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Bryce Canyon National Park > Hiking
Bryce Canyon is a comparatively small national park compared with others in Utah like Capitol Reef and Zion, so most trails are quite short. There is only one route that requires overnight camping - the 23 mile Under the Rim Trail, which links Bryce Point near the north of the park with Rainbow Point at the far south end. It has an elevation change of around 1,500 feet but is generally quite easy, and passes several back country campsites. Free permits must be obtained for all overnight trips, either from the vistor center on the day of travel or by advance reservation. Off trail hiking is generally not allowed, and is in many places restricted due to the topography, though is possible in some areas. As this is a high elevation area - all trails are over 7,000 feet and some are up to 9,000 feet, some visitors might find the hikes more difficult than would otherwise be expected.
Other hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park are as follows:
Bristlecone Loop Trail (1 mile):
Bristlecone pines are the most ancient trees in the US; some specimens in California are well over 4,000 years old but those at Bryce Canyon have been growing for up to 1,600 years. They are the main attraction of a short trail that starts right at the southern end of the park scenic drive, at Rainbow Point (elevation 9,015 feet), and also passes large Douglas fir trees while giving excellent views to the south and west.
Fairyland Loop Trail (8.3 miles):
The Fairyland Trail is a relatively strenuous route starting from the most northerly overlook at Fairyland Point, winding down amongst the hoodoos, with a total elevation loss over 900 feet, then turning back southwest and climbing 770 feet up to the rim at Sunrise Point. It passes various named formations including the Chinese Wall, Boat Mesa and Tower Bridge, as well as junctions with several other paths, all of which are well signposted.
Hat Shop Trail (3.8 miles):
Some of the formations east of Bryce Point have a different appearance, with caps of white rock above red pillars of conglomerate - 'hat' shaped hoodoos. The Hat Shop Trail (which is also the start of the Under the Rim trail) leads into this region, reached after quite a steep 700 foot descent.
Mossy Trail (0.8 miles):
Mossy Trail is different to most in the Bryce Canyon area as it leads along a small stream (Water Canyon) to a waterfall fringed by curtains of moss. It is located not along the main scenic drive but a few miles east on UT 12, half way down Tropic Canyon, so can be seen without paying to enter the national park.
Navajo Loop Trail (1.3 miles):
This is a short, popular route that begins at Sunset Point and leads 520 feet downhill via a set of switchbacks into a narrow slot-like canyon known as Wall Street. In May 2006 a large rock slide closed part of the trail, and the full route is not scheduled to reopen until spring 2007.
Peekaboo Loop Trail (5.5 miles):
Starting from either Sunset Point or Bryce Point, the Peekaboo Loop Trail is one of the longer routes through the largest area of formations, around the upper end of Bryce Canyon. The trail is shared by horses, which can sometimes cause delays for hikers.
Queens Garden Trail (1.8 miles):
Queens Garden is an area of large hoodoos and the trail here is one of the shortest and easiest routes into the heart of the famous Bryce Canyon formations. It descends about 300 feet then links with the Navajo Loop Trail allowing for continuation hikes.
Riggs Spring Loop Trail (8 miles):
The path to Riggs Spring is one of the more difficult in the national park, It starts from Rainbow Point, the highest part of the plateau, and passes mostly through forested land, though with some eroded formations at intervals, en route to the spring, which has an elevation of 7,400 feet. From here the trail turns west then north, climbing back up to the starting point. Although relatively short for a two day hike, some people camp along the route, at one of 3 back country campsites.
Rim Trail (11 miles):
As its name suggests, this trail follows beneath the rim, from Fairyland Point to Bryce Point; a total distance of 11 miles but with various other entrances/exits so shorter walks are possible between different points.
Tower Bridge Trail (3 miles):
This is another loop path that starts from Sunrise Point, and leads to the Tower Bridge formation; it also forms part of the Fairyland Loop Trail.
All these trails may be located on the PDF format  Bryce Canyon National Park map (400 kb), from the National Park Service.
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