Our 7 Favorite Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon

Looking to explore Bryce Canyon National Park’s otherworldly beauty without committing to an all-day hike? You’re in luck! This park is chock-full of short hikes that take an hour or less. To make it easy for you, we’ve rounded up our 7 favorite easy hikes in Bryce Canyon, which are perfect for maximizing those iconic hoodoo views without breaking a sweat.

1. Sunset Point to Sunrise Point (via Rim Trail)

Sunset to Sunrise is Bryce Canyon’s only dog-friendly path in Bryce Canyon, which our dog, Ollie, loved! Its paved surface, with only 85 feet of elevation gain, is great for wheelchairs and strollers, offering breathtaking views over the hoodoos of Bryce Amphitheater. There are also plenty of benches lining this trail for when you need a rest.

Sunrise Point, as the name suggests, is a great spot to watch the sunrise, but in our humble opinion, Sunset Point left a bit to be desired as far as a sunset watching spot. We hiked this trail around 8 AM, and again at 1 PM, and found it to be packed by the afternoon due to its proximity to the Visitor Center—so start early if you want solitude! Overall, this hike is relatively quick, can be hiked in either direction, and offers some amazing views!

Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Type: Out-and-Back
Accessible via Shuttle: Yes, Stop #13 to Sunrise Point or Stop #11 to Sunset Point

2. Rim Trail

Rim Trail is a “choose your own adventure” type of trail when it comes to distance. Although it stretches a total of 11 miles (17.7 km), you can walk as far as you like before turning around. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy continuous, breathtaking views of the hoodoos and the vast amphitheater from above, without committing to a full-day trek.

We decided to hike 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from Sunrise to Sunset as well as 2.5 miles (4.02 km) from the end of the Tower Bridge Trail to Fairyland Point. This section had us looking down on numerous hoodoos, and even passing through a fascinating plateau area full of grasses, which was a cool change of scenery.

Distance: Up to 11 miles / 17.7 km
Estimated Time: Up to you!
Type: Out-and-Back
Accessible via Shuttle: Yes, Stop #8 (Bryce Point)

3. Paria View

Paria View is another quick, little paved walk over to a viewpoint with panoramic views along the way. Located near Bryce Point, the views from this overlook look south, exposing a whole new set of hoodoos that your eyes can feast on! This paved overlook area would also be comfortable for people using wheelchairs.

Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
Estimated Time: 15 minutes
Type: Out-and-Back
Accessible via Shuttle: No, but a 3-minute drive from Bryce Point (25-minute walk)

4. Mossy Cave Trail

Mossy Cave quickly became our second favorite short trail in Bryce Canyon National Park after Bristlecone Loop (up next!). This peaceful hike takes you along the water and over two bridges to two “destinations.” One is a waterfall made by Mormon settlers who trenched Tropic Ditch for water, and the other is a small cave within which icicles are known to form.

This trail is quite popular, as it’s short and located just outside the main fee station, offering rare access to the lower amphitheater. Parking can fill quickly (there’s a small lot as well as an RV overflow lot about 1,000 feet down), so arrive early or be patient, and never park along the roadside to protect plants.

Distance: 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Type: Out-and-Back
Accessible via Shuttle: No

5. Bristlecone Loop

Bristlecone Loop was hands-down our favorite short hike in Bryce Canyon! Located on the park’s southern side, this trail boasts the highest elevation in Bryce and is part of the park’s Hike the Hoodoos Program. It offers truly incredible views of the vast Grand Staircase, and on a clear day, your view spans all the way to the Grand Canyon!

Along the loop, you’ll find a small hut and a lookout point complete with informative placards explaining the geology of the Grand Staircase. As its name suggests, the trail is filled with ancient Bristlecone Pines—trees known for their resilience in weathering windy, cold conditions.

Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.8 km
Estimated Time: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Type: Loop
Accessible via Shuttle: No

6. Yovimpa Point & Rainbow Point

Located at the very southern end of Bryce Canyon’s scenic drive, Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point sit right next to each other, making for a perfect combined hike. We recommend exploring them along with the previously mentioned Bristlecone Loop in the Yovimpa Point, Rainbow Point, and Bristlecone Loop Trail that combines all three of these spots in one 30-minute trail.

These points offer some of the park’s most expansive views, showcasing the geological layers of the Grand Staircase stretching far into the distance. Rainbow Point, in particular, is the highest elevation viewpoint accessible by paved road in the entire park!

Distance: 1.3 miles / 2.1 km
Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Type: Loop
Accessible via Shuttle: No

7. Bryce Point

Bryce Point is another overlook that requires just a bit of walking, and is easily the best overlook in all of Bryce Canyon National Park! If you can swing it, we highly recommend that you visit Bryce Point during sunset to see the afternoon light play with the colors of the hoodoos.

This paved overlook has 300-degree views of Bryce Amphitheater and is a great option for people in wheelchairs or with small children. One thing to note is that this overlook gets super busy in the summer. So, although there is a small parking lot here, we recommend riding the shuttle as the lot fills up quickly during peak season.

Distance: 0.2 miles / 0.3 km
Estimated Time: 15 minutes
Type: Out-and-Back
Accessible via Shuttle: Yes, Stop #8

🗺️ Map of Easy Trails in Bryce Canyon

Here’s a map showing the general location of all 7 of the top easy hikes in Bryce Canyon featured in this guide. It’s meant to give you a quick sense of where each trail is within the park, which can be super helpful for planning your route and minimizing drive or shuttle time. For detailed trail navigation, though, we still recommend using AllTrails or a dedicated GPS app.

How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.

🌤️ When To Visit Bryce Canyon National Park

Choosing the best time to visit Bryce Canyon often depends on your preferences for weather, crowd levels, and facility access, as each season offers a unique combination of these factors. Here’s a breakdown of each:

• Summer in Bryce Canyon – While most people visit during the summer for pleasant days (60s-80s F), be prepared for frequent afternoon thunderstorms in July and August and more crowds.
• Spring and Fall in Bryce Canyon – The shoulder seasons of spring and fall (we visited in late April) offer a fantastic balance of fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures, though snowstorms aren’t unusual as early as October, and nighttime temperatures fall below freezing from October through May.
• Winter in Bryce Canyon – For a truly magical, quiet experience, winter transforms the hoodoos into a snowy wonderland, but some roads and facilities may be closed. Always check the current forecast and road conditions before your trip.

🥾 What to Pack for Hiking in Bryce Canyon

Here’s everything we recommend packing if you plan to tackle some of the hikes mentioned above! If you plan on exploring only the overlook trails, which have relatively smooth, paved paths, more serious gear like sturdy hiking boots or a GPS can be left at home.

Sun Protection

• Sunscreen – No matter the time of year you visit, sunscreen is essential to protect your skin from the sun.
• Sunglasses – Protect your eyes with your favorite pair of sunglasses.
• Wide-brimmed hat – As part of sun safety, we love pairing sunscreen with wide-brimmed hats.
• Sun Shirts – Light, sunshirts are great for protecting against the sun! Here is Elliot’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt and Jen’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt.
• Refillable Water Bottle – Staying hydrated is a key part of sun safety. We love this water bottle featuring all of the US National Parks with stickers to check off your visits.
• Water Bladders – A water bladder is super helpful to pack in more water without adding extra weight.

Hiking Essentials

• Hiking pants – We recommend hiking pants to protect against the sun and trails with higher grasses. Elliot’s favorite hiking pants and Jen’s favorite hiking pants.
• Layers – As the weather can vary a lot in Bryce Canyon, come prepared with layers of fleece jackets, long sleeves, and even coats if you’re coming in the middle of winter.
• Rainjacket – You never know what weather awaits you when travelling in a national park. If you’re looking for a new rain jacket fit for hiking, this is Elliot’s favorite rain jacket and Jen’s favorite rain jacket.
• Hiking Boots – Solid footwear with good traction is a must whenever hiking in Bryce Canyon, as many trails have lots of loose rocks you’re stepping over. Here are Elliot’s favorite trail runners and Jen’s favorite hiking boots.
• Lightweight backpack – Elliot carries this backpack with the included rain cover, while Jen carries this backpack.
• Hat and Gloves – Especially if you’re visiting in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) or winter, packing a hat and gloves for extra warmth is a must.
• Snacks – We always make sure to pack protein-rich, lightweight snacks with us while hiking.

Safety Essentials

• Trail Maps – We love using AllTrails+ to download maps ahead of time.
• GPS – We carry the Garmin InReach Mini 2 with us on all trails for safety.
• First Aid Kit – This first aid kit is one of those items we hope to never have to use but always carry, just in case.
• Headlamp – A headlamp is especially useful when going on sunrise, sunset, or night hikes in Bryce Canyon.

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