Queens Garden and Navajo Loop

Bryce Canyon National Park, Ut

Geological Wonders, Walk the Hoodoos, Family Friendly

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Length: 1.8-3.2 mi 
Elevation Gain: 357-643 ft
Approximate Hiking Time: 1.5-2.5 hr
Features: Geological Features
Nearest Town: Tropic, Ut

Queens Garden is shortest and easiest route into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.  On this trail you can experience the hoodoos up close and personal. 

With some imagination try to see “ET” and “Queen Victoria” on the Queens Garden Trail.  While it might be a bit of a stretch, it’s still a fun game and who knows, maybe you’ll even find a couple hoodoos that appear to be locked in embrace.

  • Trail Condition 100% 100%
  • Usage 100% 100%
  • Trail Head Easy to Find 100% 100%
  • Kid Friendly 90% 90%

Hike Highlights

1. Walk the Hoodoos

Queens Garden is the shortest and easiest route into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.  If you’ve always dreamed to walk among the hoodoos, now’s your chance!

2. Queen Victoria

Have you ever laid on the grass looking for shapes in the clouds?  Even more fun is looking for shapes in the hoodoos.  Characters, animals, and people pop out of the rock with some imagination.

3. Sunrise Beauty

Start your hike as the sun comes up for a really special experience as the softness of the sun casts a glow on the hoodoos. 

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Hike Overview

Trailhead Directions

Park at the Sunrise Point parking lot which is located near the general store.  It is pretty well signed from the main park road to the parking area. 

To get the viewpoints follow the signs to  Sunrise Point.  The trail for Queens Garden starts just below Sunrise Point before dropping into the Bryce Amphitheater. 

Bryce Canyon Queens Garden Trail
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Hike Details

Queens Garden to Navajo Loop is one of the most popular trails in the park so don’t expect much solitude on this one!

Follow the trail as it gently drops into Queens Garden weaving through the hoodoos. 

Bryce Canyon Queens Garden Trail
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After walking for about ¼ mile look for a hoodoo that looks like ET.  Shortly after there are a couple hoodoos that appear to be leaned over in an embrace.  What figures and forms can you see as you walk through the hoodoos? 

As the trail continues it passes through a tunnel in the rock before continuing towards Queen Victoria. 

Bryce Canyon Queens Garden
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After about 0.8 miles the trail reaches the Queen Victoria trail spur.  Personally, I don’t see it, but there is a hoodoo that resembles Queen Victoria sitting on her throne.  Can you see it? 

bryce queen victoria
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From here either return to the trailhead for an easy hike with a total distance of about 1.6-1.8 miles or continue on to the Navajo Loop via the connector trail for a moderate hike.

Bryce Canyon Queens Garden- Navajo Connector Trail
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The connector trail runs approximately ¾ mile dropping approximately 175ft along the canyon floor. It gives a totally different view of the canyon as it wraps through the trees.  Walking is quite easy as the trail is gently sloped and hardpacked. 

Bryce Canyon Queens Garden- Navajo Connector Trail
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Once it meets up with the Navajo Loop the trail climbs back up to the canyon rim.  Personally, I find Wall Street more interesting to hike, though it may be closed during some seasons.  And whether you choose Wall Street or Two Bridges it’s a steep climb to the top.  

The trail starts to ascend more steeply as it climbs up towards Wall Street.  After another ¼ mile the trail becomes switch backs until it reaches the canyon rim.

Bryce Canyon Navajo Loop
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From here either take the trail from Sunset to Sunrise Point for another ½ mile or take the shuttle back to Sunrise Point when it’s running.

 

Why is this hike rated easy to moderate?

The out and back trail to Queens Garden is easy as it descends slowly on a wide, hard packed path into Queens Garden to the Queen Victoria hoodoo. 

If you complete the whole loop from Sunrise Point through Queens Garden, up Wall Street via Navajo Loop and return to Sunrise Point it’s considered moderate due to the length and elevation gain.

More Hikes to Choose From

Check out this and more hikes in and around Bryce Canyon National Park and Tropic, Ut.

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