BRYCE CANYON
UTAH: Visited: May 2020, June 2019, June 2018
Bryce Canyon National Park was established in 1928. This is one of the many beautiful national parks in Utah, only an hour away from the famous Zion. The park is around 90 square miles. Bryce offers a large variety of hikes, but most are concentrated around the three lookouts. One of the best things about hiking Bryce is all the hikes are connected. So you can do a mini hike, or you can do the hike that takes you through the whole canyon!
Bryce Canyon is the National Park I have visited the most. I was luckily enough to work in the area at Utah Shakespeare Festival a couple of summers. We did a lot of hiking during our time off. Every time I have gone to Bryce, I have done one of the loops.
QUEEN’S GARDEN LOOP
Distance: 1.8 miles roundtrip Approximate Time: 1-2 hours Elevation Gain: 450 feet
This hike is a great intro into Bryce Canyon. It is a loop that takes you down into the canyon and through some of the famous picturesque areas. The Queens Garden is famous for having hoodoos that look like they are wearing crowns.
The hike down starts at Sunrise Point. The trailhead is on a very steady slope which makes it easy to descend into the Canyon. On the return journey (it says a loop, but it is more of an in and out), you will climb up and out the same way you came in. So the slow ascend can feel like it goes on forever.
NAVAJO LOOP TRAIL
Distance: 1.3 mile (2.1 km) Approximate Time: 1-2 hour Elevation Gain: 515 feet (157 meters)
The Navajo loop is the “Instagram Famous” location with switchbacks into the canyon.
This hike is a true loop that starts at Sunset Point. The switchbacks make your descend into the canyon and your ascend out of the canyon go very quickly, though it can be STRENUOUS. This hike is full of hoodoo (most famous being Thor's hammer), trees, and SHADE! The loop has two sides: Two Bridges and Wall Street. The Two Bridges side is open year-round, however, the Wall Street side is closed during the winter months.
SUNRISE POINT, QUEEN’S GARDEN, NAVAJO LOOP, SUNSET POINT TRAIL
Distance: 2.9 miles (4.6 km) Approximate Time: 2-3 hours Elevation Gain: 625 feet (191 meters)
The bonus of this hike is you can chose which lookout to start at. Both will have an easy climb in but a difficult climb out. If you start at Sunrise point and head to the Queen’s Garden first, the slope down is steep but steady. But you will be hiking out of the canyon on the switchbacks in Navajo Loop. If you choose to start at Sunset point, it is a quick descend into the canyon via the switchbacks, but a long and winding descend out via the Queen’s Garden. It just depends on your preference.
The distance between Sunset and Sunrise point is less than mile on the rim trail, so you can park at either location and easily get back to your car via the Rim Trail.
A little fun fact. The squirrels you find at Sunset Point are famous for “clapping”. They are very very friendly and will reach out to you, hoping you’ll give them food in their little paws. It appears like they are clapping!
You can look, but don’t touch or feed them!
PEEKABOO LOOP
Distance: 5.5 miles Approximate Time: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 1560 feet
Peekaboo Loop is difficult, but well worth it. This strenuous hike starts at Bryce Point and is a loop that takes you down into the canyon, around the forests and back out at Bryce Point.
BRYCE AMPITHEATER TRAVERSE
Sunrise Point, Queens Garden, Peekaboo Loop, Bryce Point (take the bus back to Sunrise Point)
Distance: 4.7 miles Approximate Time: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 1,145 feet
BRYCE AMPITHEATER TRAVERSE LOOP
Bryce Point, Peekaboo Loop, Queen’s Garden, Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, Rim Trail (no bus)
Distance: 8 miles Approximate Time: 4 hours Elevation Gain: 1,600 feet
This hike is HUGE! But honestly, I am SO GLAD we did it. I have done it twice now! This hike takes ALL the way through Bryce Canyon from start to finish. I would suggest starting at Bryce Point since then it is a steady descend into the canyon over a couple miles and a quick ascend out of the canyon just under a mile.
In 2020, my hiking buddy and I did the FULL LOOP! We did this because we had no choice. Typically, buses run, stopping at the Visitor’s Center, Sunset Point, Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point. But during the height of COVID shutdowns in May of 2020, there were no buses. Honestly, the hike kicked our butts. But it was SO rewarding. If you have the time and the energy, defintely give this hike a go.
MOSSY CAVE TRAIL
Distance: 0.8 miles (1.3 km) Approximate Time: 1 hour Elevation Gain: 150 feet
Farther away from the main drag is the Mossy Cave Trail. This is a cute and easy little hike that takes you down to a river and to a waterfall. It is off of Highway 12 and it a good little hike to do as you are leaving for the day.
