Bristlecone Loop Trail

Accessible from Rainbow Point, the Bristlecone Loop Trail is a mile-long walk through an old bristlecone pine forest. Some of the trees are thought to be up to 1,800 years old! The forest is a good place for bird-watching — look for blue jays, Steller’s jays, ravens, and woodpeckers. You’ll also see chipmunks and a variety of squirrels running up and down the trees and along the trail. Past the forest, along the rim, you’ll see not only Bryce Canyon, but vistas stretching as far as the Four Corners area.

The trail is located at the highest point in the park, at an elevation of 9,100 feet. You’ll experience up to 195 feet of elevation change, but you won’t have to make any steep climbs on this trail.

The Bristlecone Loop Trail is not accessible during the winter, when the snow is 2 to 15 feet deep.

Queens Garden Trail

The easiest trail that descends into the canyon, the Queens Garden Trail starts at Sunrise Point. The 320-foot descent into the canyon features long switchbacks and spectacular rock formations, including arches and a variety of hoodoos. The trail is not steep; it takes a roundabout way to the bottom, where it ends at a rock garden of hoodoos called the Queens Garden. With some imagination, and from the right angle, you can see Queen Victoria overlooking her garden.

From here, you can turn around and walk back to the rim or continue on a leisurely walk to the bottom of the canyon on the Navajo Loop Trail.