Bryce Canyon National Park - Exploring the Park

The Rim Trail runs along the edge of the plateau above Fairyland and Bryce amphitheaters. It connects Fairyland Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. It is 5-1/2 miles long in total but can be picked up at any of the lookouts and traveled just as long you want. It is paved between Sunrise and Sunset Points and provides wonderful views all along. Think about strolling it early in the morning or just before sunset. Click here for additional details on Rim Trail.

The Fairyland Loop Trail descends 900 feet from Fairyland Point, meanders through the hoodoos of Fairyland Amphitheater and climbs back out at Sunrise Point. It is made a loop by hiking 2.5 miles back along the Rim Trail (a segment you can omit by taking the park shuttle back to Fairyland Point). This trail tends to be less crowded than trails in Bryce Amphitheater (i.e. Queens Garden, Navajo Loop and Peekaboo, described below).

As the map to the right shows, the next three trails -- Queens Garden, Navajo Loop and Peekaboo Loop -- are interconnected within Bryce Amphitheater, giving you the ability to combine trails in several different ways. One of the most popular is to combine a descent on the steep Navajo Loop Trail with an ascent up the easier Queens Garden Trail, and then return along the Rim Trail to create a 3-1/2 mile loop. Click here for additional details on Fairyland Loop Trail.

The popular Queens Garden Trail descends from Sunrise Point through fabulous hoodoos into Bryce Amphitheater. It is the easiest trail down into the amphitheater. Click here for additional details on Queens Garden Trail.

The Navajo Loop Trail begins at Sunset Point. Take the right fork just below the rim through a steep, narrow canyon to the even narrower Wall Street canyon, where tall pines grow among taller hoodoos. At the bottom of the trail is a short side trail to the Twin Bridges, a pair of thin natural bridges in a narrow canyon. The trail returns up sharp switchbacks to the same fork in the trail. Click here for additional details on Navajo Loop Trail.

The Under-the-Rim Trail travels through numerous amphitheaters from Bryce Point to Rainbow Point with overnight backpacking opportunities. Four connecting trails from the main scenic drive allow you to break it into segments. Overnight camping is permitted along the trail at designated sites only. Permits may be obtained at the visitor center. Click here for additional details on Under-the-Rim Trail.