State: Utah
Location: Bryce Canyon National Park
Length, Round Trip: 8.8 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: 1650 feet
Best Season: Spring, Summer
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy
Trail Information
The Riggs Spring Loop Trail is a challenging 8.8 mile loop that descends from the pine forests of Rainbow Point past hoodoos into wooded canyons below. You’ll encounter great panoramas south and nice scenery along the entire route. It can be tackled in a day with some effort or can be made into an easy overnighter.
Although there are a few nice views of Bryce Canyon’s famous rock formations on this hike, the main attraction is the forest itself. At the higher elevations you will be in a heavy forest of spruce, Douglas fir, white fir and an occasional bristlecone pine. Near the bottom the forest changes to ponderosa pine. Riggs Spring is surrounded by huge 150-foot ponderosa pines, with nice grassy areas for pitching a tent.
The Riggs Spring Loop Trail begins and ends from the southernmost trailhead in Bryce Canyon National Park. It extends nearly nine miles from Rainbow Point to form a loop through Mutton and Corral Hollows. There are four backcountry camping sites along or close to this route. Permits are necessary for overnight use of the Bryce Canyon National Park backcountry. The Riggs Spring Trail is often used as an extension of the Under-the-Rim Trail.
Begin the hike at the Rainbow Point Trailhead, which lies at the southernmost point of the Scenic Drive, elevation 9,100 feet. There are several trails leaving the trailhead, so begin your hike by following the Bristlecone Loop Trail on the east side of the parking area. After a few hundred feet the trail forks, hiking to the left from this point will lead you around Promontory Point on a slow descent into the drainage. A few hundred feet later you will come to a four-way junction with trails leading to Yovimpa Point, the Bristlecone Loop and the Under the Rim Trail. Turn left here along the Under the Rim Trail. The trail will immediately begin loosing elevation and after hundred yards you will come to the third trail junction. At this junction, there is a sign directing you to head right for Riggs Spring.
As the trail continues its descent, it makes a wide swing to the east to get around the Pink Cliffs and then turns west after 2.5 miles and doubles back under the cliffs. Once you are under the Pink Cliffs the trail dips in and out of three small drainages and ascends the western wall of this canyon before turning south to descend the Mutton Hollow Drainage for the last 0.8 mile to Riggs Spring. From Riggs Spring, the trail follows this drainage approximately 1.75 miles to Yovimpa Pass, elevation 8,360 feet. A backcountry camp lies along the trail leading to the left. The trail climbs steadily upward but the elevation gain is only 875 feet. Yovimpa Pass lies on the crest of the Pink Cliffs. The Park Service maintains a small well just below the pass and you will see a dirt access road to the pass coming in from the north. The trail turns east at the pass and generally follows the rim above the Pink Cliffs back to Rainbow Point. From Yovimpa Pass, the route gains about 600 feet in the last two miles. There are a number of excellent views along this section of the trail; at one point you will be directly above Mutton Hollow looking south towards Riggs Spring 1.4 miles away.
Be sure to watch for bristlecone pines near the edge of the rim. These ancient trees are often found in high, exposed areas where other trees don’t do well and they frequently live for more than 3,000 or even 4,000 years. They are easy to identify because of the way the needles grow all along the branches, giving them the appearance of fox tails. The needles are generally about 1 1/2 inches long with each bud producing a bundle of four or five needles.
Directions
From Bryce Canyon Visitor Center:
Take the Green Line shuttle to Rainbow Point to begin hiking this trail from the southern terminus.
