Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Queen’s Garden Navajo Loop Trail: What You Need to Know
Queen’s Garden Navajo Loop Trail is my all-time favorite hike in Bryce Canyon National Park! Who wouldn’t love hiking into this beautiful canyon and seeing all the hoodoos up close? This is the only place you see Queen Victoria, Thor’s Hammer, and the famous Wall Street in one hike!
TRAILHEAD:
This hike begins at Sunrise Point and ends at Sunset Point. It is about a 3-mile total distance. Parking at Sunrise Point is limited so I strongly suggest getting there early. Bryce Canyon National Park also has a shuttle bus available if you are visiting during peak hours. For more information on the shuttle bus, click here.
Savvy Sojourner Tip: Arriving early has more advantages than just a good parking space. Morning is also the BEST time to get beautiful pictures of the sun on the hoodoos!
TRAIL DETAILS:
The hike begins by following the Queen’s Garden Trail down into the canyon. You walk among the hoodoos on a dirt/gravel trail. When you get to the bottom, follow the sign to a short side trail that takes you to see the Queen Victoria hoodoo formation. Return to the main trail and continue to the junction with the Navajo Loop Trail. This is where you “choose your own adventure”. The trail to the right takes you to Two Bridges and Thor’s Hammer. The trail to the left takes you to the famous Wall Street. Both options end with a series of switchbacks that take you up to the canyon rim.
We loved this trail so much that we opted to hike it twice during our visit to Bryce Canyon, one day seeing Thor’s Hammer and one day seeing Wall Street. If you are limited by time and can only do one hike, I would suggest taking the trail through Wall Street. It is impressive and should not be missed! You can see Thor’s Hammer from a distance from the overlook at Sunset Point, but I would suggest hiking to it to get great pictures!
Once back at the canyon rim, walk along the Rim Trail back to Sunrise Point. You can also take the shuttle back to your car but know that you will probably be in for a bit of a wait. There are picnic tables and restrooms located at both Sunrise Point and Sunset Point.
Savvy Sojourner Tip: Don’t be tempted to do just one trail over the other! Combining these two trails allows you to experience the hoodoos up close and see the breathtaking beauty of Bryce Canyon!
What to Bring on the Queen’s Garden Navajo Loop Trail
Here are my hiking essentials:
- WATER!
Always bring more water than you think you are going to need when hiking at Bryce Canyon National Park. I bring two water bottles (32oz or larger) per person when hiking. Hiking with heat and/or altitude can cause you to dehydrate quickly and Bryce Canyon has both. There are water refill stations located at Sunset Point. - Salty Snacks
Replenishing your electrolytes is always important, but especially when hiking in the heat. Salty snacks and electrolyte mixes for your water bottle are a great way to make sure you stay hydrated. Some of my favorites are jerky, pretzels, and roasted nuts or trail mix. - Sun Protection
The elevation at Bryce Canyon National Park is around 8,000 feet. This makes the sun feel more intense than in lower elevations. For this reason, you want to make sure to be extra vigilant in protecting yourself from sunburns. Make sure to apply (and reapply) sunscreen often, wear long sleeves, and never forget a hat that shades your face and neck! - Hiking Sticks
The Queen’s Garden section of this trail is a steady downhill and the climb up the canyon is a series of switchbacks. If you find it helpful on your knees to use hiking sticks for hiking uphill or downhill, you will want to make sure to bring them on this hike. - Phone/Camera
There are so many great photo opportunities along this hike. Don’t forget to capture every single beautiful hoodoo! Also, make sure that your cell phone has a full charge when you start your hike. - First Aid Kit
It is always a good idea to pack a small first aid kit in your hiking backpack. I like to include bandaids, Advil, items for scrapes, and moleskin for blisters in my hiking first aid kit.
Last Minute Advice…
When it comes to hiking my number one piece of advice is to stop and enjoy where you are! Hiking is about the journey as much as it is about the destination. So make sure to look around, enjoy where you are, and soak in your surroundings! Trust me, you won’t want to miss a minute of this hike!
Click here for more tips on Bryce Canyon National Park!
Want more travel planning tips?
Click here for 5 Steps to Planning a Successful Trip
Happy Sojourning!
Meghan
