Hike the Fairyland Loop Trail at Bryce Canyon NP

Bryce, Utah

4.7/5
based on 11 reviews

Details

Distance

7.8 miles

Elevation Gain

1545 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by The Outbound Collective

Faryland Loop is a more remote loop trail in the northern section of the park. Enjoy great views of Boat Mesa, Fairyland Canyon, and Sinking Ship Mesa without the crowds.

Let's face it: Bryce Canyon National Park is stunning. Its remarkable and unique hoodoos bring people from all over the world, and lots of them. If you're looking to enjoy this incredible park with a little more solitude than the main lookouts or the more popular Under the Rim trail, make sure to spend a day hiking the Fairyland Loop trail. Many visitors drive past this area in the northern part of the park to seek out the views at the amphitheater, so it sees less foot traffic than the southern part of the park. This eight mile loop trail is rated strenuous by the NPS because of length and elevation changes, so be sure you're in good shape and have plenty of water along.

The trail starts at Fairyland Point - choose either direction to start, though the description below follows the counterclockwise route of the loop. If you're having trouble choosing a direction, know that your hike out of the canyon will be short but steep in a clockwise direction and longer but more gradual of a climb if you head counterclockwise. From Fairyland Point follow the Rim Trail for a little over two miles, passing the North Campground along the way.

Shortly before Sunrise Point, the trail veers off the Rim Trail to the left and winds steeply down Campbell Canyon over the next 1.5 miles. Along the way, you'll pass a colorful stand of hoodoos known as China Wall. When you hit four miles, you'll find a spur trail towards Tower Bridge - take this trail its short 200 yards to see this awesome rock formation (also a great spot for a halfway point snack!) and then continue back to the loop trail.

The trail meanders through Campbell Canyon and gradually climbs out of the canyon over a series of switchbacks, with views of Fairyland Canyon and Sinking Ship Mesa along the way (and more hoodoos than you can shake a stick at). Once out of the canyon you only have a short stint on the trail before reaching Fairyland Point and the end of your loop!

Getting there: The Fairyland Point Trailhead access road is located just north of the Park Visitor Center and Entrance Station outside the park boundary (so if you've hit the visitor center you've gone too far). Coming from the north, turn left on the Fairyland Point access road and find the parking lot at Fairyland Point one mile down the road.

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Hike the Fairyland Loop Trail at Bryce Canyon NP Reviews

This trail is long but very worth it. There are amazing views of the hoodoos and the scenery changes all the time. It is a great hike to do in the snow.

Hands down my favorite hike so far! I hiked this in early April 2019. The trail had just been opened after a snowy winter season. Half of the hike was through snow, part of it was snowy muddy slush, and the rest of it that orange dirt that I love. When the snow melts and mixes with the mud, it looks exactly like thai tea. Every part of the hike has a new view, and each one is equally amazing. The hike itself is long, but I never got tired of looking around. The snow on the orange rock is just beautiful.

This is my absolute favorite trail of all time! We began at Sunrise Point, hiked down to Tower Bridge, around the Fairyland Loop and back along the eastern part of the Rim Trail. The views are stunning - the red, pink, orange, yellow, white and green colors are incredible. This loop offers plenty of up close views of the hoodoos, several landmarks and landscapes. The trail does lack shade so be sure to pack plenty of water and sunscreen. I cannot recommend this trail enough. It is an absolute bucket-list must-do!

an absolutely wonderful trail run with stunning views and great trail. so much fun. I would recommend going down into the canyon from the parking lot and then finishing the trail along the rim back to the parking area.

This loop is now in my top 10 favorite hikes. The landscape is stunning and it is not very crowded so at times you have a stretch of 2 miles to yourself (in November at least). There are plenty of places to photograph the hoodoos and get up close to them. Take note of a few places and go back to them for sunset/star gazing.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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