If you’re looking for the ultimate hike in Bryce Canyon National Park, look no further than Figure-8! This longer hike combines the best trails in the park to create one colossal adventure through this land of hoodoos.
Instead of hiking just one, why not hike all 3 of Bryce Canyon’s premier trails — the Navajo Loop, the Peekaboo Loop, and the Queens Garden. You’ll be transported into a landscape unlike anything you’ve ever seen!
What You Need to Know About Hiking the Figure-8
- Bring plenty of water on this hike! There is a water-fill station at Sunset Point, but after that, there is no water available on the trail. Dehydration is a big concern in Utah’s high desert, so plan to have at least 3-4 liters with you as you hike the Figure-8.
- Bryce Canyon sits at 9,000 feet above sea level. Wear layers of clothing — the weather can change in an instant!
- To navigate safely, you’ll need a map for this hike. I recommend getting this one before attempting this trail.
- The trails and viewpoints in the Sunset Point area are extremely popular, so the Sunset Point parking lot is almost always full. Consider taking the Bryce Canyon Shuttle if you’re not able to get a parking spot.
The Figure-8 Trail is a 6.4-mile hike and is considered strenuous. Plan on taking about 4 hours to complete the whole thing, more if you like to take a lot of pictures (like me)!
If you want to shorten your hike and still see some magical hoodoos, I suggest omitting the Peekaboo Loop and connecting just the Navajo Loop section and the Queens Garden Trail. This makes the hike 2.9 miles roundtrip and moderate in difficulty.
Click NEXT to start your grand adventure through Bryce Canyon. Here we go!
Is it possible to get this in PDF so I can save it to reference during my visit later this month? Concerned about having cell service and needing this info during the hike!
A printable PDF of this is included with your Bryce Canyon Itinerary!
Hi Ash,
We will be in Bryce on April 6th and 7th. In 2023, the shuttle did not start running until April 7th. Do you know when the shuttle will start in 2024? I could not find an updated schedule online. In your 2-day itinerary, you say to use the shuttle at certain times because finding parking is difficult. If the shuttle is not running, how difficult is it to find parking in the afternoon this time of year? Thanks.
Steve
Hey Steve! For questions specific to the itinerary schedule, please message me here so I can give you a more detailed answer!
Hi Ash, Our family will be visting the park at the end of March and I see that Wall Street won’t be open. I keep seeing reference to the “Two Bridges” as the way to connect The Queens Garden and Navajo Loop but I am not seeing it referenced on the maps. Can you point me to where I should be looking in the itinerary?
Hey Sarah,
Great question! So, Two Bridges is the other half of the Navajo Loop. When you look at a map, you’ll see Wall Street going down one side of the Navajo Loop and Two Bridges is the other side. They connect up just below Sunset Point and again down at the bottom of the canyon. Here’s the map you’ll want to look at to find it!
Ash,
Very informative post.
We are going winter, so we do not do wall street leg but do the other queens/ navajo leg twice if we do the “loop”
How many miles ? the loop is ? 6.3 but the back track is longer, ? so ? 7.5 miles
Gracias
Gerard gabel
Hey Gerard! It would still be about the same mileage if you go down the Twin Bridges side of the Navajo Loop, complete the Peek-a-Boo Loop, and then hike out on the Queens Garden. You wouldn’t need to backtrack at all unless you want to. Have a great time!
Great recommendation Ash!… Followed the path exactly as you suggested…Stunning! Took my breath away in more than one way.?…We’ll worth the hike!
Glad you enjoyed it Lee! It’s definitely one of my favorites!
This loop was my favorite at Bryce. Peek-a-Boo may be one of my favorites of all time. I was spectacular and not very crowded. It is a challenging hike but worth every single minute. It is truly a different experience to be walking among the hoodoos from different levels that just viewing from above. Thank you for suggesting this loop – we were tired, but so happy.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Ash,
I read from other hikers that since the Peek-a-boo trail is also shared by riders, there’s horse shit all around the trail. Is that really an issue while hiking??
Haha yeah it happens, but we didn’t find it to be too much of an annoyance. The hike is still definitely worth going on!
Is the hike advisable for kids, I’m specifically thinking of my daughter who will be 9 when we are there in 2018. Also taking into consideration that we’re from Florida, so no elevation experience.
Thanks!
Lynn
The whole trail is a little long for a child of that age, unless she just absolutely loves to hike. The Peek-a-Boo Loop is definitely the most challenging section of this trail, so I might cut that part out and complete the Navajo Loop Wall Street section and then go straight to the Queens Garden. I grew up doing this hike without the Peek-a-Boo Loop and it’s fantastic so you really can’t go wrong!!
Ash, THANK YOU so much for the guides that you have made available to people like us! We followed your plan for the Bryce experience including Wall Street, peek a boo and queens garden! Could not have had a better experience! We were exhausted but completed the sites in one day and were able to see Cedar breaks today! We so much appreciate your experience that you make available to us!! Many many thanks!
I’m so glad you had fun!! Quite a hike, isn’t it?!?!
This sounds fabulous! I haven’t been on the Peek-A-Boo trail. What do you think of starting at Bryce Point and doing the loop from there but just include Navajo and not Queens Garden?
I see what you’re getting at and I’d probably do that myself next time…..although it is more challenging logistically. If you came out of the canyon at Sunset Point, you’d have to ride the shuttle to Bryce Point to pick up your car. If you plan on going back out of the canyon at Bryce Point, just know that it’s a harder climb. But plenty of people hike the Peek-a-Boo from Bryce Point so not a big deal if you’re in shape :)