Hiking the Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park
Distance (One Way): 5.4 miles / 8.7 km
The Rim, also called the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail, is one of the most frequently hiked trails in Bryce Canyon National Park, but it is not often hiked in its entirety by most visitors.
By this, I mean that the Rim Trail is the connection to a number of the most popular viewpoints and trails in Bryce Canyon, including Queen’s Garden (Sunrise Point), the Navajo Loop Trail (Sunset Point), and even the Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail (Bryce Point).
In fact, the North Rim Trailhead at Fairyland Point can be hiked all the way to Rainbow Point at the far southern end of Bryce Canyon via the Under-the-Rim Trail for a very long 28.3-mile (45.5 km) adventure, extending the entire length of the park.
At any rate, the Rim Trail is most commonly hiked in smaller sections, allowing park visitors the opportunity to see some of the best and most popular viewpoints without having to drive from parking area to parking area, which can get quite congested during the busy summer travel season.
Rim Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Rim Trail is located at either Fairyland or Bryce Point, depending on which direction you’d prefer to hike.
That being said, there are countless different parking areas over the course of the 5.4-mile (8.7 km) trail, which generally correspond to the many viewpoints and trails previously mentioned.
Google Maps Directions: Fairyland Point / Bryce 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.
Hiking the Rim Trail
Even though I previously mentioned that the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail is not often hiked in its entirety as shown here, this article, at the least, can help you decide which portions of the 5.4-mile (8.7 km) trail you’d prefer to prioritize.
With that in mind, the Rim Trail is also the best trail in Bryce Canyon National Park to utilize the Bryce Canyon shuttle, so that you can hike one way from point to point, returning on the shuttle instead of having to re-hike the Rim Trail to get back to where you started.
Fairyland Point (Rim-Fairyland Loop Junction)
Beginning from Fairyland Point, go right to begin the Rim Trail from north to south.
That being said, the path to the left is the most common direction that visitors hike the Fairyland Loop Trail, which you can learn more about in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Fairyland Loop Trail
As the Rim Trail heads south from Fairyland Point, it simply traverses the side of Bryce Canyon, which is also the same section of the Rim Trail that the Fairyland Trail utilizes to complete the loop for the next 2.5 miles (4.0 km).
In my experience, this first section to the north of Sunrise Point and the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater is the least-trafficked part of the entire trail, as most visitors tend to concentrate on the trails and viewpoints to the south of the Queen’s Garden Trail.
The very far viewpoint in the photo below is Bryce Point, which is the southern terminus for the Rim Trail.
Along the hike, the Rim Trail will pass by a number of alternate paths that lead away from the rim, which can be very useful, as many of the stops along the hike have places to fill up your water as you go!
Rim-Fairyland Loop Junction
After 2.5 miles (4.0 km), the Rim Trail meets the southern Fairyland Loop Trail junction, which is one of my personal favorite day hikes that I recommend checking out while visiting Bryce Canyon.
In any case, go straight to continue on the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point, located about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away.
Read My Separate Post: Fairyland Loop Trail
This is the view looking back toward the Boat Mesa, where the Rim Trail began at Fairyland Point.
Rim-Horse Junction
Shortly after the Fairyland Trail, the Rim Trail reaches the next junction with the Horse Trail.
That being said, the Horse Trail is open to foot traffic, contrary to what the name might have you think, as it is commonly connected with the Queen’s Garden Trail to create a loop instead of an out-and-back hike.
Read My Separate Post: Queen’s Garden Trail (Horse Loop)
Here, go left to continue on the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point, or go right to bypass Sunrise Point, which is typically a very busy location on the trail.
Sunrise Point (Rim-Queen’s Garden Junction)
When the Rim Trail reaches Sunrise Point, the hike generally gets busier from here to the end, as it starts to pass a number of the best and most popular viewpoints and trails in the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, beginning here with the Queen’s Garden Trail.
That being said, go right at the trailhead for both Sunrise Point and to continue along the Rim Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Queen’s Garden Trail
In regards to everything said above, Sunrise Point is the beginning of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, which continues from here until Bryce Point at the end of the hike.
In short, the Amphitheater is generally regarded as the most beautiful section in all of Bryce Canyon National Park! Trails like the Navajo and Peek-a-Boo Loop can be found within, and the Amphitheater also has a number of the park’s favorite sunrise and sunset points along the rim!
After Sunrise Point, the Rim Trail continues for another 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to Sunset Point, and the Navajo Loop Trail.
Sunset Point (Rim-Navajo Loop Junction)
Across the entire 5.4-mile (8.7 km) Rim Trail, no location is as popular as Sunset Point, due in large part to it also serving as the trailhead for the Navajo Loop Trail, the most popular day hike in Bryce Canyon National Park.
That being said, I highly recommend checking out my separate article to learn more about the trail, including my thoughts at the end when it comes to combining the Navajo and Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail into one hike.
Read My Separate Post: Navajo Loop Trail
After Sunset Point, the Rim Trail continues for another 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the first of two lookouts at Inspiration Point.
This is the view looking back across the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
Lower Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point has two main overlooks, with the upper generally being regarded as the better of the two.
To see both, go left at the split to continue along the Rim Trail, where the upper viewpoint can be found just 0.2 miles (0.3 km) ahead.
Rim-Upper Inspiration Point Junction
At the Upper Inspiration Point junction, go left for the overlook or right to continue south on the Rim Trail.
Upper Inspiration Point
This is Upper Inspiration Point, and what may not be obvious is that it, along with Bryce Point to the south, are two of the best places in Bryce Canyon National Park to watch the sunset!
Once back along the rim, the trail continues for another 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to Bryce Point, the end and southern terminus of the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail.
This area just before Bryce Point can make for one of the best, uncrowded locations of anywhere in Bryce Canyon National Park to catch the sunset!
Bryce Point
After 5.3 miles (8.5 km), the Rim Trail finally reaches Bryce Point, with the Bryce Point parking area and shuttle stop located just another 0.1 miles (0.2 km) past the viewpoint.
This photo from Bryce Point was taken at sunset.
My Print - Bryce Point (Sunset)
Bryce Point Trailhead
Overall, the Rim Trail is truly about making your own adventure and utilizing the Bryce Canyon shuttle to make a one-way hike, which is one of my favorite ways to maximize my time in the park.
Nevertheless, this is all without saying that the Rim Trail may end at Bryce Point, but the hiking doesn’t have to end here, as the Bryce Point Trailhead serves both the Peek-a-Boo Loop and Under-the-Rim Trail.
With that in mind, I highly recommend checking out my separate Under-the-Rim Trail article, regardless if you’re considering the hike or not. The Under-the-Rim Trail is Bryce Canyon’s longest hike, and it can make for a great adventure to add to your bucket list for a future trip!
Read My Separate Posts: Under-the-Rim Trail / Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail
