Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop: Bryce Canyon’s Best Hike
Wherever I travel in the US, people tell me that Bryce Canyon is one of their favourite National Parks (usually along with Yosemite, Zion and Yellowstone). With its beautiful orange and pink hoodoos frequently sprinkled with snow, this unique park is now one of my favourites as well! Part of the key to that was the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trail!
When visiting Bryce Canyon National Park, the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trail is the must-hike trail! This family-friendly route combines the open views and epic hoodoos of the Queen’s Garden Trail with the switchbacks and towering canyon walls of the Navajo Loop.
In this guide, I will cover everything you need to know about hiking the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop trail, including the trail route, shuttles, packing advice, and what to expect from all the stops during the hike (including photos).
About Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park, located in southern Utah, is renowned for its unique and stunning geological formations known as hoodoos—tall, thin spires of rock created through erosion. The park features large natural amphitheaters and a diverse landscape that includes pine forests and high plateaus, offering breathtaking views and a variety of hiking trails. Bryce Canyon’s vibrant red, orange, and white rock formations, along with its quieter trails make it one of my favourite National Parks!
Whilst Bryce Canyon is one of the smaller National Parks in the United States, the hiking here is wonderful with several trails to explore. Many of these trails interlink which allows you to get creative and combine routes to your specific needs.
About Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trail
Walk type: Circular
Distance: 4.8km (3 miles)
Maximum Elevation: 2440m (8005 feet)
Minimum Elevation: 2260m (7215 feet)
Walk time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Thor’s Hammer, Two Bridges, Queen Victoria
Permit Required: No
Entrance Fee: National Park Fee ($35/vehicle)
Dogs Permitted: No
As the name suggests, this route is a combination of the Queen’s Garden trail and the Navajo Loop.
Queen’s Garden Trail
The Queen’s Garden Trail is the least strenuous trail descending into Bryce Amphitheatre. It follows a ridge down to Queen Victoria and her garden of hoodoos.
- Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9km)
- Elevation: 450 feet (137m)
- Trailhead: Sunrise Point
Navajo Loop
The Navajo Loop is potentially Bryce Canyon’s most popular trail. The loop is made up of two sections, one descending the narrow paths of Wall Street and the other via Two Bridges and Thor’s Hammer. Both sections are full of switchbacks! It’s worth noting that Wall Street is closed during winter, which turns the Navajo Loop into an out-and-back trail (hence combining it with Queen’s Garden is the perfect solution!).
- Length: 1.3 miles (2.1km)
- Elevation: 525 feet (157m)
- Trailhead: Sunset Point
Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Route
Which direction to hike Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop
It doesn’t matter which direction you complete this hike. The official route says to walk anticlockwise, though my preference is hiking clockwise.
Hiking clockwise: Walking the rim to Sunrise Point and following the Queen’s Garden trail, followed by the Navajo loop means a gentler descent and a steeper ascent (better for the knees). I also opted for this option because fewer people were walking in this direction when I visited. Given the walls of Two Bridges which limit the views in the distance, I think it’s better to hike up this way and down Queen’s Garden where you can enjoy the scenery in the distance as you walk down.
Hiking anticlockwise: Starting at Sunset Point and following the Navajo Loop down and Queen’s Garden back up again means the opposite – a steeper descent and more gentle climb.
How to get to the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trailhead
You can start the trail from either Sunrise Point or Sunset Point. Both these viewpoints are located along the Rim, making them easily accessible.
Driving to the trailhead:
Since there is one main road through the National Park, the road is easy to follow from the main entrance. There is free parking at both Sunset Point and Sunrise Point.
I experienced minimal crowds during winter/shoulder season, but it can get busy in peak season. Therefore I recommend using the shuttle service in summer.
Shuttle to the trailhead:
From mid-April to mid-October, shuttle buses run approximately every 15 minutes from 08:00 until 18:00 (extended to 20:00 in summer). They are FREE with admission to the National Park.
There are stops by Sunrise Point and Sunset Point so you can get off at the most convenient.
What to expect hiking Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop
This step-by-step guide covers all the main stops through the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop trail.
The trail is well-maintained and there are signs throughout which make it easy to navigate. The terrain is consistent throughout, ranging from dirt paths to a bit of loose rocks.
Sunset Point
Sunset Point is the viewpoint that marks both the start and end of the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail.
From here, you have an epic overlook of the hoodoos and rock formations below.
Sunrise Point
From Sunset Point, walk along the Rim Trail. This section (approx 800m) is flat and easy to walk and is the only wheelchair-accessible section of the trail.
It has several benches where you can stop and enjoy the views overlooking the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
Sunrise Point is a small viewing area that offers more awesome views over Bryce Canyon. Stop here to admire the views before dropping into the valley.
Queen’s Garden Trail
Following the Queen’s Garden Trail into the amphitheater is spectacular.
Follow the ridge down. There are no turnoffs until approximately 0.7 miles. Follow the trail to the right to continue on Queen’s Garden.
You will go down a couple of switchbacks before reaching your first archway carved out of the rock.
The trail winds between various hoodoos which gives an impressive sense of scale. You will also pass through a couple of archways carved from the rock.
You will reach a junction with signs pointing to different junctions for Queen Victoria and Sunset Point.
You can choose to explore the base of Queen Victoria, before returning to the trail and continuing towards Sunset Point.
Once you reach Queen Victoria you have a further 0.8 miles on this trail.
Shortly after Queen Victoria, the path moves into a woodland area with fewer hoodoos. This section is less interesting but was very peaceful. I enjoyed the wildlife here as there were so many birds around!
Eventually, you will reach a junction where the Queens Garden Trail meets the Navajo Loop.
Navajo Loop
As the Queen’s Garden Trail joins the Navajo Loop, you can follow the Navajo Loop up either Two Bridges or Wall Street.
Two Bridges is the most common option since Wall Street is closed during winter. Therefore, I will describe that route…
NOTE: If you decide to hike the Wall Street section, you will find Bryce Canyon’s only slot canyon! This section is also steeper than Two Bridges!
The walk up Two Bridges will lead you to a junction The right-hand side is a dead end where you can look at Two Bridges. Once you’ve taken a look, continue up the lefthand path towards Sunset Point.
Beyond Two Bridges, the path continues to a series of switchbacks.
Nearing the top, just below the rim, you will find one of Bryce Canyon’s most famous hoodoos – Thor’s Hammer.
After Thor’s Hammer, you will have just a couple of longer switchbacks before you reach the top back at Sunset Point to complete the circuit.
Best time to hike Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop
The best time of year to hike the Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop Trail is during the spring (April-June) and autumn (September to October) seasons. During these periods, the weather is typically mild, offering comfortable temperatures for hiking.
If you want to avoid the crowds and don’t mind chasing the snow, winter is a magical time to hike in Bryce Canyon. Just make sure you have the right gear to hike in the snow.
The best time of day to hike Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop is the early morning or late afternoon so you can avoid crowds and experience the rocks during golden hour. If you do this, be mindful of the first and last shuttle times!
Tips for hiking Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop
- Leave No Trace: Follow the Leave No Trace Principles throughout your time in Bryce Canyon so our nature remains pristine for everyone to enjoy!
- Go to the toilet beforehand: The nearest toilets to the trail are by the Sunset Point car park but there are none on the trail.
- Stay hydrated: The National Park Service recommends drinking one gallon of water each day.
- Check the National Park website for warnings: During winter snow and ice are common meaning it can be slippery and spikes may be recommended.
- Wear appropriate footwear: Even though the hiking trails are well-maintained, it’s important to wear appropriate footwear to avoid blisters and not fall. Hiking trainers are fine, but if it’s snowing, consider spikes or crampons.
- Wear sun protection: There’s not much shade on the trail so it’s good to have suncream, a hat and sunglasses (particularly in summer).
Where to stay in Bryce Canyon National Park
If you plan on hiking Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop, you will want to stay inside the National Park or as close as possible to the entrance. There are several options for you:
Sunset Campground: One of two campgrounds inside the National Park, this is the closest site to the hike. Located a short distance from the Bryce Amphitheater. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis and offers both tent and RV sites.
North Campground: North Campground is located nearer the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center in the north of the park. Much like Sunset Campground, North Campground is also first come first served, however, it also has a few reservable sites during peak season. I camped here and had no issues at all!
Bryce Canyon Lodge: The only hotel inside the National Park, this lodge is perfectly positioned for hiking Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden. The only issue is it books out months in advance!
Best options outside of the park:
- Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground
- Bryce Canyon Pines Campground
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on hiking Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop in Bryce Canyon. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.
Happy hiking!
No Comments