Almost everyone who asks a ranger for the single best hike in Bryce Canyon hears the same answer: the Queens Garden to Navajo Loop combination. It is the most efficient way to descend from the rim into the amphitheater of orange, pink, and cream hoodoos that make Bryce famous, and at roughly 2.9 miles it is short enough for families and beginners while still feeling like a real adventure. Here is exactly how to do it.
Why Combine Queens Garden and Navajo Loop?
Bryce's signature views come from being down inside the hoodoos, not just looking at them from above. The Queens Garden Trail gives you the gentlest descent in the park, while the Navajo Loop delivers the dramatic switchbacks of Wall Street and the towering Thor's Hammer. Linking them with a short stretch of the Queens Garden Connector creates a one-way loop that hits the highlights without retracing your steps.
Which Direction Should You Hike It?
Go down Queens Garden and up Navajo Loop. This is the standard recommendation for a reason. Queens Garden has a longer, gentler grade that is much kinder on the knees going down, while the steeper Navajo switchbacks are easier to climb than descend. Start at Sunrise Point and finish at Sunset Point, then walk the flat half-mile Rim Trail back to your car.
- Start: Sunrise Point
- Finish: Sunset Point, then Rim Trail back to start
- Distance: about 2.9 miles round trip
- Elevation change: roughly 600 feet
- Time: 2 to 3 hours at a family pace
What You'll See Along the Way
The Queens Garden Trail is named for a hoodoo that resembles Queen Victoria on her throne; keep an eye out for the short spur sign that points to her. As you drop into the amphitheater you pass under natural arches and tunnels carved straight through the rock. On the Navajo Loop side, Wall Street squeezes you between sheer 200-foot walls where ancient Douglas firs reach for the light, and Thor's Hammer stands as the most photographed hoodoo in the park.
Best Time to Hike It
Bryce sits at around 8,000 feet, so it stays far cooler than Zion or Arches. Late spring through early fall is ideal. Wall Street typically closes in winter and early spring due to ice and rockfall; if it is closed, hike the Navajo Loop's Two Bridges side instead. Sunrise and late afternoon light set the hoodoos on fire, so an early start rewards you with both cooler temperatures and the best color.
Tips for Families and Beginners
- Bring layers: the rim can be 20 degrees cooler than the canyon floor in Utah's other parks
- Carry at least a liter of water per person; there is no water down in the amphitheater
- Watch footing on loose gravel, especially on the Navajo switchbacks
- Sunscreen and a hat are essential at this elevation even when the air feels cool
- Strollers will not work on this trail; use a child carrier for little ones
Fitting Bryce Into a Mighty Five Trip
Bryce Canyon pairs naturally with Zion just up the road and is a centerpiece of any Utah parks loop. To see how the Queens Garden to Navajo Loop hike fits into a full week with kids, including drive times to Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands, follow our Utah Mighty Five family road trip itinerary. It schedules the cool morning hours at Bryce for exactly this hike so your family gets the hoodoos at their best.
Do this one loop and you will understand why Bryce Canyon, despite being the smallest of the Mighty Five, is so many travelers' favorite.
Queens Garden to Navajo Loop FAQs
The full combination is about 2.9 miles round trip with roughly 600 feet of elevation change, taking most families 2 to 3 hours including photo stops.
Hike down Queens Garden from Sunrise Point and up the Navajo Loop to Sunset Point. The Queens Garden descent is gentler on the knees and the Navajo switchbacks are easier to climb than to go down.
Yes. It is one of the most family-friendly hikes in Bryce Canyon. Children who can walk a few miles handle it well, though it has a steep section, so bring water and use a carrier for toddlers rather than a stroller.
