10 Best Day Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Utah’s magnificent wind- and water-sculpted landscapes are unlike any other on earth. From deep canyons to towering pillars, from awesome arches to wide valleys, they have the power to enchant every visitor—to put a spell on anyone who decides to explore them on foot.

Bryce Canyon National Park, especially, is best seen from its trails. Although you should definitely drive the 18-mile scenic drive, I strongly encourage you to also go for a couple of of Bryce Canyon hikes.

A hike to the bottom of Bryce Canyon is an unique experience, unparalleled in any other American national park.

In this post, you’ll find an overview of the best day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, from paved and easy to nice and moderate to steep and strenuous.

So, no matter what your fitness level or enthusiasm for hiking may be, you’ll find a suitable trail for you.

This post about the best hikes at Bryce Amphitheater contains affiliate links. You can read more about our Terms of Use / Disclosure here.

The Top of the Grand Staircase

First, though, a quick introduction to this spectacular national park…

The highest of all Utah national parks, Bryce Canyon forms the upper step of what’s known as the Grand Staircase. This vast part of the Colorado Plateau is sculpted by water and characterized by canyons, river systems, rock formations and valleys.

The name “Grand Staircase” is totally appropriate, too. When looking at a down-scaled cross-section of the Colorado Plateau, you can see the different “steps” of this giant natural staircase of rock.

Bryce Canyon is the highest level, its elevation between 8,000 and 9,000 feet.

Going down, you’ll pass successively through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, which is the lowest step of the Grand Staircase.

This, in other words, is a region of absolute natural magnificence.

Just think about all those awesome U.S. national parks, all squeezed together within easy driving distance from one another.

Although its name has the word “canyon” in it, this isn’t actually a canyon at all!

Instead of canyons, the park’s landscapes consist of several natural amphitheaters, filled with rock formations, situated on the edge of a desert plateau.

The flowing water that creates the deep canyons elsewhere in the region isn’t present in Bryce Canyon.

However, water still is the sculptor in the park. Over countless centuries, it has chiseled the park’s iconic rock formations through chemical weathering and a physical event called “frost-wedging”.

Bryce Canyon Hiking Guide

With its total area of 56 square miles, Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the smaller national parks in America. Its relatively small size makes it a great park for a day or overnight trip.

Often combined with nearby parks like Zion and/or Grand Canyon, which are accessible via major cities like Las Vegas, Flagstaff and Salt Lake City, this is one of the most visited parks in the system.

Just like in those neighboring national parks in Utah and Arizona, the best way to experience the amazing (and otherworldly) landscapes in Bryce Canyon is hiking.

Strap on some sturdy boots—consider bringing hiking poles and crampons, too, if you’re visiting in winter. Fill up your water bottle, grab your hiking first-aid kit and go explore.

10 Best Bryce Canyon Hikes

Basically all noteworthy hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park are in and around Bryce Amphitheater, the park’s largest and most famous natural amphitheater.

This is the absolute star attraction and focal point, the place where you’ll find most of the hoodoos that so typify the park. Bryce Amphitheater is home to hundreds upon hundreds of these towering, narrow pinnacles and pillars of red rock.

As you’ll certainly notice below, there are five main Bryce Canyon hiking trails:

1. Rim Trail
2. Fairyland Trail
3. Queen’s Garden Trail
4. Navajo Trail
5. Peekaboo Trail

You can either hike these Bryce Canyon trails individually or combine them to create several more longer hikes, loops and even “figures 8”.

Together, they make for no fewer than ten different options for day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Whichever one(s) you choose, these various Bryce Canyon National Park hiking trails allow you to explore Bryce Amphitheater up-close and in-depth.

Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park

Sunset to Sunrise (Paved) Trail

The section of the Rim Trail (see below) between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point is paved and wheelchair-accessible. This is also the only trail section at Bryce Amphitheater where you can take your dog (leashed).

This is by far the easiest hike in Bryce Canyon National Park. There’s barely any elevation gain at all, while the paved surface, of course, doesn’t present any challenges either.

If you’re looking for rewards without effort, this is definitely the Bryce Canyon trail for you. That being said, though, I’d really recommend checking out the other, longer Bryce Canyon hikes below.

• Distance: 1 mile
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Trailheads: Sunset Point (or Sunrise Point for other direction)

Bryce Canyon Rim Trail

The Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon follows the edge of Bryce Amphitheater, offering spectacular views of the hoodoos from above.

This is an 11-mile one-way trail that runs between Bryce Point and Fairyland Point, respectively the western and eastern end of the natural amphitheater. On the way, it also passes by other viewpoints like Inspiration, Sunset and Sunrise Points.

Most people hike a section of it, whether as an easy individual hike or as part of one of many different loop options below.

• Distance: 1-11 miles, between Bryce Point and Fairyland Point
• Duration: 1-6 hours
• Difficulty: easy
• Trailheads: all Bryce Amphitheater viewpoints

Queen’s Garden Trail

The Queen’s Garden Trail is the easiest trail into Bryce Amphitheater. Starting from Sunrise Point, it leads you alongside hoodoos to Queen Victoria, a striking hoodoo.

Because of its shortness and low grade of steepness, this easy hike is the best hike into the canyon for small children. (The trail continues past Queen’s Garden until it connects with the Navajo Loop Trail.)

• Distance: 1.8 miles, to Queen Victoria and back
• Duration: 1 hour
• Difficulty: easy
• Trailhead: Sunrise Point

Further reading: 10 Hiking Etiquette Principles and Rules

Moderate Bryce Canyon National Park Hikes

Navajo Loop Trail

This short but beautiful trail passes by Thor’s Hammer, one of the most famous rock formations in the park.

Make no mistake, though. The Navajo Loop Trail is very steep in certain sections. When hiked in a clockwise direction, the last part of this moderate hike involves climbing no fewer than fifteen switchbacks.

Other notable highlights on the way are Wall Street and Two Bridges (pictured in the image above).

• Distance: 1.3 miles, loop (only a loop in summer; there and back otherwise)
• Duration: 1 hour
• Difficulty: moderate
• Trailhead: Sunset Point

Queen’s Garden / Navajo Combination Loop

The combination of the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trails is the most popular hike in Bryce Canyon.

This great hike also includes a section of the Rim Trail, specifically the scenic stroll between Sunrise and Sunset Points. It offers both panoramic and up-close views of the Bryce Amphitheater hoodoos.

• Distance: 2.9 miles, loop
• Duration: 2 hours
• Difficulty: moderate
• Trailheads: Sunrise or Sunset Point
• Combination of: Queen’s Garden, Navajo Loop and Rim Trail Trails

Strenuous Day Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park

Peek-a-boo Loop Trail

Of all individual hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park, this is my personal favorite.

Its decent length and challenging aspects, combined with a variety of scenery and terrain, including the striking Wall of Windows, make this a superb day hike.

Note that the descent into and ascent back out of the heart of Bryce Amphitheater is quite steep, which is why this trail is classified as strenuous.

• Distance: 5.5 miles, loop
• Duration: 3 – 4 hours
• Difficulty: strenuous
• Trailhead: Bryce Point

Navajo / Peek-a-boo Combination Loop

Starting from Sunset Point, this hike links the Navajo Loop and Peek-a-Boo Trails, creating a mini-figure 8.

It takes you past a number of striking rock formations, including Thor’s Hammer, the Wall of Windows and Two Bridges.

• Distance: 4.9 miles, double loop
• Duration: 3 hours
• Difficulty: strenuous
• Trailhead: Sunset Point
• Combination of: Navajo Loop and Peekaboo Trails

Bryce Amphitheater Traverse (Loop)

This is another awesome option if you’d like to explore the heart of Bryce Amphitheater.

By combining the Peek-a-boo and Queen’s Garden Trails, you can cross the entire western part of the amphitheater from Bryce Point to Sunrise Point. This one-way hike is 4.7 miles long.

If you only have one car, you can use the Bryce Amphitheater Shuttle (from April through October) to get back to your starting point.

A fun, longer alternative is making this loop and hiking back along the Rim Trail. This extends the length of this Bryce Canyon hike to 7.4 miles. Note, however, that the Rim Trail section is pretty easy.

• Distance: 4.7 miles, traverse; or 7.4 miles, loop
• Duration: 2 – 4 hours
• Difficulty: strenuous
• Trailhead: Bryce Point
• Combination of: Peekaboo, Queen’s Garden and Rim Trails

Figure 8 Combination Hike

The star of all day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park is the so-called “Figure 8 Combination”.

This double loop is a combination of the Queen’s Garden, Navajo and Peek-a-boo Trails. It takes in essentially all major highlights in Bryce Amphitheater. This is one of my all-time favorite day hikes in the national parks. It’s spectacular.

• Distance: 6.4 miles, double loop
• Duration: 4 hours
• Difficulty: strenuous
• Trailheads: Sunrise or Sunset Point
• Combination of: Queen’s Garden, Navajo Loop and Peekaboo Trails, and short section of the Rim Trail

If you’re up for a strenuous hike, the Figure 8 Combination is arguably the best day hike in Bryce Canyon National Park you can do.

Note, however, that to see the same highlights, it’s also possible to do the above-mentioned Queen’s Garden / Navajo Combination Trail and the Peek-a-boo Trail separately. That’s what I did during my visit.

I hiked the Peek-a-Boo Trail in the late-afternoon and the Queens/Navajo Loop Trail the following morning.

Fairyland Loop Trail

The scenic Fairyland Loop is one of the least-crowded Bryce Canyon hikes.

On this quiet trail north of the popular viewpoints and other trails, you can enjoy views from the plateau rim and walk underneath towering hoodoos deep in the amphitheater.

Specific highlights include the Chinese Wall and Tower Bridge, as well as numerous other impressive rock formations.

• Distance: 8 miles, loop
• Duration: 4 hours
• Difficulty: strenuous
• Trailheads: Fairyland Point or just north of Sunrise Point
• Combination of: Fairyland Trail and Rim Trail

Recommended Bryce Canyon Hiking Guide:

Falcon Guides – Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

Have You Hiked Any of These Hiking Trails in Bryce Canyon National Park? I’d Love to Hear About Your Experiences in the Comments Below!

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