Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Start at the
visitor center
and watch the short program that explains the area's geology.
Then drive the 18-mile (one-way) dead-end
park road,
stopping at viewpoints to gaze
down into the canyon. An alternative is to take the free
shuttle,
which will take you to
most of the main viewpoints.
Whichever way you choose to get around, make sure you spend at least a little time at
Inspiration Point,
which offers a splendid (and, yes, inspirational) view of
Bryce
Amphitheater
and its hundreds of statuesque pink, red, orange, and brown hoodoo
stone sculptures.
After seeing the canyon from the top down, it's time to get some exercise. Walk at least
partway down the
Queen's Garden Trail.
If you can spare 3 hours, hike down the Navajo
Loop and return to the rim on the Queen's Garden Trail, as discussed below. An alterna-
tive is to take an easy walk along the
Rim Trail,
which provides spectacular views into
the canyon. It's especially gorgeous about an hour before sunset.
OUTDOOR PURSUITS
One of the things we like best about Bryce Canyon is that you don't have to be an
advanced backpacker to really get to know the park. However, all trails below the rim
have at least some steep grades, so wear hiking boots with a traction tread and good ankle
support to avoid ankle injuries. During the hot summer months, you'll want to hike
either early or late in the day, carry plenty of water, and keep in mind that the deeper you
go into the canyon, the hotter it gets.
The
Rim Trail
, which does not drop into the canyon but offers splendid views
from above, meanders along the rim for over 5 miles. Overlooking Bryce Amphitheater,
the trail allows excellent views along most of its length. An easy to moderate walk, it
includes a .5-mile section between two overlooks—Sunrise and Sunset—that is suitable
for wheelchairs. This trail is a good choice for an after-dinner stroll, when you can watch
the changing evening light on the rosy rocks below.
Your best bet for getting down into the canyon and seeing the most with the
least amount of sweat is to combine two popular trails—
Navajo Loop
and
Queen's
Garden
. The total distance is just under 3 miles, with a 521-foot elevation
change. Most hikers take 2 to 3 hours to complete the trek. It's best to start at the Navajo
Loop trail head at Sunset Point and leave the canyon on the less-steep Queen's Garden
Trail, returning to the rim at Sunrise Point, .5 mile to the north. The Navajo Loop sec-
tion is fairly strenuous; Queen's Garden is moderate. Along the Navajo Loop you'll pass
Thor's Hammer and wonder why it hasn't fallen, then ponder the towering skyscrapers
of Wall Street. Turning onto the Queen's Garden Trail, you'll see some of the park's most
fanciful formations—including the trail's namesake, majestic Queen Victoria—and Gul-
liver's Castle.
Those looking for more of a challenge might consider the
Hat Shop Trail,
a strenuous
3.8-mile round-trip with a 900-foot elevation change. Leaving from the Bryce Point
Overlook, you'll drop quickly to the Hat Shop, so named because it consists of hard gray
“hats” perched on narrow reddish-brown pedestals. Allow 4 hours.
For die-hard hikers who don't mind rough terrain, Bryce has two backcountry trails,
usually open in summer only. The
Under-the-Rim Trail
runs for some 23 miles, provid-
ing an excellent opportunity to see the park's spectacular scenery.
Riggs Spring Loop
Trail,
8.8 miles long, offers splendid views of the pink cliffs in the southern part of the
park. The truly ambitious can combine the two trails for a weeklong excursion. Permits
are required for all overnight trips.
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