Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
Direction matters more here than on almost any short hike in Utah. The park asks you to go clockwise, down Queen's Garden from Sunrise Point and up Navajo to Sunset Point, because that keeps the amphitheater in front of you and puts the steep Navajo switchbacks on the climb instead of the descent, which is where most injuries happen. You are at 8,000 feet the whole time, so the way out feels harder than the numbers suggest. If Wall Street is shut for ice, the Two Bridges side stays open.
The Trail
THE best short hike in Bryce - descend among glowing hoodoos, up through Wall Street's switchbacks.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Moderate)
2 liters water, trail shoes, sun layer, snacks, small first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Sunset Campground (Bryce) (Camping, 1 mi) · North Campground (Bryce) (Camping, 1 mi) · Sevier River (Upper) (Fishing, 16 mi) · Panguitch Lake (Fishing, 27 mi)
More hikes nearby: Peekaboo Loop (Hike, 0 mi) · Fairyland Loop (Hike, 2 mi) · Mossy Cave & Waterfall (Hike, 4 mi) · Angel's Palace (Hike, 12 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Queen's Garden + Navajo Loop hike?
- 2.9 miles round trip with 625 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Queen's Garden + Navajo Loop?
- Moderate. Kid rating: 4 out of 5.
- When should I hike Queen's Garden + Navajo Loop?
- Best season: Spring-Fall.
- Why hike Queen's Garden + Navajo Loop?
- It stitches the two best sections of the Bryce Amphitheater into under three miles, so you walk among the hoodoos instead of looking down at them. Sunrise and Sunset Point parking fills early. Wear boots with real tread, since bad footwear is behind most of the rescues here.