Getting out on the trail is always the best way to adventure through Bryce Canyon National Park. The views are jaw-dropping from the rim trail, sunrise point, and sunset point, and you’ll be amazed by the beauty of the depths of the canyon. Add in some hoodoos, and the hikes in Bryce Canyon are the best thing to add on to a Utah road trip.
We’re going to dive into all of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park for families with kids so you can get straight onto the trail.
I Hiked the Hoodoos Ranger Program
Before going into the park, stop at the visitor center to pick up a list of Bryce Canyon easy hikes that also include where to find the “I Hiked the Hoodoos” medallions. This program has 9 medallions hiding throughout the park. If you find 3 of them, you get a prize at the end!
Best Bryce Canyon Hikes for Kids
The geology of Bryce Canyon National Park makes the entire place feel completely out of this world. Kids will be captivated by the hoodoos and stunning rock formations that tower above them as you work your way through the park. You never know what you’ll find around any corner, which can turn all the short hikes in Bryce Canyon into a grand adventure.
Queens Garden Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Out and Back
The Queens Garden Trail is one of the most popular Bryce Canyon hikes as it takes you off the rim at Sunrise Point and down into the canyon. It has a more moderate incline while many of the other trails in the park are incredibly steep. This makes it a great trail for kids to check out!
Along the way, you’ll catch spectacular views of hoodoos, towers, colorful canyon walls, and sights of Bryce Canyon that will only make you want to explore more.
Tower Bridge Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Out and Back
Starting at Sunrise point, the Tower Bridge Trail hikes you down into the canyon through orange, yellow, and while layers of rock while winding around several small canyons. The trail meanders downwards with a gradual slope, making the whole trail uphill without too much difficulty.
The trail ends at Tower Bridge where you can relax and eat a snack underneath the ponderosa pines. Have your kids try and smell the bark! Do they smell vanilla or butterscotch? Some people say boys smell one while girls smell another! Test it out for yourself.
Navajo Loop Trail
Distance: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Loop
The Navajo Loop trail is the most popular hiking trail in Bryce Canyon National Park, all for good reason. This hike starts with a steep downhill section that winds back and forth with switchbacks, so be sure to strap your hiking boots on securely!
Going down Wall Street on the Navajo Loop will offer up the most dramatic views while hiking past Thor’s Hammer and the opportunity to hike through several small tunnels connecting different canyons.
It’s a great idea to hike a bit further and combine the Navajo Loop trail with the Queen’s Garden Trail at the bottom of the canyon to avoid the steep climb out.
Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail Combination
Distance: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Loop
If we had to pick one out of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon, this is it. When you visit Bryce Canyon, the hikes are all spectacular, but this combination brings some of the best features of Bryce Canyon National Park together into one trail.
Start at Sunset Point and hike down the Navajo Trail to then connect with the Queen’s trail at the bottom. Then you can hike the Queen’s Garden Trail up and out of the canyon since it is much less steep!
Taking two of Bryce Canyon’s hiking trails and combining them feels like a hack to make it easier and spend less time climbing in and out of the canyon, so this is a great pick for kids!
Hat Shop Trail
Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Out and Back
This is a Bryce Canyon trail that’s less frequented than others in the park, which is one reason why we love it. The hoodoos on this trail look like they’re wearing hats, which can be entertaining when you hike Bryce Canyon with kids. It’s one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon to get a little bit of solitude, but you will need to hike a bit further to do so.
Mossy Cave Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Out and Back
In the eastern end of Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ll find the Mossy Cave Trail. It’s about 10 minutes east of Ruby’s Inn on Highway 12, and is the best spot to go in the summer. The trail is flat and easy, but it takes you along the Tropic Ditch stream so you have easy access to water to cool down the entire way.
Kids will love to play in the water at the end of the trail near Mossy Cave, so be sure to bring the right attire!
Bristlecone Loop
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Loop
This short loop lets your kids get up close and personal with some of the ancient bristlecone pines that populate southern Utah. It’s easy, but can be fascinating to see all of these old trees and where they’ve set their roots. Be sure to take the time on the short trails in Bryce Canyon to teach your kids all about these old trees and how there is even one that’s over 4,789 years old!
Sunrise to Sunset Rim Trail
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Out and Back
The trail that runs from Sunrise point to Sunset point has a great section of a paved trail that is the best for accessibility. The canyon rim trail takes you along the rim of the canyon and gives you some of the best views of Bryce Canyon. This is a good choice if you need a break from dirt trails without giving up the great views.
Rim Trail
Distance: 1 to 11 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Out and Back
The rim trail is the easiest long trail in Bryce Canyon National Park and gives great views along the edge of the canyon rim. It runs from Sunrise point to Sunset point and then goes to a dirt hiking trail along the canyon rim. You can customize the length of this hike and simply turn around when you’re done!
Swamp Canyon Sheep Trail
Distance: 4.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Type of Trail: Loop
If you have some older kids that are looking for hikes in Bryce Canyon that will give them more of a challenge than the easy rim trail or the Navajo Loop Trail, the Swamp Canyon Sheep Trail is it. From the Swamp Canyon overlook you will descend into Bryce Canyon and connect with the Under the Rim Trail to return in a loop (head in a clockwise direction).
Best Hikes with Kids in Red Canyon
While Bryce Canyon National Park has so much to offer, we need to mention Red Canyon. Right next door to Bryce Canyon National Park is this other phenomenal region where you can go to avoid the crowds.
Birdseye Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Out and Back
This is a great easy hike for kids around Bryce Canyon National Park that will put you right up against some spectacular red rock formations. They can explore all around this region and get some practice with their photography skills since you’re right up against the rocks. The trail starts right next to the visitor’s center.
Hoodoo Trail
Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Loop
This trail exists just to get you out to see some really cool hoodoos in Red Canyon. For toddlers, this is probably the best place to go.
Pink Ledges Trail
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Trail: Out and Back
The Pink Ledges Trail near Bryce Canyon is a great educational hike to teach yourself on. You can grab a pamphlet from the visitor center and learn all about the local history and geology on a self-guided hike.
Golden Wall and Castle Bridge Trail
Distance: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Out and Back
This is a bit more challenging than others, but it gives you incredible views and is considered the best place to watch the sunset over Bryce Canyon from outside the park. It’s a sunset point to go and visit, but be aware of the slight exposure around smaller kids.
Photo Trail
Distance: 0.3 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Type of Trail: Out and Back
This hike starts right next to the Birdseye Trail so you can easily combine the two of them. The Photo Trail brings you up on top of some rock formations that give you a great view of Sevier Valley and Red Canyon simultaneously.
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