Easy Bryce Canyon Hikes for Families

Bryce Canyon National Park sits at over 8,000 feet on the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, and its amphitheaters of orange and pink rock spires, called hoodoos, are some of the most photogenic landscapes in Utah. The good news for parents is that you do not need a long, strenuous trek to walk right down among the hoodoos. Several of the park's most rewarding trails are short, well graded, and perfect for kids. This guide covers the best easy Bryce Canyon hikes for families and how to string them together without wearing anyone out.

Queen's Garden Trail: The Gentlest Way Below the Rim

If you only do one hike with kids in Bryce, make it the Queen's Garden Trail. Starting at Sunrise Point, it is the least steep route from the rim down into the amphitheater, descending about 320 feet over roughly 0.9 miles each way. Switchbacks wind past tunnels carved through the rock and a hoodoo that looks like Queen Victoria, which kids love spotting. Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip at a relaxed pace. Remember that the elevation makes the uphill return feel harder than the gentle descent, so carry water and take breaks.

Navajo Loop and the Figure-Eight

Slightly more ambitious families can connect Queen's Garden to the Navajo Loop Trail for the classic figure-eight, about 2.9 miles total. Coming up the Navajo side, you pass the towering walls of Wall Street (open seasonally, usually late spring through fall) and the famous Thor's Hammer hoodoo. If Wall Street is closed for rockfall, the Two Bridges side stays open. This combination is the single best value hike in the park, packing the most scenery into a manageable distance.

The Rim Trail: Flat Views Without the Climb

• Sunset to Sunrise Point: a paved, nearly flat half mile, stroller friendly and great for little ones.
• Inspiration Point spur: a short uphill walk for one of the widest amphitheater views.
• Bryce Point: drive here for sunrise; the light hits the hoodoos first and the crowds are thinner.

The Rim Trail runs about 5.5 miles total between Fairyland Point and Bryce Point, but you can walk any small section. For families who want big views with zero elevation loss, the stretch between Sunset and Sunrise Points is ideal.

Mossy Cave: A Short Hike Outside the Main Park

Tucked along Highway 12 near the town of Tropic, the Mossy Cave Trail is an easy 0.8 mile round trip that follows a man-made stream to a dripping grotto and a small waterfall. It is one of the few Bryce hikes with running water, which makes it a hit on hot summer afternoons. Because it is outside the main park entrance, it rarely gets the same crowds as the amphitheater trails.

When to Hike and What to Pack

Late spring through early fall is the prime window, but Bryce's elevation means summer mornings can start in the 40s Fahrenheit and snow can linger into May. Start early to beat both heat and crowds, and bring layers. The high altitude dehydrates you fast, so pack more water than you think you need, plus sun protection and sturdy shoes for the gravelly switchbacks. The free park shuttle, running spring through fall, drops you at every major viewpoint and trailhead so you can hike point to point without backtracking.

Fitting Bryce Into a Bigger Utah Trip

Bryce Canyon is one of five spectacular national parks within a few hours of each other in southern Utah. If you are planning a longer adventure, our Utah Mighty Five family road trip itinerary shows how to pair these Bryce hikes with kid-friendly trails in Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, with short drives and family-paced days. Bryce makes a perfect second or third stop because the cooler high-country air is a welcome break from the desert heat of Arches and Canyonlands.