Hiking the Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park
Distance: 8.0 miles / 12.9 km
The Fairyland Loop Trail is a favorite in Bryce Canyon National Park because it not only is one of the most beautiful day hikes within the park, but the Fairyland Loop is also one of the only trails you can hike without paying the National Park entrance fee!
This is because Fairyland Road, the road that leads to the trailhead, is located outside of the park entrance station near the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. Therefore, the Fairyland Loop Trail, along with the Rim Trail that leads to popular places like Sunrise Point and the Navajo Loop Trail, can all be enjoyed for free, making them great options if you don’t have a lot of time to spend in Bryce Canyon National Park!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Fairyland Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Fairyland Loop Trail is located at very end of Fairyland Road, the first road on the left upon entering the National Park.
That being said, the parking lot for Fairyland Point can be one of the more congested areas within Bryce Canyon during the busy summer travel season, which is one reason why I recommend hiking the Fairyland Loop Trail early in the morning.
Google Maps Directions: Fairyland Loop Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Bryce Canyon
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Fairyland Loop Trail
The Fairyland Loop Trail begins at Fairyland Point, which serves as a joint trailhead for both the Fairyland Loop and the Rim Trail that traverses the Bryce Canyon Rim from here to Bryce Point, about 5.4 miles (8.7 km) away.
That being said, the Fairyland Loop Trail utilizes about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail to complete the loop, meaning that you can either go right or left at Fairyland Point shown below.
Read My Separate Post: Rim Trail
Fairyland Point (Fairyland Loop-Rim Junction)
At Fairyland Point, I chose to go left because, in my opinion, this is the most beautiful and also the most popular direction to hike the Fairyland Loop Trail.
This is where the Fairyland Trail enters the Bryce Canyon Wilderness Area, which continues until the loop reaches the Rim Trail on the southern side.
Initially, the Fairyland Loop descends about 630 ft. (192 m) from Fairyland Point to the bottom of Fairyland Canyon, located at the end of this first descent.
This is roughly where the low point is located on the Fairyland Loop Trail, but the ascent isn’t very noticeable until the climb out of Campbell Canyon near Tower Bridge.
Then, the Fairyland Loop Trail traverses a number of rolling hills around the beautiful hoodoos of Boat Mesa until the Tower Bridge junction, about 2.6 miles (4.2 km) away.
When I hiked the Fairyland Loop in mid-May, wildflowers were blooming here and everywhere across Bryce Canyon National Park!
For any photographers out there, be sure to hike with a polarizer in order to cut through some of the harsh desert light in your photos.
This next section of rolling hills facing Boat Mesa was one of the more scenic and photogenic spots on the entire Fairyland Loop!
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
This is where Tower Bridge starts to become visible for the first time, which, in my opinion, is best viewed from the Fairyland Loop as opposed to the short spur trail shown below.
Fairyland Loop-Tower Bridge Junction
The Tower Bridge junction is the only split on the Fairyland Loop Trail below the Bryce Canyon Rim, which I recommend checking out because it only takes a few minutes to see off the main loop.
Tower Bridge
Depending on where you stand, Tower Bridge can get more or less obstructed, which is why I said previously that some of the best views are located on the Fairyland Loop prior to the junction.
Fairyland Loop-Tower Bridge Junction
Once back at the Tower Bridge junction, go straight (left) to begin the ascent back up to the Rim Trail junction, located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.
Campbell Creek
From the bottom of Campbell Canyon, the Fairyland Loop Trail climbs about 760 ft. (232 m) to the Rim Trail junction, where the hike significantly levels out from there.
Whenever a trail in Bryce Canyon National Park enters a sensitive plant habitat, be sure to look out for the Bristlecone Pines, which are known to be the oldest tree species on Earth!
In regard to my comment above, please do not leave the trail to see the Bristlecone Pines, as they can be found growing directly alongside a variety of trails throughout Bryce Canyon.
Fairyland Loop-Rim Junction
After 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the Fairyland Loop Trail reaches the southern Bryce Canyon Rim junction.
Here, go right to continue on the Fairyland Loop, or if you are interested, Sunrise Point, along with the Navajo Loop Trail, can be found just 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to the left.
Read My Separate Post: Rim Trail
Rim Trail (Fairyland Loop)
Following the junction above, the Fairyland Loop portion of the Rim Trail extends for 2.5 miles (4.0 km) along the rim, which is generally the least-trafficked portion of the Rim Trail compared to everything south of the junction.
Whenever the Rim Trail comes to a trail leading away from the rim, stay to the right to continue toward Fairyland Point.
If you look closely from this viewpoint, the south side of the Fairyland Loop, the section following Tower Bridge, can be seen off in the distance.
Fairyland Point
Overall, the Fairyland Loop Trail is a very beautiful and less-crowded day hike compared to a number of others Bryce Canyon National Park.
That being said, shade is minimal on the trail, which is why I recommend an early start because the constant exposure and heat during the summer can make what would be a nice hike much more difficult if you are unprepared.
Therefore, bring plenty of water, and strongly consider buying a hooded sun shirt before coming to Bryce Canyon, as it can be one of the most essential items you hike with at any time throughout the year.
More Bryce Canyon Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Bryce Canyon National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
One of the most notable safety concerns in Bryce Canyon National Park is inadequate footwear, especially in the winter. For this reason, it’s important to bring micro-spikes when you expect there to be snow and ice throughout the park, which leads to the next most notable concern: falling, both on trails and along the canyon rim.
This is because Bryce Canyon National Park is primarily composed of soft sedimentary rocks, making off-trail exploring significantly more dangerous than in other parks, such as the nearby Zion or Arches National Park.
Finally, wildlife and summer heat/ dehydration are the last major concerns in Bryce Canyon. Be mindful that mountain lions can be found during the cooler times of the year, and there is one venomous snake in Bryce Canyon National Park: the Great Basin Rattlesnake.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Bryce Canyon National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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