With the quality of available activities in Bryce Canyon National Park, is it unlikely you’ll find yourself at camp with nothing to do. Maybe you want to take a stroll through the colorful hoodoos or go on an epic backpacking trip. Perhaps you just wanna gaze at the Milky Way, or play chess with a random stranger on the porch of the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge. Whatever you fancy, it’s likely Bryce has your flavor.
Below are Park Junkie’s favorite activities in Bryce Canyon.
Guide to Bryce Canyon
Hiking in Bryce Canyon
Hiking is probably the most popular activity in Bryce. There are some world class trails in this park. You will not find scenery quite like this anywhere else in the world. Bryce offers 65 miles of trails that lead through stunning scenery that could just as well be found in a dream. Most trails are short, yet hiking in Bryce Canyon provides intimate access to the largest and densest collection of hoodoos found on the planet.
moreKeep in mind that the elevation here may present a challenge to those from lower elevations. Weather can change rapidly here, and although this place appears tranquil, it is still a desert, and that sun is brutal. Carry adequate water, one gallon per person per day, and use sunscreen to keep your dermatologist happy.
Here are a list of the options for hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park. All distances are round trip unless otherwise noted.
Rim Trail: 11 miles round trip (17.7km) / 1754 foot elevation change (535m)
Hike can be accessed anywhere along the rim. Easy to Moderate hike. Trail connects popular amphitheater viewpoints. Views of hoodoos and Bryce Amphitheater from eastern rim of Paunsaugunt Plateau. Trail is paved and mostly level between Sunset and Sunrise Points making it suitable for wheelchairs. Good for cross country skiing during winter.
Navajo Loop: 1.3 miles (2.2km) / 550 foot elevation change (167km) / may close in winter
Begin hike at Sunset Point. Moderate hike. Leads into Bryce Amphitheater through a deep slot canyon with fir trees. Highlights include: Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges and Wall Street with views up toward Silent City. Rockfall from above common.
Queens Garden: 1.8 miles (2.9km) / 320 foot elevation change (98m)
Begin hike at Sunrise Point. Moderate to Strenuous hike. Colorful trail which leads into canyon through hoodoos that appear similar to garden statues. Short spur trail at end leads to view of Queen Victoria looking over the garden.
Peek-a-Boo Loop: 5.5 miles (8.8km) / 1555 foot elevation change (473m) / may close in winter
Begin hike at Bryce Point or access from Navajo Loop. Strenuous hike with horse traffic. Horses have right-of-way, step aside and wait for passage. Well-groomed trail with many switchbacks leads through hoodoos and delicately placed tunnels to stunning panoramas.
Figure 8: 6.4 miles (10.3km) / ~ 2400 foot elevation change (731m) / may close in winter
Begin hike at either Sunrise or Sunset Point. Strenuous hike that combines the Navajo Loop, Queens Garden and the Peekaboo loop. See it all on this one.
Tower Bridge: 3.0 miles (4.8km) / 950 foot elevation change (290m) / may close in winter
Begin hike just north of Sunrise Point, or at Fairyland Point for longer hike. Moderate hike. Trail leads through bristlecone pines. Access Tower Bridge via spur trail, 0.25 miles.
Fairyland Loop: 8.0 miles (12.9km) / 2309 foot elevation change (704m) / may close in winter
Begin hike at Fairyland Point or just north of Sunrise Point. Strenuous hike. Trail leads through bristlecone pines into piñon juniper forest. Views of China Wall, Boat Mesa and Oastler’s Castle. A 0.25 mile spur leads to Tower Bridge.
Hat Shop Trail: 4.0 miles (6.4km) / 1436 elevation change (438m) / may close in winter
Begin hike at Bryce Point. Moderate to Strenuous hike. Trail leads from rim of Paunsaugunt Plateau into lower elevation to access a bizarre collection of hoodoos that stand capped by “hats”. Structures arranged much like mannequins in a hat shop window. Steep climb back to rim.
Bristlecone Loop: 1.0 mile (1.6km) / 195 foot elevation change (59m)
Begin hike at Rainbow Point. Easy to Moderate hike. Trail leads through forested terrain at high point of park, near 9100 feet. Intimate access to firs and spruce, along with bristlecone pines, some of which are nearly 2,000 years old. Fabulous views to the south. One of only places to view the Grand Staircase.
Mossy Cave: 0.8 mile (1.3km) / 300 foot elevation change (91m)
Begin hike on Utah Hwy 12, east of Hwy 63 junction at bottom of hill on south (right) side of road. Easy to Moderate hike. Trail leads to Mossy Cave, a small grotto with underground spring. A small waterfall flows here spring -fall. Often frozen in winter.
Riggs Spring Loop: 8.8 miles (14.2km) / 1675 foot elevation change (511m) / may be closed in winter
Begin hike at Rainbow Point. Strenuous hike. Four campsites. Trail leads from 9,100 feet into the forested terrain below. Hike through aspen, fir, gambel oak, maple and ponderosa pine. Water sources are available.
Under the Rim: 22.9 miles (36.85km) – one way / 4366 foot elevation change (1300m)
Begin hike at either Bryce Point or Rainbow Point. Strenuous hike with rugged passage in southern section – hundreds of downed trees. Eight campsites. Water available, but stock up when possible. Travel from south to north negates nearly 800 feet of elevation due to difference in elevation between trailheads. Trail passes through beautiful remote terrain while views of pink cliffs rise to west. Best option for solitude with few sightings of people. See a blog post of park junkie’s hike on the Under the Rim Trail.
Options exist to shorten the trail by exiting on either the Sheep Creek Connecting Trail, the Right Fork of Swamp Creek, or the Agua Canyon Trail. (Agua Canyon closed as of Sept. 2019)
Park Junkie Verdict
Hiking in Bryce Canyon is undoubtedly the most personal way to become acquainted with the park’s amazing geologic features. There are no hikes in any of the parks that quite equal what is found here. Bryce Canyon National Park is one of a kind.
Backpacking in Bryce Canyon
This is a fabulous backpacking destination. While there are not a lot of options, the roughly 30 miles of backcountry trails and 12 campsites in Bryce guarantee a level of solitude that will simply not be found on the up-country trails. Cool temperatures, easy-to-obtain permits and remote, uncrowded trails make this a favorite park junkie getaway.
moreUnder the Rim Trail
22.9 miles (36.85km) one way / 4366 foot elevation change (1300m)
The Under the Rim Trail is the premier backpacking route in Bryce Canyon National Park. This trail leads through the seldom-visited southern section of the park and runs below, or “under” the rim of pink cliffs that mark the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The trail is relatively close to the road above as the crow flies, yet its remote position more than 1,000 feet below the rim yields it absolute backcountry solitude.
Hiking the Under the Rim Trail at Bryce Canyon
Riggs Springs Loop
8.8 miles (14.2km) / 1675 foot elevation change (511m)
The Riggs Springs Loop begins at Rainbow and Yovimpa Points, at an elevation of 9,115 feet. The route leads through forests of Douglas fir and ponderosa pine as it winds downward. Hikers are ushered into heavily forested areas that give way to provide brief views of pink cliffs that tower above. The route gradually descends to an elevation of 7,443 feet before beginning a slightly more strenuous return to the rim.
Horseback Riding in Bryce
A unique way to get an up-close view of the Bryce Canyon scenery is to jump on your trusty steed and see the canyon like a real cowpoke. Guided rides begin at the corral near Sunset Point and lead into hoodoos below.
Star-Gazing at Bryce
Bryce Canyon is about as removed from city lights as most people ever get these days. Recent studies find that some 80% of Americans live in a world of high light pollution and can’t even see the Milky Way. Such folk will certainly enjoy an evening under the dark skies of Bryce. The park service offers astronomy lectures several times per week. These talks are often followed by night-sky viewing opportunities given by park astronomers with powerful telescopes.
Skiing / Snowshoeing in Bryce
These activities are probably best pursued during winter months. That said, winters in Bryce are full of nothing less than scenic overload! The best way to get out there and enjoy the park during this time of year is on a set of skis or snowshoes. Skiers are restricted to areas above the rim, while those on snowshoes can access the trails below the rim.
Bryce Canyon Auto / Shuttle tour
Those who are unable or unwilling to take part in any of the above listed activities should not despair. There are plenty of options for viewing the stunning Bryce landscape from more than 10 viewpoints located along the roadside. Traffic congestion in the park is becoming more of a problem each year. Consider a shuttle tour instead of driving around endlessly searching for a parking space.
Ranger-Led Activities
While at the visitor center, don’t forget to check out the listing of park ranger-led programs. There is often no better way of learning about the land which you are visiting than asking someone who lives there and knows what they are talking about. In the parks, that’s usually a ranger. Evening campground programs, guided hikes and snowshoe tours are just of few of your options.
Guide to Bryce Canyon
Relevant Links
NPS – Bryce Canyon National Park
Ruby Inn – Bryce Canyon Park Shuttle
National Park Guides
All content found on Park Junkie is meant solely for entertainment purposes and is the copyrighted property of Park Junkie Productions. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited without the express written consent of Park Junkie Productions.
YOU CAN DIE. Activities pursued within National Park boundaries hold inherent dangers. You are solely responsible for your safety in the outdoors. Park Junkie accepts no responsibility for actions that result in inconveniences, injury or death.
This site is not affiliated with the National Park Service, or any particular park.
