One Trail at a Time: Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
While there are thousands of trails within the National Park System, few trails offer the combination of incredible views, iconic features, moderate length, and exhilarating hiking as the Navajo Loop/Queens Garden Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Navajo Loop and Queens Garden Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
Trailhead and Parking
The Navajo Loop trail begins at Sunset Point, and the Queens Garden Trail ends at Sunrise Point. Both areas offer large, yet extremely crowded parking lots. Typically, this combination trail is completed in the counter-clockwise manner, beginning with the Navajo Loop Trail and ending on the Queens Garden Trail, but both directions allow for stunning views from start to finish. The trailhead for the Navajo Loop Trail is well marked at Sunset Point.
Bryce Canyon National Park also operates a free shuttle service that can be utilized to take you from the Visitors Center to Sunrise or Sunset Point for those looking to avoid any parking stress during peak season!
Thor’s Hammer, one of the most iconic hoodoo’s in Bryce Canyon National Park as seen from the Navajo Loop Trail
Trail Information
The Navajo Loop/Queens Garden Trail is a 3.1 mile, moderately difficult trail with about 650 ft of elevation gain. Most of the elevation changes along the trail are found on the initial descent to the canyon floor, and the final climb back up to Sunrise Point.
As with most trails at Bryce Canyon National Park, dogs are not permitted on the trail. Additionally, the best time to explore the trail is early spring through fall. The trail surface is composed of packed gravel throughout the length of the trail. After heavy rains, this surface can become quite muddy, so be prepared if hiking the trail after wet weather.
While the Navajo Loop can be traveled from the Two Bridges or the Wall Street legs of the trail, the most common path down to the canyon floor is via the Two Bridges route, which will take you along the iconic switchbacks of this trail!
The Two Bridges switchbacks along the Navajo Loop Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
The Hike
Beginning at Sunset Point, take the well-marked trail to begin your descent down the Navajo Loop Trail. As you begin your descent, Thor’s Hammer will immediately come into view!
The initial hike down the Navajo Loop Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
After descending approximately 0.2 miles down the Navajo Loop Trail, a fork appears that will take you to either the Wall Street route (right) or the Two Bridges route (left). Both routes will ultimately take you to the Queens Garden trailhead on the canyon floor, so the choice is yours on how you would like to hike the Navajo Loop.
Note: As of 2023, the Wall Street route has been closed indefinitely due to severe erosion of trail. Be sure to check with Park Rangers prior to beginning the hike for status updates on the trail.
Two Bridges of the Navajo Loop Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
After another 0.5 miles from the Wall Street fork, you will find yourself at the namesake Two Bridges along the Navajo Loop trail, and just about to the canyon floor. At this point, an intersection of 4 trails comes into view: The Wall Street route (right fork), Tropic Trail (middle fork), and Queens Garden Trail (left fork). Take the left fork to continue your hike along the Queens Garden Trail, which will initially cross over Bryce Creek as you make your way through this incredible trail! Be sure to look for wildlife along the way as deer frequent this area!
Vibrant colors are found throughout the Queens Garden Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
Once on the Queens Garden Trail, you will meander through incredible hoodoo formations, towering walls, and stunning arches. The trail remains relatively flat for approximately 1 mile before you begin your climb up to the canyon rim.
Panoramic view of the Queens Garden at Bryce Canyon National Park
At about 2 miles along the trail, you will reach the fork for the Horse Trail (right fork). Be sure to stay to the left to continue on the Queens Garden Trail.
The climb to Sunrise Point from the Queens Garden Trail at Bryce Canyon National Park
From the Horse Trail fork, the trail begins its final climb up to the canyon rim. The Queens Garden Trail climbs approximately 300 ft over this next 0.5 mile of trail as you approach Sunrise Point. From here, an easy (and flat) 0.5 mile walk along the Rim Trail will return you to Sunset Point and the Navajo Loop Trailhead!
