Bryce Canyon National Park · Utah
Bryce Canyon: Queens Garden and Navajo Loop
The classic Bryce Canyon loop down among the hoodoos, through Queens Garden and back up the Navajo Loop switchbacks.
Before you go
- Start at Sunrise Point and go down Queens Garden first. That way the steeper Navajo switchbacks are your climb out, and it's easier on the knees.
- The Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop closes in winter and after rockfall. If it's closed, take the Two Bridges side instead.
- You're around 8,000 feet. The climb back to the rim feels harder than the numbers suggest.
- The loop ends at Sunset Point. Walk the half mile of Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point if your car is there.
The hike
This is the loop most people mean when they say they hiked Bryce Canyon, and it deserves the reputation. In under three miles you go from the rim down into the hoodoos, walk among them, and climb back out.
Queens Garden is the gentler descent. The trail winds through tunnels cut in the rock and passes the hoodoo formation the trail is named after. At the bottom, the trail connects to the Navajo Loop.
The Navajo Loop is where the famous photos come from. The Wall Street side squeezes between tall rock walls with Douglas firs growing up from the floor, then switchbacks steeply back to Sunset Point.
Trail details last checked October 2026. Confirm current closures with Bryce Canyon National Park before your trip.
Gear I'd bring for this one
Trekking poles
The trail is steep and loose in places. Poles help on the way down and save your legs on the climb back to the rim.
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