Hiking at Bryce Canyon – The Navajo Loop trail – is an incredible Bryce Canyon hike, and easily one of our favorite hikes in Southern Utah. This stunning trek winds through red rock canyons, centuries old rock formations and intricate archways. Read on for everything you need to know about the Navajo Loop Bryce Canyon hike, from what to bring and how much it is, to how to get there and what to expect.
HOW TO GET TO THE NAVAJO LOOP BRYCE CANYON HIKE
Bryce Canyon National Park is in Southern Utah, around 4 hours drive from Salt Lake City. Since we had planned to start our Bryce Canyon hike early, we decided to camp nearby. We used the iOverlander app to help us find free campsites around the area.
The Navajo Loop Trail is clearly marked on Google maps, however, you’ll want to start your Bryce Canyon hike at Sunset Point, not to be confused with Sunrise Point. If you’re looking for the ultimate convenience, you can pitch a tent or park your RV in the summer months at Sunset Campground just west of Sunset Point.
HIKING AT BRYCE CANYON FEES
Entrance fees valid for 7 days:
Private vehicle and all occupants – $35
Motorcycle – $30
Per Person (bicycle, walk-in) – $20
For more details visit the National Park Service website.
BEST TIME TO DO THE HIKING AT BRYCE CANYON -NAVAJO LOOP TRAIL
Ironically, the trail begins at Sunset Point but for the best lighting and to beat the crowds, you’ll want to start your Bryce Canyon hike just after sunrise.
WHAT TO BRING FOR THE BEST HIKE BRYCE CANYON
Prepare for your hiking at Bryce Canyon (navajo loop trail) with our must-have travel essentials.
Waterproof backpack & phone case: Earth Pak 35L or 55L Heavy Duty Backpack, IPX8 Waterproof Phone Case Included (click for price)
Quick-dry microfiber travel towel: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel (click for price)
Insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle (click for price)
Snorkel, mask & fins: Cressi Adjustable Mask, Fin & Snorkel Set with Carry Bag (click for price)
If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:
Professional camera: Sony a7iii (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO9 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro (click for price)
To see our complete camera gear read this post here.
BEST UTAH TOUR PACKAGES
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE NAVAJO LOOP TRAIL
(Hiking in Bryce Canyon)
There are a few different options when it comes to the Navajo Loop Bryce Canyon hike, but we’ve outlined our route in the Bryce Canyon trail map below. If you just want a short hike then you can start and end at Sunset Point and just stick to the Navajo Loop trail, which is 1.4 miles (2.2 km). We were up for a longer hike so instead of completing the Navajo Loop trail, we took the Queens Garden route which finishes at Sunrise Point. From Sunrise Point we walked the Rim Trail back to our car at Sunset Point. This whole loop is 2.9 miles (4.6km) with an elevation change of 600fft (183 m).
If you’re up for even more of a challenge, the Peekaboo Loop Trail connected to the bottom of Navajo Loop is 5.5miles (8.8km), but was unfortunately closed when we visited. We didn’t mind though, because the landscape and sights along the Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail were breathtaking enough!
What we love about this particular Bryce Canyon hiking trail is that it’s great for novice hikers, with minimal incline and physical exertion. It’s a beautiful trail through varied landscapes, from vibrant red rock canyons to pine tree forests. No wonder it’s seen as one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon. As easy as the hike is, make sure you pack enough food and water and dress for the weather.
We continued our Bryce Canyon hike through epic rock formations, from towering spires and red sand valleys to narrow archways. Every spot had something different to show us.
The entire hike only took a couple hours with stopping to get a million photos, so we had the rest of the day to explore Bryce Canyon and drive out to some other cool viewpoints.
Before leaving Bryce Canyon National Park we returned to Sunrise Point to catch sunset (we know, we did it backwards). It was a picture perfect end to a beautiful day!
Read our other Utah travel guides for more epic things to do:
- Antelope Island State Park
- Pink Lake Railway
- Pink Lake Spiral Jetty
- Meadow Hot Springs
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Potash Ponds in Moab
- Fifth Water Hot Springs (Diamond Fork)
PIN IT FOR LATER
