***The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
Looking for the best Bryce Canyon hikes that your kids will actually enjoy? With well-maintained trails, short distances, and incredible views of the park’s famous hoodoos, Bryce Canyon is one of the best national parks for families.
When I visited the park with my daughter, I was amazed at how many easy trails there were that gave amazing views of the park’s unique hoodoos. Accessibility of the viewpoints without hiking makes the park one of the most family-friendly national parks, but to get the best experience, you will want to put on your hiking shoes!
We have compiled a list of the best easy and moderate hikes in the park that we recommend for families, including Sunrise Point to Sunset Point, the Bristlecone Trail, and the Mossy Cave Trail. We also included some longer, more challenging hikes for those with more experienced hikers in their group.
About Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is one of Utah’s Mighty Five (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches). The park was officially established as a national park in 1928. It is located in the Southeastern part of the state. The park sits at an elevation of 8,000-9,000 feet.
Bryce Canyon is known for its unique hoodoos, being home to the most concentrated area of hoodoos in the world. Its hoodoos are rock spires created through erosion over millions of years. The park’s most well known feature is the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, located along the side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau.
Bryce Canyon National Park is a smaller park, stretching about 20 miles long and 10 miles wide. Its smaller size makes it easy to see the entire park in a day (but if you plan on hiking, we recommend planning for more time in the park).
Tips For Hiking In Bryce Canyon National Park
- Always follow the Leave No Trace Principles when hiking in Bryce National Park. This will protect the park, the environment, local wildlife, and you.
- Be prepared for temperature changes. Due to Bryce Canyon’s high elevation, the temperature can be quite cold in the morning, before warming up during the day. Bring layers and be prepared.
- Bring plenty of water! You can quickly become dehydrated when hiking in the desert. Plan for 1 gallon of water per person per day.
- Wear good, sturdy hiking boots. Uneven paths and unstable soil are common, so wearing good hiking boots can help prevent you from slipping/tripping.
- Make sure you use sunscreen. The sun can be intense and shade is limited in the park.
Easy Bryce Canyon Hikes For Kids
Paria View
Paria View is more of a walk than a hike. The trail is paved and has guardrails, making it one of the best Bryce Canyon hikes with kids. It is 0.8 miles round trip and takes only about 10 minutes to complete.
Paria Point is located in the Southern section of the park, with views of hoodoos, Yellow Creek, and the Pink Cliffs to the West. It overlooks a 500 foot deep amphitheater that was formed by the headwaters of Yellow Creek. This stop is outside the main area of the park and is generally quieter and less crowded.
There is a large parking lot off of the main road for Paria View between Bryce Point and Rainbow Point. Paria View is a good option for catching the sunset in the park, because it looks to the West.
The Rim Trail
The Rim Trail is one of the best Bryce Canyon hikes for families. Following along the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater, it connects many of the park’s most popular sites and views, including Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.
The trail begins at Bryce Point and extends for 5.5 miles North to Fairyland Point. There is an elevation gain of 719 ft. You can choose to do the entire trail, or just sections of it. The mileage based on sections of the trail you choose to complete would be:
- Bryce to Inspiration: 1.5 miles
- Inspiration to Sunset: 0.7 miles
- Sunset to Sunrise: 0.5 miles
- Sunrise to Fairyland 2.8 miles
Parking can be found at each of the trailheads, but can fill up quickly especially during the peak season. You can also take the shuttle to Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.
Sunset Point to Sunrise Point
The trail from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point is one of the best Bryce Canyon hikes for families. It follows a section of the 5.5 mile Rim Trail. The trail connects two of the most popular viewpoints in the park and takes you past unique hoodoos, including Thor’s Hammer.
The trail is mostly flat (elevation gain of only about 40 ft.) and paved. The trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. It is about 1 mile round trip and takes about an hour to complete.
Parking is available at both Sunset Point and Sunrise Point. Restrooms are available at either point. The trail also connects to the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trails if you are looking to add on a longer hike.
Bristlecone Loop Trail
For a different view of the park, check out the Bristlecone Loop Trail. While the trail does take you past some of the park’s hoodoos, it also takes you through a forested area of the park to give you unique views of the park’s Bristlecone Pines, Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, and White Fir trees.
Some of the Bristlecone Pines are as old as 1,800 years. You will also get some views of the park’s hoodoos, outside of the main Bryce Amphitheater. In the distance, you can see the Paunsaugunt Plateau and some distant mountains.
The Bristlecone Loop Trail is located in the Southern end of the park between Rainbow and Yovimpa Viewpoints, with access from both points. It takes you through one of the highest elevations in the park, at almost 9,000 ft. (but the trail is mostly flat).
The Bristlecone Loop is 1 mile round trip with an elevation gain of about 200 ft., with mild inclines, making it one of the best Bryce Canyon hikes for kids. Restrooms are available at the trail head. If visiting in the winter time, be aware that the trail is often closed due to snow accumulation.
The Mossy Cave Trail
The Mossy Cave Trail is another one of the best Bryce Canyon hikes for families. Located outside the main area of the park, the Mossy Cave trail is worth the visit. It follows along a stream before bringing you to Water Canyon and Mossy Cave.
The trail begins with a climb, and the return hike is the descent. The hike is 0.8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 150 ft., taking about an hour to complete.
Most of the trail is a steady incline, with no really steep areas. The trail follows a stream most of that way, with a couple bridges crossing over the water. The Mossy Cave Trail forks at the end, and takes you to Water Canyon (right) and to Mossy Cave, a grotto-like cave, to the left. The waterfall was man-made when pioneers dug out a 10 mile canal to bring water to Bryce Valley.
The best time to hike the trail is from April to October, but if you are visiting in the winter, you will be treated to frozen icicles hanging over the cave. The Mossy Cave Trail is located in the northernmost part of the park on SR 12. There is a large pull out area between mile 17 and 18 for parking. There is a restroom at the trail head.
Moderate Bryce Canyon Hikes For Families
Navajo Loop
The Navajo Loop trail is one of the most popular moderate Bryce Canyon hikes, taking you down into the Bryce Amphitheater. It will take you up close to some of Bryce’s Canyon’s most famous hoodoo structures, including Thor’s Hammer, Wall Street, and the Gossips.
The trail takes you down into the canyon via switchbacks between limestone walls, with douglas-fir trees lining the path. There are two sides to the trail-the Two Bridges and Wall Street. Two Bridges is open year round, while the Wall Street side is closed in the winter months.
The Navajo Loop hike is 1.3 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 515 feet. It begins and ends at Sunset Point. The trail takes 1-2 hours to complete.
The Navajo Loop Trail is often combined with the Queen’s Garden Trail to create a 2.9 mile loop. The most common route is descending the Queen’s Garden Trail at Sunrise Point and ascending the Navajo Loop Trail at Sunset Point.
Queen’s Garden Trail
If you are looking to go down into the canyon, the Queen’s Garden Trail is one of the best options for families. The trail takes you into the Bryce Amphitheater to the Queen Victoria hoodoo, one of the most popular hoodoo formations in the park. It also takes you past several other hoodoo formations, including the Wall of Windows and Queen’s Castle.
The Queen’s Garden trail is a 1.8 mile hike that begins at Sunrise Point. It is often done in combination with the Navajo Loop to make a 2.9 mile loop hike. The elevation gain is about 450 feet.
Swamp Canyon Loop
The Swamp Canyon Loop Trail is a lesser known trail in the less populated section of the park. The trail descends into Swamp Canyon from the Rim. The trail takes you through a forested part of the canyon and past Mud Butte, Swamp Butte, and the pink cliffs in the distance.
The Swamp Canyon Loop is actually a combination of three different trails, including the Sheep Creek Connector Trail, the Under-the-Rim Trail, and the Swamp Canyon Connector Trail.
The Swamp Canyon Loop is 4 miles with a descent of 647 feet into the canyon. The hike takes about 2-4 hours. It follows along part of the Under-the-Rim trail (one of the hardest in the park). Parking for the trail is at the Swamp Canyon Overlook.
Challenging Bryce Canyon Hikes For Families
Fairyland Loop Trail
The Fairyland Loop trail is a longer, challenging hike in the Northern part of Bryce Canyon National Park. It takes you along the rim and down into the canyon. The hike treats you to some of the best views in the park, including unique hoodoos, the Bryce Amphitheater, and the Tower Bridge.
The Fairyland Loop Trail is 8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,900 feet. There are some long descents with limited shade, making the trail challenging for younger children. The Fairyland Loop Trail does have fewer crowds than the more popular Navajo and Queen’s Garden Trails.
There is no shuttle stop at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike (or drive and park) at your starting point. The trail can be started from Fairyland Point or on the Rim Trail at the Tower Bridge trail head.
Hat Shop Trail
The Hat Shop Trail is one of the more challenging Bryce Canyon hikes that is better suited for experienced hikers and older children. It starts at Bryce Point and descends down into the canyon using the Under-the-Rim Trail.
The Hat Shop Trail takes you by the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase. The end point of the trail is a section of balanced-rock hoodoos that have what appear to be gray caps (boulders) sitting on the top, giving them a unique look.
The trail is 4 miles out and back with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet. It takes about 4 hours to complete. The first two miles descend about 1,500 feet, while the return trip is ascending the same 1,500 feet.
Riggs Spring Loop Trail
The Riggs Spring Loop Trail is a great way to see a different perspective of the park. The trail takes you through a forested section, rather than the Bryce Amphitheater. It takes you through spruce, fir, and Bristlecone forests, but hoodoo views from the trail are limited.
The Riggs Spring Loop Trail is a 9 mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 3,000 feet. The trail begins at Yovimpa Point in the Southern section of the park. The trail usually takes 4-6 hours to complete.
This trail is popular for backpacking with overnight camping because of its length. A backcountry permit must be obtained from the visitor center if you plan on camping. Bear spray is highly recommended for this trail.
Full Moon Hike
Bryce Cayon’s Full Moon hikes are a unique way to experience the park’s hiking trails after dark. Each month, the park offers guided night-time full moon hikes in Bryce Canyon. The hikes are 1-2 miles long.
The actual hike location usually includes a combination of rim and below the rim areas (often including parts of the Navajo or Queen’s Garden area), but exact routes vary. The hike is done by moonlight, with flashlights not allowed (except red lights in some situations).
Because space is limited, advance reservations are required. Tickets are usually released in phases, with some being released 2 weeks in advance, and more being released 5 days in advance.
Children under the age of 7 are not allowed on the hikes. If you are able to attend one of these hikes, you will want to make sure you bring layers. Because of its high elevation, it is common for the park to get colder at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest hike in Bryce Canyon for kids?
The Mossy Cave Trail is often considered the easiest hike. It is about 0.8 miles round trip and leads to a small waterfall and grotto. Sections of the Rim Trail between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point are also easy and stroller-friendly.
Is Bryce Canyon safe for hiking with kids?
Yes, but families should stay on marked trails, supervise children near cliff edges, and bring plenty of water.
What should we bring when hiking in Bryce Canyon with kids?
Families should bring water, snacks, sun protection, sturdy shoes, and layers. Weather can change quickly, and temperatures can be cooler due to the park’s high elevation.
What is the best time to hike in Bryce Canyon National Park?
Late spring through early fall offers the most accessible trail conditions. Summer is the busiest season but also has the most ranger programs and services.
Can you see Bryce Canyon hoodoos without hiking?
Yes. Several viewpoints along the park’s scenic drive offer excellent views of the hoodoos without needing to hike.
***The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
Book Your Accommodations
Planning your next getaway? Let us help you get all the details in order! Start with your accommodations!
Book your traditional hotel accommodations using Booking! We love booking because of the wide variety of options, that can accommodate every budget and unique family needs!
Alternatively, consider booking a VRBO and having the entire place to yourself! VRBO is another great options for families because it gives you your own space and access to essential amenities like a full kitchen.
Book Your Flight!
Book your flight using one of our recommendation resources:
More National Park Guides For Families:
