Trip Idea

Strenuous Hikes in Bryce Canyon

Multiple Parks

A mountain slope descends into a canyon filled with red rock formations
Views along the Peekaboo trail which can easily be connected with other trails in the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater to create a longer hike.

NPS Photo

Strenuous Hikes
  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Hat Shop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Backcountry Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Hat Shop Trailhead
    • Duration: 3–4 Hours
    A landscape of red rocks in the foreground with hazy mountains on the horizon

    The Hat Shop trail descends from Bryce Point into the backcountry using the Under-the-Rim trail, offering views of the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase. This strenuous out-and-back hike leads down 1,380 feet (421 meters) over two-miles to a cluster of balanced-rock hoodoos before hikers turn around to return to Bryce Point. These narrow, orange pinnacles wear "hats" of large gray boulders, giving them a distinct appearance.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Fairyland Loop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Fairyland Loop Trailhead
    • Duration: 4–5 Hours
    An overhead photo of red rock formations that appear to be glowing in the sun

    The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. There is no shuttle pick-up at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike to your starting point.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Peekaboo Loop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Bryce Point
    • Duration: 3–4 Hours
    An overhead view of red rock formations with a blue sky in the background

    The Peekaboo Loop descends 670 feet (204 meters) from Bryce Point to this hoodoo-filled loop trail before ascending back up to Bryce Point. In summer months, hikers will encounter horses/mules on this trail. We recommend hiking this trail in a clockwise direction.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Navajo/Peekaboo Combination Loop

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Navajo Loop Trailhead
    • Duration: 3–4 Hours
    A view over a landscape filled with red rock formations with the iconic thor\'s hammer formation.

    Combine two of our most iconic trails, the Navajo and Peekaboo Loop trails, into a a mini Figure-8 combination loop. Start the hike at Sunset Point, descend down either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter), connect to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascend Navajo back to Sunset Point.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Figure-8 Combination

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Queen's Garden Trailhead
    • Duration: 4–5 Hours
    Red rock formations on top of a steep sandy slope with distant red rock formations in the background

    The Figure-8 Combination combines three amphitheater hikes, Queen's Garden, Navajo Loop, and the Peekaboo Loop, into one ultimate hike! We recommend a clockwise direction descending Queen's Garden, connecting to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascending either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter). From there you can complete the trail by hiking back to Sunrise Point along the Rim Trail.

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  • Bryce Canyon National Park

    Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Front-Country Hiking
    • Pets: No
    • Location: Bryce Point
    • Duration: 3–4 Hours
    Two hikers descend down a trail from right to left with red rock formations in the background

    The Bryce Amphitheater Traverse is a one-way hike combining the Peekaboo Loop with the Queen's Garden trail. Hikers descend from Bryce Point, turning left (clockwise) on Peekaboo Loop and then connecting to the Queen's Garden trail to ascend to Sunrise Point.

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Last updated: March 12, 2023