Hiking,  Utah

The Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park Along the Shuttle Route

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Utah is one of the best states for hiking in the US. You can’t beat the scenery in Utah. Home to five national parks (Bryce Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands), seven national forests, and many other national sites, there are ample opportunities for hiking. 

Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are located in southwestern Utah. Zion is one of the most visited national parks. While Zion had over five million visitors last year, Bryce “only” had over two million. By these numbers you would think Zion is the better park. 

Even though Zion is a beautiful park with incredible hikes and beautiful scenery, I may have enjoyed Bryce Canyon a little more! I couldn’t get enough of the orange hoodoos against the brilliant blue skies! Come prepared by finding out what to bring in your day pack and by wearing the best hiking attire

As the parks are located close together you really don’t need to choose as it’s easy to visit both on one trip! For visiting tips, where to stay, restaurant recommendations and more read my full Zion to Bryce guide. However you plan your trip, make sure to leave at least a full day if not two to check out the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park!

The Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park Along the Shuttle Route

Below are the best hikes in Bryce Canyon that can be reached on the free shuttle from Bryce Canyon City. They are listed from the easiest to the most strenuous. The trail stats are taken from the NPS website. The distance is round-trip unless otherwise noted. 

Rim Trail

Bryce Canyon Rim Trail overlooking the hoodoos

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 11 miles 

Elevation Change: 719 ft

Shuttle Stops: #8, #9, #11, #12, #13

Trailheads: Fairyland Point, North Campground, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, Bryce Point  

Restrooms: North Campground Store, The Lodge, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point

If you are looking for easy hikes in Bryce Canyon, the Rim Trail is your best choice. It follows the rim of the canyon and overlooks the Bryce Amphitheater below. As it is the best trail to see views from the top, you’ll want to hike a portion of the trail even if you are up for more difficult hikes. It’s incredible to see the large collection of hoodoos as a whole. 

From Sunset Point to Sunrise Point the trail is paved. This is the busiest section with several viewpoints. It’s a great hike to do at the end of your day when you have a little bit of energy left, but not enough to tackle a harder trail. Plus at sunset you will be treated with awesome views. 

Queen’s Garden 

Queens Garden Trail Hoodoos - best hikes in Bryce Canyon

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 1.8 miles

Elevation Change: 450ft

Shuttle Stop: #13

Trailhead: Sunrise Point

Restrooms: North Campground General Store

Queen’s Garden is an out-and-back trail that starts from Sunrise Point. It is considered the easiest way to go down into the canyon. It can be hiked as a loop when combined with the Navajo Loop trail. 

The trail begins with amazing views of all the hoodoos from above. You’ll soon be surrounded by hoodoos on all sides as you progress down the trail. You’ll be in awe with the unique hoodoos around every bend.

Towards the end of the trail there is a sign that points to Queens Garden Trail. It leads to a dead end in a short, but steep slot canyon. Many people, including myself, mistook this for the trail and then had to slide back down and retrace their steps. It is worth a brief detour in this direction to see the Queen Victoria Hoodoo, but just make sure to turn around afterwards!  

Navajo Loop 

Thor's Hammer on Navajo Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 1.3 miles

Elevation Change: 515ft

Shuttle Stop: #11

Trailhead: Sunset Point

Restrooms: Sunset Point

Navajo Loop is a loop that begins and ends at Sunset Point. After a short but steep section downhill you will come to a fork in the trail. As it is a loop, you can choose which side you hike down. To the left is Two Bridges and to the right is Wall Street. Regardless of which side you choose, you will face some steep switchbacks and epic views. The switchbacks on the Wall Street side are narrower and lead into a slot canyon. 

Once you reach the bottom, you can finish the loop by climbing up the other side or making a loop with another trail. The Queen’s Garden and Peekaboo trails both connect. The Peekaboo trail is a loop on its own so the Navajo loop is most commonly combined with the Queen’s Garden trail. In the winter the Wall Street side of the loop is closed and the trail needs to be hiked out and back or combined with another connected trail. 

Although the Peekaboo Loop is ranked as more strenuous, the footing on the Navajo Loop seemed more difficult. The steep inclines and drop offs combined with loose gravel felt a little treacherous at times. I was thankful to have my Salomon hiking boots

It is one of the best Bryce hikes so it can become busy. The NPS recommends hiking counter-clockwise. I hiked the opposite way and it didn’t seem as crowded. 

Peekaboo Loop

Peekaboo Loop Hoodoos against bright blue sky

Difficulty: Strenuous

Distance: 5.5 mile loop

Elevation Change: 1560ft 

Shuttle Stop: Bryce Point

Trailhead: Bryce Point

Restrooms: At the bottom (use a restroom at another trailhead before starting)

The Peekaboo Loop is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon. It begins as an out-and-back trail from Bryce Point. The first part is all downhill with a section of switchbacks. 

The loop begins when you reach the T in the trail. To the left, only a short distance, is a pit toilet and a fairly flat area where some people rest or have lunch. You will reach that area before getting back to the out-and-back portion of the trail that will take you back up towards the end of your hike if you head right first. Throughout the entire loop you will be hiking up and down, up and down. 

The trail is rated strenuous due to the length and elevation changes. As mentioned above I found the footing a little easier here, than going downhill on the Navajo Loop. While there are a lot of elevation changes, it didn’t feel quite as steep as the switchbacks in the Navajo Loop. 

That being said the switchbacks, constant elevation changes, and high elevation of the park left me huffing and puffing! Let’s just say I wasn’t moving quickly. Unlike some trails where the view is really only at the top, the views were amazing every step of the way. Around every corner I couldn’t help but be in awe. It’s a good excuse for taking lots of breaks too! 

Considering the Queen’s Garden & Navajo Loop have fairly similar scenery, but many more people, the Peekaboo Loop has to be my vote for the best Bryce Canyon hike! 

Fairyland Loop

Person on trail with hoodoos behind
(picture was taken on Peekaboo Loop)

Difficulty: Strenuous

Distance: 8 mile loop

Elevation Change: 1900ft 

Shuttle Stop: Sunrise Point

Trailhead: Sunrise Point & Fairyland Point

Restrooms: North Campground General Store

If you are taking the shuttle you’ll want to start and end the Fairyland Loop at Sunrise Point. I wasn’t able to hike the trail to confirm, but it sounds like one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon. It seems similar to the Peekaboo Loop, but longer and with more elevation changes. I’m sure you’ll be doing a little huffing and puffing on this hike too.

While you’ll take in great views of the hoodoos, it doesn’t have quite the classic views as the hikes above. The Peekaboo trail isn’t too busy, but the Fairyland Loop has even fewer hikers in general. 

Hat Shop

Person by Bryce Point Sign at the start of Hat Shop Trail

Difficulty: Strenuous

Distance: 4 miles

Elevation Change: 1380ft

Shuttle Stop: Bryce Point

Trailhead: Bryce Point

Restrooms: (Use a restroom at another trailhead before starting) 

The Hat Shop trail is a 23 mile trail that requires a backcountry hiking permit. The first 2 miles of the trail, known as Hat Shop, can be hiked as an out-and-back trail without a permit. 

The trail begins at Bryce Point with the same trail as the Peekaboo Loop. After only about .1 miles it goes to the right, whereas the Peekaboo Loop goes to the left. While the two trails briefly cover the same ground, the Hat Shop trail has different scenery. You won’t find the iconic views as most of the other Bryce hikes mentioned above. That’s not to say that the views won’t be beautiful and of course the hat shaped hoodoos are neat! 

Hat Shop isn’t the best hike in Bryce to be surrounded by hoodoos, but it is a good one to avoid the crowds. The uphill trail on the way back will be a great workout as well! 

The best hikes in Bryce Canyon are sure to amaze you! Let me know which Bryce hike you like the best.

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