Hikes and walks (21)
| Hike | What it is | Time, season, pets |
|---|---|---|
| Full Moon Hike | Typically offered year-round at sunset as weather permits. Those planning to join a ranger-led full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park can make reservations online via Recreation.gov. Tickets for each month’s hike are released in two phases, 14 and 5 days in advance. | 60 to 120 Minutes · All year · No pets · Reservation needed |
| Navajo/Peekaboo Combination Loop | Combine two of our most iconic trails, the Navajo and Peekaboo Loop trails, into a a mini Figure-8 combination loop. Start the hike at Sunset Point, descend down either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter), connect to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascend Navajo back | 3 to 4 Hours · No pets |
| Navajo Loop Trail | The iconic Navajo Loop Trail begins and ends at Sunset Point. Its switchbacks wind between narrow walls of colorful limestone with views of towering Douglas-fir trees and the park's most famous hoodoo: Thor's hammer. The loop has two sides: Two Bridges and Wall Street. The Two Bridges side is open year-round, however, | 1 to 2 Hours · No pets |
| Swamp Canyon Loop | Swamp Canyon appears relatively small and sheltered from the overlook, allowing the viewer to develop a more intimate connection with the landscape than some of the grander viewpoints in the park. The Swamp Canyon Loop, which starts at the viewpoint, is more rugged than the Bryce Amphitheater trails, taking hikers into | 3 to 4 Hours · No pets |
| Figure-8 Combination | The Figure-8 Combination combines three amphitheater hikes, Queen's Garden, Navajo Loop, and the Peekaboo Loop, into one ultimate hike! We recommend a clockwise direction descending Queen's Garden, connecting to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascending either side of the Navajo | 4 to 5 Hours · No pets |
| Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop | Our most popular hike in the park and the one we most recommend to first-time visitors. The Queen's/Navajo Combination Loop combines the open views and unique hoodoos of the Queen's Garden Trail with the iconic switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop Trail. Descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point, asce | 2 to 3 Hours · No pets |
| Queen's Garden Trail | The Queen's Garden Trail is the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Hike this out-and-back trail to the Queen Victoria hoodoo at the end of a short spur trail and experience the splendor of hiking amongst the hoodoos. This trail is commonly combined with the Navajo | 1 to 2 Hours · No pets |
| Riggs Spring Loop | The Riggs Spring Loop is a backcountry trail that begins and ends at Yovimpa Point. This trail travels through spruce, fir, and bristlecone forests offering beautiful views of distant cliffs. The western section of the trail is steeper and more heavily forested. Permits are not required to hike this trail, but all over | 4 to 5 Hours · No pets · Reservation needed |
| Sunset Point to Sunrise Point Hike | The Rim Trail hike meanders along the rim of the iconic Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, giving you views of the hoodoos below. This portion of the Rim Trail, from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, is the only paved section of this trail and is the easiest walk in the park. Pets are allowed on this trail but must remain on pave | 20 to 60 Minutes · Pets OK |
| Fairyland Loop | The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We re | 4 to 5 Hours · No pets |
| Bristlecone Loop Trail | The Bristlecone Loop, an easy 1 mile hike, meanders through the forest atop this highest portion of the park, reaching elevations over 9,100 feet (2778 m). Here you will pass by bristlecone pines up to 1,800-years-old and experience vistas reaching into the Four Corners area. | 30 to 60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets |
| Bryce Amphitheater Traverse | The Bryce Amphitheater Traverse is a one-way hike combining the Peekaboo Loop with the Queen's Garden trail. Hikers descend from Bryce Point, turning left (clockwise) on Peekaboo Loop and then connecting to the Queen's Garden trail to ascend to Sunrise Point. | 3 to 4 Hours · No pets |
| The Rim Trail | The Rim Trail stretches from its beginning in the south at Bryce Point 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to Fairyland Point. As it follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park, it connects to the park's most popular viewpoints: Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point. This relatively easy hike (dependi | 1 to 7 Hours · Pets with limits |
| Tower Bridge | The Tower Bridge hike consists of the southern portion of the Fairyland Loop trail. This is an out-and-back trail that descends to a shady 1/4-mile spur trail leading to the Tower Bridge hoodoo. From there, hikers can return the way they came or continue to hike the entirety of the Fairyland Loop Trail. | 2 to 3 Hours · No pets |
| Peekaboo Loop | The Peekaboo Loop descends 670 feet (204 meters) from Bryce Point to this hoodoo-filled loop trail before ascending back up to Bryce Point. In summer months, hikers will encounter horses/mules on this trail. We recommend hiking this trail in a clockwise direction. | 3 to 4 Hours · No pets |
| Hat Shop | The Hat Shop trail descends from Bryce Point into the backcountry using the Under-the-Rim trail, offering views of the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase. This strenuous out-and-back hike leads down 1,380 feet (421 meters) over two-miles to a cluster of balanced-rock hoodoos before hikers turn around to return to B | 3 to 4 Hours · No pets |
| Mossy Cave Trail | Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. This trail provides access to Water Canyon in one direction and to a sheltered overhang known as Mossy Cave in the other. This area is filled with mosses in the summer and | 30 to 60 Minutes · All year · No pets |
| Go For a Winter Hike | Many hikes are available to visitors during the winter season, in both the front and backcountry, but might require some additional equipment. For much of the winter the most popular trails are so icy that steep sections cannot be safely traversed without some sort of additional traction device for your hiking shoes or | Winter · No pets · Reservation needed |
| Walk the Rim Trail | The Rim Trail stretches from its beginning in the south at Bryce Point 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to Fairyland Point. As it follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park, it connects to Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point providing a relatively easy hike (depending on how much of it you do) t | 1 to 6 Hours · All year · Pets OK · Fee |
| Day Hikes | From easy walks along the edge of the famous Bryce Amphitheater using the Rim Trail to more strenuous adventures surrounded by the hoodoos below on the Peekaboo Loopthe park provides a variety of options for a variety of abilities to enjoy the park up close at your own pace. Visit the "Hiking Trails" button on the fron | All year · No pets · Fee |
| Hike the Hoodoos | To encourage visitors to stay healthy while having fun, Bryce Canyon National Park has developed an activity called "Hike the Hoodoos!" Part hike, part scavenger hunt, visitors must hike at least 3 miles on specially-marked trails and find "Hike the Hoodoos" benchmark survey markers along the way. Visitors may either o | 2 to 6 Hours · All year · No pets · Fee |
Other things to do (15)
| Activity | What it is | Time, season, pets |
|---|---|---|
| Get a Passport Stamp | Are you a "Passport to Your National Parks" cancellation collector? Bryce Canyon has a cancellation stamp to commemorate your visit in your passport book. | All year · No pets |
| Bryce Canyon Evening Program | Evening programs, typically offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offer topics that go beyond the rim! Check the calendar for daily times and locations. This is a Ranger’s Choice program offering an exploration into compelling stories, interesting themes, and unique resources that make Bryce Canyon special. | 45 to 60 Minutes · Summer · No pets |
| Rim Walk with a Ranger | Typically offered Memorial Day through Labor Day at Sunset Point at 2:00 p.m. Join a Ranger and experience the enchantment of the hoodoos, the history of the people who have passed through the amphitheaters for thousands of years, and the many ways the animals and plants have adapted to the unique ecosystems of Bryce C | 45 to 60 Minutes · Summer · No pets |
| Hoodoo Geology Talk | Typically offered year-round at Sunset Point at 11 a.m. Geologists have spent years studying the unique geologic story of Bryce Canyon and its amphitheaters of hoodoos. Join the Ranger along the rim at Sunset Point to explore the evolution of the hoodoos and the groups of people who have passed through this magical ter | 20 to 30 Minutes · Pets OK |
| See the Night Sky | Bryce Canyon is a sanctuary for natural darkness. Bryce Canyon's skies are so dark, that in 2019 the park was designated as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. Since the park is open 24 hours a day, whether you head off to a viewpoint yourself or join a night sky ranger program, we welcome you to the dark side! | All year · Pets with limits · Fee |
| Birdwatching | 175 different species of birds have been documented to frequent Bryce Canyon National Park. Some are just passing through. Others stay for an entire season. Fewer still make this their year-round home, but those that do are charming and charismatic. | All year · Pets with limits · Fee |
| Plan a Picnic | Looking for a good place to enjoy a picnic? Here is a list of Bryce Canyon picnic areas. | Pets OK |
| Go Cross-Country Skiing | A great way to explore Bryce Canyon in winter is on cross-country skis. Though it is illegal to ski off of the rim into the canyon, you can enjoy a variety of routes above the rim. These include sections of the Rim Trail along the edge of the Main Amphitheater, the Bristlecone Loop Trail; Paria Ski Loop; and the unplow | Winter · No pets |
| Stargazing at Bryce Canyon | Bryce Canyon's high elevation, clean air, and remote location creates some of the darkest skies in the country. In fact, in 2019 Bryce Canyon officially gained International Dark Sky status. During a new Moon on a clear weather night, you can see thousands of stars and the spectacular band of the Milky Way Galaxy shoot | All year · Pets OK |
| Snowshoe Hikes | Here at 8,000 feet (2,438 m) the scenery changes dramatically in the colder months. Come experience this magical season by taking a snowshoe-hike! Snowshoeing is allowed throughout the park on all trails so you can head out on your own or join a ranger-led snowshoe hike. These hikes are offered in winter as weather and | 90 to 120 Minutes · Winter · No pets · Reservation needed |
| Go Horseback Riding | Horseback riding is a great way to slow down and experience Bryce Canyon National Park. Horses have been used to explore Bryce Canyon National Park since before it was set aside for federal protection. To support this activity, the National Park Service completed 4.5 miles of foot and horse trails in 1931 that are stil | 2 to 4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets · Reservation needed · Fee |
| View Wildlife | The canyons and plateau of Bryce Canyon National Park are home to many animals. Park boundaries mean little to the migratory hummingbirds, nesting Peregrine Falcon, Rocky Mountain Elk and Pronghorn which daily cross through the forested plateau and amphitheaters. The search for food and water leads them to the best pla | All year · Pets with limits · Fee |
| Backcountry Hiking and Camping | Experience the solitude of Bryce's forested backcountry! To preserve this experience, backcountry camping is permitted only in designated campsites. A backcountry permit must be obtained at the Visitor Center prior to any overnight trips. | All year · No pets · Reservation needed · Fee |
| See the Park Film | "A Song of Seasons" plays in the Visitor Center theater every half hour when the Visitor Center is open. | 24 to 30 Minutes · All year · No pets · Fee |
| Go Snowshoeing | Snowshoeing is allowed throughout the park on all trails. But be aware that though snowshoes make it possible to travel through deep powdery snow, snowshoeing is still a highly strenuous activity. Most snowshoers enjoy walks along the Rim Trail, Bristlecone Loop, Fairyland Road, and Paria Road. | Winter · No pets · Reservation needed · Fee |
Before you set out
Trail conditions change with snow, fire and storms. Check the park’s current alerts, carry the ten essentials and read know before you go.
Sources
- National Park Service: things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park (Data API, public domain)
Last checked 1 November 2026.