Top 7 hiking trails beyond the rim in Bryce Canyon National Park

Are you ready to take your Bryce Canyon National Park adventure below the rim? While viewpoints can give you great panorama’s of Bryce Canyon’s famous hoodoos, there’s nothing quite like taking to the trails and seeing them up close.

At 55 square miles, Bryce Canyon National Park is the smallest of Utah’s “Mighty Five.” With multiple converging hiking trails, you can craft your own loop or one-way hike through the valley.

Hiking in the Hoodoos

The Rim Trail is a 5.5 mile, easy trail that connects the four major viewpoints for Bryce Amphitheater. If you only have a couple hours in the park, you can use this trail to take in the canyon in-between the viewpoints.

If you have more time to spend in the park, I recommend choosing a trail that will take you below the rim. There’s nothing quite like being up close and personal with the hoodoos.

PRO TIP: Many trails that take you down into the canyon converge with each other at some point on the canyon floor. This means you can combine trails and loops with each other. If you decide to do a one-way, or “through,” hike, be sure the shuttles are running or you are prepared to hike back to your car via the Rim Trail.

The Frontcountry

Navajo Loop Trail

Time: 1-2 hours
Length: 1.5 mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Sunset Point

I would recommend prioritizing the Navajo Loop trail, which begins and ends at Sunset Point. The trail will take you by Thor’s Hammer and on the iconic Wall Street switchbacks.

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.

The famous Wall Street switchbacks on the Navajo Loop Trail. Credit: NPS

Queen’s Garden Trail

Time: 1 hour
Length: 0.9 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Sunrise Point

The Queen’s Garden is an amazing collection of exceptionally large and unique hoodoos.

Although you can take this quick out-and-back trail on its own, I recommend combining it with the Navajo Loop Trail.

PRO TIP: Descend into the canyon at Sunrise Point to see Queen’s Garden and then connect to the Navajo Loop Trail and ascend to Sunset Point, returning via shuttle or the Rim Trail. OR take a detour to Queen’s Garden at the bottom the Navajo Loop trail, adding .8 miles to the hike

Peekaboo Loop

Time: 4-5 hours
Length: 5.2 mile loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: Bryce Point

I completed this trail on my last visit to the park, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Peekaboo Loop begins and ends at Bryce Point, taking you past the Wall of Windows, the Cathedral and views of Bryce Amphitheater. Because Bryce Point is at a higher elevation, the climb down and out is a bit more strenuous. There is even an outhouse along this trail.

Hikers along the Peekaboo Loop Trail. Credit: Heather Bergeson

PRO TIP: You can also combine Peekaboo and Navajo Loops to create a Figure-8 hike. Start at Sunset and descend either side of Navajo Loop. Connect to and complete the Peekaboo Loop, then link back and ascend the other side of Navajo Loop back to where you started at Sunset.

Mossy Cave Trail

Time: 1 hour
Length: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Northern end of the park, 4 miles east on Hwy 12

Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park and only has about 150 feet of elevation. This is also one of the only hikes in the park that begins with a climb and ends with a descent.

Located in the northernmost area of the park, this trail will take you among towering hoodoos. As a reward, you’ll find a mossy grotto and small waterfall at your destination.

The Mossy Cave Trail will take you among amazing hoodoos and water features. Credit: NPS

Hat Shop

Time: 3-4 hours
Length: 4.2 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: Bryce Point

You can also take the Under-the-Rim trail to get to the Hat Shop area of the park. The Hat Shop offers views of a collection of unique balanced-rock hoodoos, that have large, gray boulders balanced on the tops.

The trail is quite strenuous as it descends 1,380 feet below the rim of the canyon.

Views along the Hat Shop Trail. Credit: NPS

Fairyland Loop

Time: 4-5 hours
Length: 8 mile loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: Fairyland Point

The trailhead for Fairyland Loop is actually accessed on a road just before the park entrance stations at the northern end of the park. The trail is often less crowded and offers amazing views of Bryce Amphitheater.

The trail descends into the amphitheater and eventually meets up with Navajo Loop trail, making it possible to create a through hike. But be aware that shuttles don’t provide service to Fairyland Point.

Note: The Fairyland road is closed in the winter.

The Backcountry

For adventurous souls who have already taken in all that the northern area of the park has to offer, there’s still more to explore in Bryce’s backcountry!

Under the Rim Trail

Time: 2-3 days
Length: 22.9 miles one way
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: Bryce or Rainbow Point

If you’ve already experienced the front-country and are looking for a backcountry adventure, take the Under-the-Rim trail, which connects Bryce and Rainbow Points. This trail will lead you away from the main amphitheater (and thus the bulk of the tourists) and into an incredible forest with views of distant cliffs and features. Note that this trail isn’t recommended for first-time visitors since it’s far from the iconic features of Bryce Amphitheater.

Typically this trail is hiked south-to-north (Rainbow Point to Bryce Point) with two overnights (overnight camping permit required!). There are six campsites and one group site along the trail.

Hikers carry their gear while enjoying a hike on the Under-the-Rim trail. Credit: NPS

Riggs Spring Loop Trail

Time: 1-2 days
Length: 8.8 mile loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: Yovimpa Point

The Riggs Spring Loop trail is located at the southern end of the park. The path takes hikers through spruce, fir and bristlecone forests offering beautiful views of distant cliffs. You can complete this loop in one day or secure a permit to spend the night in the backcountry.

There is a spring near the midway point of the trail that offers some respite and shade for the weary hiker. As good wilderness survival practice, be sure to treat any water before using it for drinking.

Riggs Spring Loop trail on a cloudy day. Credit: Brian B. Roanhorse / NPS

Note: The western section of this trail is steeper and more heavily forested.

Tips for Bryce Canyon

Spring and autumn are great times to visit Bryce Canyon to avoid the heat of the summer. Be aware that although Bryce Canyon is a desert ecosystem, it experiences snow in the winter. The contrast between the red rocks and white snow is striking, but the Wall Street trail and the road to Fairyland are closed during the winter.

There is a free shuttle system that will take you from the visitor center to major viewpoints and trailheads in the park from May to December. The shuttle also goes to Ruby’s Inn and Campground/RV Park, which is just outside the park.

The small town of Bryce acts as the “gateway community” for Bryce Canyon. It has restaurants, grocery stores and plenty of options for places to stay, including hotels, campgrounds, and RV parks.

For more information on Bryce Canyon hiking and planning your visit, visit the park’s official website.