A Guide To Utah's National Parks: Bryce Canyon
The Hoodoos
The Hoodoos are filled with rich cultural and geologic history. The formation of the Hoodoos began millions of years ago as sediment was deposited from ancient lakes, rivers, and seas, creating a layer of rock. The rock was lifted up by a shift in tectonic plates, and shaped through weathering, and erosion, leaving towering pillars of rock.
The Hoodoos are filled with cultural heritage, and are sacred to the Paiute People. According to Southern Paiute traditions, there was a group of beings called the "Legend People" (To-when-an-ung-wa) who lived here a long time ago. However, because they did not live in harmony with the land, the trickster god Coyote turned them into stone, creating the stone spires we have today.
The Amphitheater
The Bryce Amphitheater is a giant bowl in the earth that holds the largest amount of hoodoos in the world! Viewpoints such as Bryce, Inspiration, Sunrise and Sunset points let you look over the Amphitheater and take in its majesty.
Peekaboo Loop
Bryce point is the beginning of the Peekaboo Loop, which takes you down into the amphitheater and through the towering hoodoos. Along the way, you'll have striking views of formations, including the fascinating arches in the Wall of Windows and the towering spire on the Cathedral. The hike is a bit difficult, with a lot of uphill, but the adventure is definitely worth it!
Distance: 5.5 miles
Time: 3-4 Hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Rim Trail
Starting at Bryce point, the Rim Trail gives you stunning views of the amphitheater, with stops at all four of the major viewpoints. While you can hike up to 11 miles, you can start and stop at any of the viewpoints.
Distance: 1-11 Miles
Time: 1 Hour - 7.5 Hours
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (The hike from Sunset to Sunrise is the easiest and most accessible).
Queen's Garden Trail
This trail is one of the easiest hikes that takes you down into the amphitheater. Along the way, you'll see fascinating rock formations such as Queen Victoria, Gulliver's Castle, and the Queen's castle.
Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Navajo Loop Trail
This loop takes you to Thor's Hammer, the most famous hoodoo in Bryce canyon, along with iconic hoodoos such as Wall Street and Twin Bridges.
Distance: 1.3 Miles
Time: 1-2 Hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Now Put Them Together!
Combining trails is a great way to explore more of the park, and with plenty of different combinations to try out, there's a lot to explore. The most popular hike in Bryce Canyon is a combination of the Rin Trail, Queen's Garden Trail, and the Navajo loop. You start at Sunrise Point, where you go down the Queen's Garden Trail, go back up via the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point, and then go from Sunset to Sunrise on the Rim trail. With this hike, you get to witness the iconic landmarks from both the Navajo and Queen's Garden trail, while you get the panoramic views of the Rim Trail.
Distance: 2.9 Miles
Time: 2-3 Hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Fairyland Loop Trail
The Fairyland Loop trail gives you a more secluded look at a magical landscape of hoodoos. The trail takes you into the canyon where you can look up at towering rock formations, including Chinese Wall. Along the way, you can take a .4 mile detour and see Tower Bridge.
Distance: 8 Miles
Time: 4-5 Hours
Difficulty: Challenging
Location
Bryce Canyon National Park is about 77 miles east of Cedar City, and about 268 miles from Salt Lake City.