Hiking States for Navajo Loop Trail + Queens Gardens Trail
Distance: 2.75 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Length of time: 2-3 hours (depending how many times you stop to take photos)
Cliff notes: If you start at the Navajo Loop Trailhead it begins with a relatively steep descent into the canyon walking along switchbacks, then it flattens out and is easy walking until you get to the end of the loop and begin another relatively steep ascent along switchbacks to the top of the canyon. You must be in descent hiking condition and comfortable walking down hill and up hill with loose rocks. It’s a pretty easy hike to be honest, but rated moderate because of the switchback sections.
How do you get to the Navajo Loop Trail?
You’ll get to the trailhead by going to Bryce Canyon National Park, and parking in the parking lot beside the trail head. There are restrooms and water fountains in the parking lot. I highlighted in pink where it says “parking”, then you’ll see the Rim Trail sidewalk that overlooks the canyon. There’s several look out points in this area, including Sunset Point. The Rim Trail is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon, if you have time, explore by walking around the rim.
Here is the Google Maps location to the parking lot.
Entrance fee into Bryce Canyon
Yes, there are park entrance fees into the National Park. The standard entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle, and $20 per person without a car 15 years or older. If you’re under 15 years old, the entrance fee is free.
If you purchase a National park pass, which I highly recommend you doing, it’s $70 for the year!
For more information about the park fees and passes visit their website.
Best time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park
The BEST time to visit is May – September. We visited at the end of May, and it was pretty chilly. Actually, it started hailing on us. If you can tell in the photos, there is while outlining some of the rock formations. That’s hail! Be sure to bring a waterproof jacket in case it rains… or hails!
We visited neither at sunset or sunrise, but during the afternoon. It’s a popular place to watch the sunrise or sunset from the Inspiration Point, which is also located along the Rim Trail.
What to expect hiking the Navajo Loop Trail to the Queens Garden Trail
When you start out the hike at the top of the trailhead, be sure to where good hiking shoes, because the dirt is a little loose. You’ll be hiking immediately down a switchback, which is honestly very easy, but you do have to watch your step. It can get crowded so be conscious of the crowds on the same switchback as you. This is how the scenery looks when you first start going down the switchbacks.
These beautiful orange and yellow rock formations are something you should be taking photos of here!
Once you are out of the large switchbacks, you’ll come to this beautiful location here! It’s one of the most photographed places in Bryce Canyon!
Then, you’ll start to see more trees, and the terrain will flatten out. You’ll hang to the left to take the Queens Garden Trail, since the Wall Street Trail is closed (as of May 2023). You’ll walk along this mostly flat trail for a while, then start to ascend again up some more beautiful switchbacks!
You might even see a cute, little furry friend along the way!
There are several areas that have door ways through the rock formations, making it a really unique experience to walk through!
Final conclusions about the hike:
If you’re planning on visiting Bryce Canyon, then you definitely should check out this trail. It’s overall easy, not scary. It’s a bit of a workout going up the switchback, but it’s totally worth it and very beautiful! Highly recommend 🙂
If you’ll be visiting Hawaii anytime soon, and going to the island of Oahu, check out my latest blog 12 Best things to do on Oahu! Thanks for reading!
