mile south of Ruby's Inn. Take the dirt road heading west (on your right).
At about 0.5 mile turn left (south) onto FR090. For Dave's Hollow, turn right about 0.75 mile along the trail. This will follow Dave's Hollow along a mellow, double track trail that ends near Dave's Hollow Forest Service Station at FR087, the main road to Tropic Reservoir. At this point you can turn around and return the way you came, making it an 8.0 mile round trip. For a longer loop, (about 12.0 miles), turn right (north) on FR087 to Hwy 12, east on Hwy 12 to the junction, then right (southeast) onto Hwy 63 and back to the start.
For a connector route to Tropic Reservoir, take Johnson Hollow. At about 1.5 miles from the start of the ride, continue straight instead of turning right, and go a mile to the junction of FR088. Turn left (south) and go another mile to Johnson Mill. Turn right (west) onto FR096, past East Creek. In less than a mile, turn right into FR088 and go about 2.0 miles to the main FR087. Tropic Reservoir is 2.0 miles south on FR087.
Utah National Parks Page
Back to National Parks
