Hike the Queens Garden & Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park, renowned for its surreal rock formations known as hoodoos, offers a unique and stunning hiking experience. Among its many trails, the combination of the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop trails stands out as one of the most scenic and popular routes. This relatively short yet immensely rewarding hike provides an immersive journey into the heart of Bryce Canyon's otherworldly landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a first-time visitor, the trail delivers unforgettable views, geological wonders, and breathtaking sights of one of Utah's most cherished canyons.

Trailhead elevation 7,936'

Water none

Don't miss the spur trail to Queen Victoria

Hike the Queens Garden & Navajo Loop

The loop begins and ends on the rim of Bryce Canyon, offering hikers a chance to descend into the amphitheater and walk among towering hoodoos Most hikers begin the loop at Sunrise Point, where panoramic views of Bryce Amphitheater set the stage for the journey ahead. From here, the Queens Garden Trail gently descends into the canyon, allowing hikers to view the changing perspective as they make their way into the forest of hoodoos.

From Sunrise Point, the Queens Garden Trail begins to descend into the canyon along a gentle slope.

As hikers descend, the landscape shifts from wide-open views to more intimate encounters with the hoodoos that rise from the ground like spires and towers.

With each step, the trail reveals new perspectives as it winds deeper into the canyon. The vibrant pinks, oranges, and reds of the rock formations come alive, while junipers and towering Ponderosa pines dot the landscape, adding a touch of greenery to the colorful scene.

About half a mile into the hike, the Queens Garden Trail meets the Horse Trail before continuing its descent into the canyon, weaving through a series of switchbacks.

Hoodoos, standing anywhere from a few feet to an impressive sixty feet tall, surround the trail as it descends further into the canyon.

As hikers navigate the loop, they'll pass through several "cut-outs" in the rock formations, similar to the one shown below.

As the trail winds through the canyon, more dramatic views unfold, providing hikers with unparalleled perspectives of the canyon's delicate formations and ever-changing landscape.

Just under a mile from Sunrise Point, the Queens Garden Trail intersects with a short spur trail that leads to the Queen Victoria formation, the inspiration for the trail's name.

Named after the UK's Queen Victoria, the Queen Victoria formation is often a highlight of the hike. Its shape resembles the silhouette of a seated queen, adorned with a crown-like rock formation on top. Like many of the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, the Queen Victoria formation is primarily made up of limestone, siltstone, and sandstone. Shaped over millions of years by frost-wedging and rainwater erosion, the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Queen Victoria notwithstanding, create a stunning feast for the eyes.

Following the short 0.1-mile spur trail to Queen Victoria, the path levels out near the base of the amphitheater. As the trail continues, Ponderosa pines become more abundant, adding to an already beautiful landscape.

Around the 1.9-mile mark, the Queens Garden Trail intersects with the Navajo Loop Trail and starts a steep ascent out of the canyon. Within a quarter-mile, the trail passes Two Bridges, two naturally formed rock formations that span the canyon walls.

After passing Two Bridges, the Navajo Loop Trail continues its ascent out of the canyon, approaching one of the hike's most iconic sections.

Two-thirds of the way to the rim and Sunset Point, the trail encounters a series of switchbacks, providing hikers with one of the most spectacular views in Bryce Canyon.

After the series of switchbacks, the trail continues its ascent to the rim, lending views of Thor's Hammer, one of the most iconic and recognizable rock formations in Bryce Canyon National Park. Named for its resemblance to the mythical hammer wielded by the Norse god Thor, the striking 30-foot-tall hoodoo is a popular attraction, often causing pile ups on the trail.

As the trail approaches the rim, hikers are rewarded with expansive views of the amphitheater and numerous other unique rock formations along the way.

Upon reaching the rim at Sunset Point, hikers can follow the Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point to conclude their hike, enjoying non-stop views of the amphitheater the entire time.