Hiking the Queen’s Garden Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.8 miles / 2.9 km
Located in the heart of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, the Queen’s Garden Trail is a favorite in Bryce Canyon National Park, as it traverses through some of the most beautiful tunnels and hoodoos to an area below Sunrise Point, known as the Queen’s Garden.
That being said, the Queen’s Garden Trail and neighboring Navajo Loop Trail are often combined into one longer loop, utilizing a small portion of the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail. However, I personally recommend against this option, for reasons explained later in this article. If you want to learn more about why I feel this way, click here to skip ahead.
In any case, the distance above is the roundtrip distance from the trailhead at Sunrise Point to Queen’s Garden and back. It does not include the optional 0.9-mile (1.4 km) Horse Trail shown below, where hikers can create an alternative loop, instead of hiking back on the same trail.
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!
Queen’s Garden Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Queen’s Garden Trail is located on either Sunrise Point Road or in the adjacent overflow lot for Sunrise Point.
That being said, parking near popular viewpoints around the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, such as Sunrise and Sunset Point, can be challenging by mid-morning during the busy summer travel season. Therefore, it may be easiest to park elsewhere and take the Bryce Canyon shuttle to the trailhead shown below.
Google Maps Directions: Queen’s Garden Trailhead (Sunrise Point)
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 Queen’s Garden Trail
To get to the Queen’s Garden Trailhead, walk the path that leads to the Rim Trail and Sunrise Point, located about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away.
At this split, go right to continue toward Sunrise Point.
Rim-Horse Junction
Then, take the middle trail to keep on the path toward Sunrise Point and the Queen’s Garden Trailhead.
However, if you’d prefer to hike in the opposite direction as shown in this article, go left to descend the Horse Trail and begin the Queen’s Garden-Horse Loop Trail in the clockwise direction.
Read My Separate Post: Rim Trail
Queen’s Garden Trailhead (Sunrise Point)
The Queen’s Garden Trail begins directly below Sunrise Point, where the trail descends roughly 375 ft. (114 m) over 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from Sunrise Point to Queen's Garden down below.
For photographers, these beginning sections were among the best to create unique angles of the Queen’s Garden Trail from above.
That being said, don’t forget to hike with a polarizer in order to cut through some of the harsh desert light, bringing out the best of the colors on the hoodoos!
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!
Queen’s Garden-Horse Junction
After 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Queen’s Garden Trail splits, with the Horse Trail that leads back up to the junction shown previously.
With that in mind, this is the loop I recommend hiking if you’re interested in returning on a different trail, as opposed to the Navajo Loop, for the reasons mentioned below.
In any case, go right to continue hiking toward the Queen’s Garden.
These tunnels can create some of the most unique angles for those interested in taking some cool photos!
Queen’s Garden-Navajo Loop Connector Junction
On the far side of the third tunnel, the Queen’s Garden Trail splits immediately with the Navajo Loop Connector.
To finish the Queen’s Garden Trail, go straight, where the trail will come to an end about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) ahead.
Read My Separate Post: Navajo Loop Trail
Queen’s Garden
In short, the Queen’s Garden is the end of the Queen’s Garden Trail, which is named after a specific hoodoo that bears resemblance to Queen Victoria, most notably a famous statue of her in London.
Once back at the Queen’s Garden-Navajo Loop Connector junction, visitors often consider whether it’s better to continue onto the Navajo Loop or return to the Rim Trail on the Queen’s Garden/ Horse Trail.
That being said, I personally recommend against connecting the Navajo Loop with the Queen’s Garden Trail because both the Two Bridges and Wall Street switchback sections of the Navajo Loop are, without a doubt, some of the best parts of any trail in Bryce Canyon National Park.
This means that if you make a loop with the Queen’s Garden, Navajo Loop, and Rim Trail, you’ll surely be missing out on at least one half of one of the best day hikes in the park.
For this reason, I highly recommend treating the Navajo Loop Trail as a stand-alone day hike or one that you connect with the Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail, so that you can enjoy the best of both sides of the stunning Navajo Loop on its own!
Read My Separate Post: Navajo Loop Trail
Queen’s Garden-Horse Junction
Upon returning to the Queen’s Garden-Horse junction shown previously, hikers either have the option to return back up the Queen’s Garden Trail to Sunrise Point or go right to begin the alternative Horse Trail that returns to the Rim Trail at the junction near the Sunrise Point parking area shown at the beginning of this article.
Horse Loop Trail
I chose to go right on the Horse Connector Trail, which splits immediately into the 1.4-mile (2.3 km) Lower Horse Loop Trail.
Here, go left to continue on the fastest route back up to the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail.
This first section of the Horse Loop Trail is a great place to see some of Bryce Canyon’s Bristlecone Pines, one of the oldest tree species on Earth!
Lower Horse Loop-Horse Junction
Then, the Lower Horse Loop meets with the Horse Trail that climbs back up to the Rim Trail junction, located just to the north of Sunrise Point.
To continue on the fastest trail, go straight (left) here to begin the 0.8-mile (1.3 km) ascent back up to the top.
After the split above, the Horse Trail begins the roughly 400-ft. (122 m), 0.8-mile (1.3 km) climb back up the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail.
Rim-Horse Junction
Finally, this is where the Horse Trail meets back up with the Rim Trail, adjacent to the path that leads to the Sunrise Point parking area.
That being said, I encourage you to learn more about the full Rim Trail in my separate article, as the trail, extending from Fairyland Point in the north to Bryce Point in the south, passes by some of Bryce’s best and most popular viewpoints, while also traversing areas that are seldom visited by most who come to the park.
For this reason, I think that the full 5.4-mile (8.7 km) Rim Trail can make for a great day hike, especially when combined with the Bryce Canyon shuttle to create a shorter, one-way adventure, as opposed to an out-and-back hike.
Read My Separate Post: Rim Trail
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
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
All said, the content on this blog is for the sole use of Noah Lang Photography LLC, and unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.
Disclosure
This post is not sponsored.
However, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission if a purchase is made through one of those links. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and I only recommend products that I personally use and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you for your support, which enables me to continue creating more!
To read the full privacy policy, click here.
About This Blog
Noah Lang Photography, also known as @noahawaii, is 100% reader-supported!
I do not accept guest articles or sponsored content of any kind on my blog, which is why, if you enjoy the outdoor and travel content I create, please consider buying me a coffee!
I appreciate your support, which helps me continue to keep this blog alive!
