I am so glad I got to see the one of a kind, incredible landscape of hoodoos (largest concentration…read morein the world) at Bryce. I wasn't prepared for the how large the area was. We first visited Capitol Reef, then Bryce, then Zion. I am glad we did it in that order. I will share my favorite hike, whether I thought the Queen's Garden Trail was worth It and a must-do.
The park is 6,600 - 9,000 ft above sea level, so be prepared for less oxygen by walking on a inclined treadmill or hills and colder weather.
We spent one day arriving around 8 am to get a parking space.
I greatly enjoyed the Sunrise Point to Sunset Point Rim Trail (easy trail)- great for non-hikers, flat, paved and different view of the hoodoos. It is about 1 mile and wheel chair friendly. Midway is a sign to the Bryce lodge. That provides a nice stop for lunch. We had good hamburgers.
We did the Queen's Garden trail which descends farther down into the hoodoos, you walk past a few down. It is more gradual than the Navajo Loop and easier of the two. It is 1.8 miles round trip and can take an hour each way depending on how well you do climbs coming up especially at 8,000 - 9,000 ft with less oxygen.
I saw a man pushing a wheelchair with his mother down the Queen's Garden Trail. I wouldn't want to be in that chair without a seatbelt and just in case the man's hands slips. I hope he made his way up pushing that chair, since I imagine that was super hard up the steep inclines.
I don't enjoy hiking or hills, so for me, it wasn't worth the effort walking back up Queen's Garden Trail and I had been training on a treadmill with a 13 degree incline for a few weeks; I turned around before I made it to the bottom. Looking down at Navajo Loop later, although steeper, I think it would have taken me more into the hoodoo level. My husband did the Figure 8 loop which is both trails. He said after Queen's Garden, there was a boring area then several up and down the hills below before you got to the Navajo Loop. The Wall St section was closed, so look for warnings before you go.
A must do is to drive to Rainbow point at 9,115 ft and then stop on the way back. If you are pressed for time, the best stops were:
- Natural Bridge - Biggest, tallest natural bridge I have ever seen.
- Inspiration Point - 8,100 ft - the columns and rows of hoodoos was beautiful
- Bryce Point (must do) - you can see both Sunset and Sunrise points and have the most panoramic view
If you have time, stop in the Visitor Center with a small gift shop and watch the short film on how the hoodoos are formed.
Bryce Canyon is a unique, bucket list kind of experience and whether you are a non-hiker who loves nature or enjoy challenges of hills and hiking, there is something for everyone.