State: Utah
Location: Bryce Canyon National Park
Length, Round Trip: 1.5 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: 520 feet
Trail Surface: Maintained
Best Season: Spring, Summer
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Heavy
Candlestick Tower Rock in winter time, Utah
Trail Information
With scenic sights around every corner, the Navajo Loop Trail exhibits numerous and fancifully shaped rock formations at nearly every bend of the trail. The Navajo Loop hike begins at Sunset Point and heads southeast through a narrow canyon to a trail junction. The loop then rounds the ridge to the south and ascends through another narrow canyon to the plateau rim. The hike is only one and a half miles, although there are trails extending from the southern end of this loop that lead to Queen’s Garden, Peekaboo Loop and lower Bryce Canyon.
From Sunset Point, the trail descends 500 feet into Bryce Canyon via a narrow passage from the rim. Less than a mile from the trailhead, the canyon opens up and the trail comes to a junction. Turn left here to reach Queen’s Garden. The middle trail continues to follow the wash into the lower portion of Bryce Canyon. Turn right at the trail junction and take the lower trail, the first major rock grouping you’ll see is the Silent City, a group of pinnacles seemingly frozen in time. Next, you’ll hike through Wall Street, a shaded and narrow canyon surrounded by cliffs. Next on the ascent of the rim are the Two Bridges. Find them just off from the trail, one big and the other small. Finally, on the last leg of the trail, Thor’s Hammer appears before reaching the trailhead, a rock precariously balanced high above on a pedestal.
Directions
From Bryce Canyon Visitor Center:
Drive south from the visitor center to the Sunset Point access road. Turn left and drive to the Sunset Point parking area.
