Rim Trail

Visit our Hiking Page for more details on the hikes below.

This is a High Elevation Park

With most of the park at 8,000 feet (2,438 m) or above, elevation is a very real factor to consider when choosing your hike. At this elevation, there's about 70% of the oxygen available at sea-level, and you'll certainly feel it if you begin to hike. When you're choosing a hike, do yourself a huge favor and don't choose something at the edge of your abilities. Take it easy, and rest assured that even short hikes have as much beauty to offer as the longest ones. Elevation-related injuries, such as heart issues, are among the park's most common medical emergencies.

UV radiation is also a lot stronger at this elevation. Make sure you cover up, wear sunscreen, or take other precautions to protect your skin and eyes.

Lastly, storms can form quickly here. If thunder roars, go indoors! Lightning--especially during the summer monsoon season--is a deadly threat. Take shelter in your vehicle, a building, a shuttle bus, or if you're on a trail find a low lying depression. Both trees and hoodoos can conduct lightning down to you.

Water and Footwear

With less oxygen available in each breath, you're going to be breathing harder, which means that you're going to dehydrate more quickly. We recommend a liter of water for every 1-2 hours you plan to hike. There is no water available once you're on a trail (backcountry hikes pass seasonal springs and drainages, but even these are rarely reliable), so make sure you pack all that you need.

Our number one cause of injuries in the park? Bad footwear. Trails have a lot of small, loose rock on their otherwise flat surfaces making slipping and twisting an ankle all too easy. Footwear with a good tread and ankle support is highly recommended. In winter, ice creates even more hazardous conditions. We strongly recommend the use of footwear traction devices when ice is present.

Easy Hikes

Mossy Cave: 0.8 mi (1.3 km)

Sunset to Sunrise (along Rim Trail): 1.0 mi (1.6 km)

Bristlecone Loop: 1.0 mi (1.6 km)

Moderate Hikes

Queen's Garden: 1.8 mi (2.9 km)

Navajo Loop: 1.3 mi (2.2 km)

Queen's/Navajo Combo Loop: 2.9 mi (4.6 km)

Tower Bridge: 3.0 mi (4.8 km)

Swamp Canyon Loop: 4.0 mi (6.4 km)

Strenuous Hikes

Hat Shop: 4.0 mi (6.4 km)

Fairyland Loop: 8.0 mi (12.9 km)

Peekaboo Loop: 5.5 mi (8.8 km)

Navajo/Peekaboo Combo: 4.9 mi (7.8 km)

Figure-8 Combo: 6.4 mi (10.2 km)

Bryce Amphitheater Traverse: 4.7 mi (7.5 km)

The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. There is no shuttle pick-up at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike to your starting point to complete the loop.

Trailhead: Fairyland Point or north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead .

Parking: At Fairyland Point (oversized vehicles permitted) or at Sunrise Point (oversized vehicles are not permitted in this parking area when the shuttle is in operation. ) Check when parking lots are busiest .

Distance: 8.0 mile (12.9 km)

Approximate Time: 4-5 hours

Elevation Gain: 1900 feet (579 meters)

Difficulty: Strenuous (rapid elevation gain, longer length)

Services: Accessible restrooms available at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally). Water-fill stations available at the General Store (seasonally). No services at Fairyland Point.

Shuttle Service: Yes at Sunrise Point, None at Fairyland Point. Private options may be available.

Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

This trail may be inaccessible during mid-winter due to snow depths ranging from 2-15 ft. (.7-5 m)

The Hat Shop trail descends from Bryce Point into the backcountry using the Under-the-Rim trail, offering views of the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase. This strenuous out-and-back hike leads down 1,380 feet (421 meters) over two-miles to a cluster of balanced-rock hoodoos before hikers turn around to return to Bryce Point. These narrow, orange pinnacles wear "hats" of large gray boulders, giving them a distinct appearance compared to hoodoos seen in the Bryce Amphitheater to the north.

Trailhead: Bryce Point

Parking: At Bryce Point; oversized vehicles are not permitted in this parking area when the shuttle is in operation.

Distance: 4.0 miles (6.4 km)

Approximate Time: 3-4 hours

Elevation Gain: 1,380 feet (421 meters)

Difficulty: Strenuous (rapid elevation gain, longer length)

Services: None.

Shuttle Service: Yes.

During winter, the Hat Shop trail is not advised unless you are very well prepared for ice, deep snow, and other winter conditions.

Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

The Queen's Garden Trail is the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Hike this out-and-back trail to the Queen Victoria hoodoo at the end of a short spur trail and experience the splendor of hiking amongst the hoodoos.

Trailhead: Sunrise Point

Parking: Available at Sunrise Point (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles are not permitted in this parking area when the shuttle is in operation.

Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9 km) roundtrip

Approximate Time: 1-2 hours

Elevation Gain: 450 feet (137 meters)

Difficulty: Moderate (less than 1000 feet elevation gain, moderate length)

Services: Accessible restrooms and a water-fill station are available at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally).

Shuttle Service: Yes.

Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

This trail is commonly combined with the Navajo Loop to create a 2.9 mile round trip trail where you can descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point and ascend Navajo Loop to Sunset Point. Complete the loop using the Sunset to Sunrise section of the Rim Trail.

The Rim Trail hike meanders along the rim of the iconic Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, giving you views of the hoodoos below. This portion of the Rim Trail, from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, is the only paved section of this trail and is the easiest walk in the park.

Trailhead: Sunset Point or Sunrise Point

Parking: Available at both Sunrise and Sunset Points (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles are not permitted in these parking areas when the shuttle is in operation.

Distance: 1.0 mile (1.6 km) (half-mile one-way)

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Elevation Gain: 40 feet (12 meters)

Difficulty: Easy (elevation gain of 200 feet or less, shorter length)

Shuttle Service: Yes.

Services: Accessible restrooms available at Sunset Point (year-round) and at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally). Water-fill stations available at Sunset Point (seasonally), the Sunset Point restroom (year-round), and the General Store (seasonally).

Pets are allowed on paved surfaces .

The Rim Trail stretches from its beginning in the south at Bryce Point 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to Fairyland Point. As it follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park, it connects to Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point providing a relatively easy hike (depending on how much of it you do) that offers spectacular views of the park's most popular area.

Trailhead: Bryce , Inspiration , Sunset , Sunrise , or Fairyland Point .

Parking: Available at each trailhead above (check when parking lots are busiest ). With the exception of Fairyland Point, oversized vehicles are not permitted in these parking areas when the shuttle is in operation.

Distance: 1.0 mile to 11.0 miles (1.6 km to 17.7 km) depending on how far you choose to walk.

Bryce to Inspiration: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)

Inspiration to Sunset: 0.7 miles (1.1 km)

Sunset to Sunrise: 0.5 miles (0.8 km)

Sunrise to Fairyland 2.8 miles (4.5 km)

Approximate Time: 1 hour to 7.5 hours

Elevation Gain: 719 feet (219 meters)

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Services: Accessible restrooms available at Sunset Point (year-round) and available at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally). Water-fill stations available at Sunset Point (seasonally), the Sunset Point restroom (year-round), and the General Store (seasonally).

Shuttle Service: Yes. Available at Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points. Fairyland does not have shuttle service.

In winter, the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) section of the Rim Trail from Bryce Point to Inspiration Point is regularly closed.

Pets are only allowed on the paved section of the Rim Trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points . Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?

The easiest hike in the park is the section of the Rim Trail that connects Sunset and Sunrise Points . It is 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long and walkers can begin from either Sunrise or Sunset Point. Elevation gain is 34 feet (10 meters). We recommend hiking from one point and back for a very easy 1 mile (1.6 km) walk. This section of trail is accessible and pet friendly on paved surfaces .

The Rim Trail stretches from its beginning in the south at Bryce Point 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north to Fairyland Point. As it follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater area of the park, it connects to Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point providing a relatively easy hike (depending on how much of it you do) that offers spectacular views of the park's most popular area.

Recommended: Sunset to Sunrise

The easiest hike in the park is the section of the Rim Trail that connects Sunset and Sunrise Points. It is 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long and walkers can begin from either Sunrise or Sunset Point. Elevation gain is 34 feet (10 meters). We recommend hiking from one point and back for a very easy 1 mile (1.6 km) walk.

Winter Closures

In winter the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) section of the Rim Trail from Bryce Point to Inspiration Point is regularly closed.

Section Lengths

Difficulty: Varies (Easy to Moderate)

Total Distance: 5.5 miles (8.9 km)

Ascent/Descent (South to North): 1,330 feet (405 m) / 1,825 feet (556 m)

Average time: 3-4 hours

Bryce to Inspiration: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)

Inspiration to Sunset: 0.7 miles (1.1 km)

Sunset to Sunrise: 0.5 miles (0.8 km)

Sunrise to Fairyland 2.8 miles (4.5 km)

Riding the Shuttle

During shuttle season, hikers may use stops at Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points to complete one-way hikes. Fairyland Point has no shuttle service.