4 Perfect Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon (Maps+Tips)

Bryce Canyon National Park is like stepping onto another planet—one filled with towering hoodoos, dramatic cliffs, and colors that shift with the light. And the best way to see it up close? By exploring its trails. You don’t need to be an expert hiker to get up close to Bryce’s famous rock formations; some of the most jaw-dropping views are on short and easy trails.

If you’re looking for a hike that won’t take all day (or leave you gasping for air at 8,000 feet), I’ve got you covered. These four easy hikes in Bryce Canyon deliver big on scenery without the leg-burning effort. Expect stunning overlooks, winding paths through hoodoo-filled amphitheaters, and plenty of moments where you’ll just have to stop and soak it all in.

• Roundtrip Distance: 1.8 miles (not a loop)
• Trailhead Location: Sunrise Point
• Time: 1-2 hours
• Elevation Change: 320 feet

The Queens Garden Trail begins at Sunrise Point, and right from the start, it’s an easy, gentle descent along a smooth ridgeline. As you start to make your way down, you’ll immediately begin passing groups of stunning hoodoos—those tall, thin rock spires that Bryce Canyon is famous for. Trust me, this is a perfect spot to stop and snap some photos!

As you continue on, the views of the hoodoos just keep getting better and better. You’ll notice they vary in size and shape—some are tall and thin, others are more squat and wide, each one more fascinating than the last.

Queens Garden Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

Queens Garden Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

After about half a mile, you’ll hit a junction with the Horse Trail. Keep an eye out for the sign pointing you to stay on the Queens Garden Trail. A little further down, around 0.7 miles in, the trail takes you through a fun little tunnel carved into the rocks—another great photo op!

Not long after that, the trail starts to zig-zag down a small hillside, and you’ll get incredible views of a ravine filled with pinnacles. As you continue, you’ll pass through two more tunnels. These spots are the perfect places to stop for more photos—trust me, you’ll want to capture these views.

Queens Garden Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

Queens Garden Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

Eventually, you’ll come to a junction with a short spur trail leading to the Queens Garden Viewpoint. It’s worth taking a slight right turn here to get a closer look at this iconic spot. It’s a semi-circular ridge filled with phantom-like rock spires.

The center of the formation is said to resemble Queen Victoria, adding a cool historical touch to the natural beauty.

Queens Garden Trail 

Queens Garden Trail 

Once you’re done soaking in the view, you can retrace your steps back to the main trail and head back to Sunrise Point, where you started.

PRO TIP: Now, you’ve got a choice: you can turn back and call it a day, or you can continue on. If you decide to keep going, you’ll soon reach a junction where you can choose between the Navajo Loop Trail and the Peek-A-Boo Trail.

Both trails are worth considering: Navajo Loop is a moderate trail with some steep sections toward the end, and Peek-A-Boo Trail is another one of my favorites—but be prepared, it’s a bit more strenuous.

GOOD TO KNOW: What are hoodoos, and how are they formed? Hoodoos are geological formations created over many centuries through a combination of physical and chemical weathering forces. As the National Park Service explains, “in the winter, melting snow, in the form of water, seeps into the cracks and freezes at night. When water freezes, it expands by almost 10 percent, bit by bit prying open cracks, making them ever wider, in the same way, a pothole forms in a paved road.”

If you’re looking for an easy hike with nonstop, jaw-dropping views, Rim Trail is the way to go. This is easily one of my favorite hikes in Bryce Canyon because you get to walk right along the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater, taking in endless hoodoos stretching for miles.

GOOD TO KNOW: The entire Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park is 10.4 miles round trip (not a loop). However, you can shorten this hike and hit the best viewpoints!

Here are my recommendations:

• Roundtrip Distance: Start your hike along Rim Trail at Sunrise Point, then continue to Sunset Point, and finish it off at Inspiration Point. The total distance is 1.2 miles from Sunrise Point to Inspiration Point
• Trail Location: Various Access Points between Sunrise and Inspiration Points
• Time: 1-2 hours
• Elevation Change: 200 feet

Your adventure begins at Sunrise Point, and trust me, you’ll want to take your time here. The views of the Bryce Amphitheater are absolutely stunning, especially in the morning light. It’s one of the best panoramic spots in the park, so snap a few photos before heading south on the trail.

Rim Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

The section of Rim Trail between Sunrise Point and Sunset Point is well-paved and even wheelchair accessible in some areas. Beyond that, the path becomes more natural, with some uneven surfaces, but it’s still an easy and relaxing walk.

From Sunset Point, continue south toward Inspiration Point, about 0.7 miles away. This stretch of the trail is where the views somehow get even better. Inspiration Point is one of the absolute best places in the park to soak in the scenery, and if you have time, I highly recommend coming back here at sunset. The way the colors change as the sun goes down is pure magic!

Rim Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

PRO TIP: If you’re into photography, this trail is a goldmine for capturing both wide-angle shots of the amphitheater and close-up views of individual hoodoos.

At Inspiration Point, you have a choice: continue along Rim Trail for even more incredible views or turn around and head back to Sunrise Point. Either way, this hike is an unforgettable experience, offering some of the best scenery in Bryce without much effort!

• Roundtrip Distance: 1 mile
• Trail Location: Rainbow Point or Yovimpa Point
• Time: 30 min – 1 hour
• Elevation Change: 200 feet

If you’re looking for an easy hike with a unique twist, Bristlecone Pine Trail is a must. This short loop takes you through a high-elevation forest and gives you a chance to see the oldest living things on Earth—the legendary bristlecone pines, some of which are over 1,800 years old!

Bristlecone Pine Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

The trail starts at either Rainbow Point or Yovimpa Point, both located at the very end of Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive (about 14 miles from the park entrance). If you have time, I highly recommend making a few scenic stops along the way—the views of Bryce Canyon from different overlooks are absolutely worth it.

You can begin the hike from either trailhead, but I suggest starting at Yovimpa Point. The reason? The views just keep getting better as you go!

Bristlecone Pine Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

Bristlecone Pine Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

The Bristlecone Pine Trail takes you through a cool, shady forest filled with white fir, Douglas fir, and blue spruce.

As you walk, keep an eye out for the weathered, twisted bristlecone pines—they’ve been standing here for centuries, enduring harsh winds and extreme temperatures.

The final stretch of the trail is a peaceful walk through a dense forest, which feels especially refreshing on a hot summer day. If you’re hiking in early summer, you might even spot patches of lingering snow tucked in the shaded areas!

Bristlecone Pine Trail / Short and Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon 

Whether you’re here for the incredible views, the peaceful forest, or the chance to see trees that have been standing since the days of the Roman Empire, Bristlecone Pine Trail is a hidden gem worth exploring.

• Roundtrip Distance: 0.8 miles (not a loop)
• Trail Location: North end of the park – 4 miles east on Hwy 12
• Time: 30 min – 1 hour
• Elevation Change: 200 feet

Mossy Cave Trail is one of the most fun and family-friendly hikes in Bryce Canyon. It’s short, easy, and offers something special in every season—a waterfall in summer and stunning icicles in winter!

Mossy Cave Trail is located on the north end of the park, about 4 miles east on Highway 12. From the Visitor Center, drive 4 miles north on UT-63, turn right onto Highway 12, and continue 3.5 miles east until you reach the parking area.

The trail starts along a gentle stream, making for a scenic and relaxing walk. After 0.4 miles, you’ll reach a junction—turn left to visit the Mossy Cave first. In winter, this spot transforms into a magical scene with frozen pillars and icicles hanging from the cave’s overhang.

After exploring the cave, head back to the junction and turn right to continue upstream. Soon, you’ll arrive at a 15-foot waterfall cascading over a ledge into a small pool—the perfect spot to relax and soak your feet on a warm day.

GOOD TO KNOW: Interestingly enough, the stream and the waterfall are not natural. It originates from Tropic Ditch, which is an irrigation channel constructed by Mormon settlers between 1890 and 1892 to supply water to Cannonville and Tropic in the dry season when the Paria River stops flowing.

Mossy Cave Trail 

Mossy Cave Trail 

When you’re ready, simply retrace your steps back to the parking lot. At less than a mile round trip, this hike is short, easy, and absolutely worth it!