The 7 Best Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is a stunning national park in Southern Utah and is the land of the hoodoos. Although you can see the hoodoos from overlooks in the park, one of the best ways to experience the national park and its hoodoos is hiking!
One of the best things about Bryce Canyon National Park is there are many easy trails that are great for all levels! This guide has everything you need to know about the best easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park that you need to add to your bucket list!
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Tips For Hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park
Start your day early. Bryce Canyon National Park is very popular and can become very crowded. The parking lots in the park are also pretty small, so they fill up quickly. I recommend arriving at the park as early as you can. I found that arriving before 9:00 AM worked well.
Start or end your day with hiking. Some of the most popular attractions in Bryce Canyon National Park are hikes, so the trails become crowded quickly. Navajo Loop is one of the most beautiful and popular hikes in the park, so I recommend starting or ending your day hiking it to avoid most crowds.
Pack food and water. There aren’t any places to buy food in the park, so I recommend packing your lunch, snacks, and water. Doing so will also help you avoid traffic coming back into the Bryce Canyon National Park. If you drive your car through the park, you can pack a cooler with everything you need! The park has a few restrooms with water fountains, so you can fill up your water bottle as you explore the park.
Pack layers. As you drive through Bryce Canyon National Park, you gain elevation (the endpoint is over 9,000 feet high), so the weather can vary throughout the park. I recommend packing a few layers to accommodate the change in temperature and weather!
Give yourself plenty of time for hiking. I highly recommend allocating more time for the hike than you think you need. Hiking in hot weather can be slow, so it is crucial to give yourself more time, so you do not feel rushed. Also, because the park has millions of visitors each year, the trails are crowded, especially the easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, and it may take longer to hike because of the crowds.
Use the Bryce Canyon National Park shuttle if the park is busy. Because Bryce Canyon National Park experiences heavy crowds, it can be difficult to find parking spots in the small parking lots. Luckily, the park offers a free shuttle that brings you to many of the must-see sights.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
What to Pack for Hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
The 7 Best Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park
Sunset Point to Sunrise Point
Length: 1 mile
Elevation gain: 80 feet
Trailhead location: Sunset Point or Sunrise Point
Dog-friendly: Yes, this is one of the only trails in the park that allows dogs
One of the best and easiest hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park is the Rim Trail between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point. The short trail begins in the Sunset Point parking area and follows along the Rim to Rim Trail to Sunrise Point. You can also hike it starting at Sunrise Point. Both viewpoints are among the most popular in the park, so you will not be alone when exploring them and this trail.
This paved trail is a fantastic way to see both viewpoints and the Bryce Amphitheater. Sunrise Point offers views of Thor’s Hammer and the Silent City, while Sunset Point offers views of Wall Street. You will not be disappointed exploring this stunning easy hike in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Bristlecone Loop, Rainbow Point, and Yovimpa Point
Length: 1.3 miles
Elevation gain: 120 feet
Trailhead location: Rainbow Point
Dog-friendly: No
Bristlecone Loop is a beautiful and easy hike in Bryce Canyon National Park that connects two viewpoints, Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point. Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point are the final and highest overlooks in Bryce Canyon National Park, standing at over 9,000 feet, and are the perfect viewpoints to see the Grand Staircase of rock layers.
This short loop is a great way to see Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point and enjoy added views along the trail! The Bristlecone Loop begins in the Rainbow Point parking area and follows along the rim, offering panoramic views until it reaches Yovimpa Point. You can drive to both viewpoints, but I highly recommend hiking this easy trail instead!
Lower, Mid, and Upper Inspiration Points
Length: 0.6 miles
Elevation gain: 130 feet
Trailhead location: Lower Inspiration Point
Dog-friendly: No
One of the most beautiful easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park is the Rim Trail between Lower, Mid, and Upper Inspiration Points. Inspiration Point is easily one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the park and receives fewer visitors than its neighbor, Bryce Point. It gives you a beautiful view of the Bryce Amphitheater and the mountains in the east, and the view seems to go on for miles.
Although you can see the beautiful views from Lower Inspiration, which is a short walk from the parking lot, I recommend hiking the Rim Trail to Mid and Upper Inspiration Points as well! The trail is easy to follow and offers stunning views of the surrounding hoodoos. All three Inspiration Points have panoramic views, so this easy hike will quickly become one of your favorites in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Bonus tip: Inspiration Point is an incredible place to watch sunrise and sunset!
Piracy Point
Length: 0.5 miles
Elevation gain: 45 feet
Trailhead location: Fairview Point
Dog-friendly: No
Piracy Point is a lesser-known viewpoint in Bryce Canyon National Park, even though it offers beautiful views overlooking Swamp Canyon and its hoodoos. The trail begins at Fairview Point and follows along the rim until it arrives at Piracy Point.
Although Fairview Point offers similar views without a hike, I recommend hiking to Piracy Point if you are looking for a quiet and easy trail in Bryce Canyon National Park. Piracy Point is a quick and easy hike with panoramic views, so you will not be disappointed!
Mossy Cave
Length: 1 mile
Elevation gain: 120 feet
Trailhead location: Mossy Cave Trailhead (in the town of Tropic)
Dog-friendly: No
Mossy Cave is one of the most unique trails in Bryce Canyon National Park, featuring a cave, hoodoos, and waterfall. This easy hike is outside of the main entrance of the national park in the small town of Tropic. Although the trail is not in the main section of Bryce Canyon National Park, it is still incredibly crowded because it has increasingly become popular. I recommend arriving at the trailhead before 9 AM to secure your parking spot in the small lot.
The Mossy Cave Trail follows along a stream through a canyon before coming to a junction, where you can decide if you want to continue left to Mossy Cave or right to a waterfall. I recommend hiking to Mossy Cave first because you will want to spend more time near the waterfall, trust me. Even though it’s on the smaller side, the blue waters of the waterfall against the tan rock are beautiful! Mossy Cave will quickly become one of your favorite easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park!
Note: You can only park in the parking lot. Cars that park outside of the parking lot will be ticketed or towed.
Queens Garden
Length: 2.1 miles
Elevation gain: 400 feet
Trailhead location: Sunrise Point
Dog-friendly: No
Queens Garden is on the moderate side of easy compared to other easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park but is the least strenuous way to descend into the amphitheater. It is one of the most popular hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, so you will not be alone when hiking the trail.
The trail begins at Sunrise Point, gradually descends into the amphitheater, and follows along its floor until it enters the Queens Garden with Queen Victoria. Queens Garden is one of the best ways to get an up-close and personal experience with the hoodoos, so I highly recommend adding this hike to your bucket list!
Navajo Loop
Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Trailhead location: Sunset Point
Dog-friendly: No
Similar to Queens Garden, Navajo Loop is on the moderate side of easy because of its elevation gain, but it is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park! It is one of the best trails to get an up-close and personal experience with some of the most iconic hoodoos in the park. The trail begins at Sunset Point and descends to the amphitheater floor, passing by some of the most well-known hoodoos, such as Thor’s Hammer, Wall Street, and Two Bridges.
Although Navajo Loop gains more elevation than most easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park, it has many switchbacks, making it a little easier on the legs. I promise the extra effort is worth it for the unforgettable views!
Looking for a longer hike? You can connect Queens Garden and Navajo Loop for an incredible 3-mile hike. The trail is considered moderate, but it is worth the extra effort to link these two iconic trails together for an epic hike!
If you want to add easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park to your itinerary, this guide is the perfect place to start planning. It has everything you need to know about the best easy hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park that should be on your bucket list!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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