This is Page 2 of the hike description. Click here to read Page 1.
The Navajo Loop
The Figure-8 begins at Sunset Point, which is one of the most incredible views in Bryce Canyon. Take a moment to stand on the edge and snap some photos while you are here — the hoodoos stretch as far as the eye can see!
From Sunset Point, look for the Navajo Loop Trailhead sign and start hiking. You’ll immediately begin your descent into the hoodoos…be sure to look for Thor’s Hammer along the way.
After hiking just a few steps, you’ll reach a junction. To head into the spectacular Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop, take a right. From here, you’ll begin a rapid descent down a crazy set of switchbacks deep into the canyon.
Standing in the narrow passages between hoodoos connects you to this place. It makes you feel small. It fills your soul with wonder and amazement. Everyone deserves to feel this connection with nature, and standing among the tall trees and red rocks of Bryce Canyon’s Wall Street is a fabulous place to find that connection.
After passing through Wall Street, the trail opens up to the canyon floor and takes on a completely different personality. Trees surround you, and instead of looking down on the hoodoos, you are now standing at the bottom looking up.
From Sunset Point to the end of the Navajo Loop portion of the hike is 0.7 miles. Continue along the canyon floor for a moment until you see the sign for Peekaboo Loop.
If you choose to leave out the Peekaboo Loop portion of this hike, follow the signs to the Queens Garden instead.
Peekaboo Loop
When you see the sign for the Peekaboo Loop, turn here. Follow the short connector trail (about 0.2 miles) to reach the beginning of the loop.
When you reach the beginning of the Peekaboo Loop, the path splits right or left. Because the Peekaboo Loop is also a trail for horses, the National Park Service asks that you hike the loop clockwise. In my opinion, hiking this way also puts the best views in front of you as you hike!
Take a left and start hiking up the hill. You’ll be standing among the hoodoos in no time, with spectacular views everywhere you turn.
In my opinion, the Peekaboo Loop is the BEST way to see the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon. It gives you the chance to get up close and personal, as well as to see expansive views.
This loop has quite a few ups and downs, but every once in a while, the trail flattens out!
Keep your eyes peeled for your first glimpse of the Wall of Windows. It is a precursor to the fantastic views that lie ahead of you on the trail.
Shortly after seeing the Wall of Windows from afar, you’ll come to another trail junction. Stay on the main trail here. The side trail travels up to Bryce Point at the top of the rim and is a strenuous way out.
When you reach this junction, you have traveled 1.3 miles along the Peekaboo Loop.
Continue hiking along the Peekaboo Loop, twisting and turning along the path through some incredibly unique rock formations.
After rounding a big corner, you’ll reach a small alcove with a restroom. This restroom is open in the summer only, but it is a great place to stop — there’s still a lot of ground to cover!
Just a short distance away is what most would say is the absolute best part of Figure-8 — the Wall of Windows!
Beyond the Wall of Windows is a fabulous display of hoodoos lining the path. This part of the hiking trail deserves a pause, just to take in the grandeur of the formations.
It’s hard to fully appreciate the beauty of Bryce Canyon until you are actually standing at the base of these hoodoos.
After passing through this magnificent section of the trail, make your way up some tight switchbacks. This part of the hike is exhausting, but luckily, there’s an exciting tunnel and a gorgeous view at the top!
At this point, you’ve nearly completed the entire 3-mile Peekaboo Loop trail. Enjoy the views for a moment before hiking back down to the canyon floor and exiting the loop.
As you come off the Peekaboo trail, take a left and travel back along the connector trail toward the Navajo Loop. When you reach the end of the connector trail, follow the signs that point toward the Queens Garden.
The Queens Garden
The Queens Garden is the final trail you’ll explore on your quest to complete Bryce Canyon’s Figure 8!
Hike along the bottom of the canyon on the Queens Garden Trail. There aren’t as many hoodoos along this stretch of the trail, but the landscape is incredibly varied.
After 0.8 miles, you’ll have the chance to be welcomed into the Queens Garden by Queen Victoria herself (in hoodoo form, of course)! Look for the sign for a short spur trail that takes you to the base of the hoodoo known as Queen Victoria.
Backtrack down the side trail you took to see the Queen and continue hiking along the main trail.
This part of the hike has some amazing tunnels carved through the hoodoo formations! Take time to enjoy the view while gradually working your way 0.9 miles up to the top of the canyon rim.
The Queens Garden Trail is the easiest way to exit the canyon while hiking the Figure-8. For the most part, the ascent is gradual, but toward the end, there are a few more steep switchbacks to climb.
Take one last look through the hoodoos before you get to the top of the rim. What a glorious adventure you’ve just been on!!
Sunrise Point is at the top of the Queens Garden Trail. Stop here for a moment to snap a few photos, review the route you just hiked, and take in the beauty of Bryce Canyon from above.
To end your hike, walk south along the 0.5-mile portion of the Rim Trail. This leisurely stroll will take you back to the Sunset Point parking area, where your car is parked.
The views from the Rim Trail are fabulous! Be on the lookout for a closer view of my favorite tree hanging tight to the cliff as you hike back to your car!
You did it!! Congratulate yourself on reaching the end of the hike, a challenging but extremely rewarding feat!
The entire Figure-8 Trail is 6.4 miles roundtrip and is a strenuous up-and-down hike. You’ll lose 550 feet of elevation while descending into the canyon via the Navajo Loop. From there, the trail fluctuates as you hike around the Peekaboo Loop, with climbs and descents up to 400 feet at a time. When you reach the Queens Garden trail, expect a 320-foot climb back up to the rim of the canyon.
The entire route is outlined in red below:
Getting Here
From the entrance of Bryce Canyon National Park, drive approximately 2 miles south to the turn-off for Sunset Point. Turn left here and park in the parking area. Walk toward Sunset Point and look for the trail sign for the Navajo Loop. This is where the Figure-8 Trail starts.
Have a fabulous time hiking Bryce Canyon’s most beautiful trail!
Click NEXT to read about the 10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Bryce Canyon!
More Bryce Canyon Trip-Planning Information
Bryce Canyon Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Bryce Canyon — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Bryce Canyon? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
The Best Things to Do In Bryce Canyon — activities for your whole group.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Bryce Canyon — the top 10 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
The Ultimate Bryce Canyon Trip-Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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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 :)