How to Hike the Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is one of those places you have to stop at while road tripping in Utah. Before going, we had seen pictures of all the hoodoos and even the famous Tower Bridge in Bryce so we knew that the Fairyland Loop Trail was going to be one of the top hikes to do in Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon is one of “The Mighty 5” or “Utah’s Big Five” and we can definitely see why. After spending some time here, we found that the Fairyland Loop Trail was a really great hike to do in order to get a proper feel for just how incredible this national park is.

Honestly though, one of the hardest things about visiting a national park for a day or two is trying to figure out which hike to do. There are so many options!

We haven’t done all the hikes in Bryce but we’re sure they’re all incredible. However, if you only have time for one then do the Fairyland Loop Trail. Since it’s a loop trail you’ll see something different throughout the whole hike and it really encaptures how beautiful Bryce National Park is.

We promise you won’t be disappointed!

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What to expect when hiking the Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce

The Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce is actually as far out of the national park you can go while still being apart of the national park. It’s basically between the national park and the city of Bryce. Thankfully this means it may be a lot less crowded than actually inside the park.

The loop trail itself starts and ends at the Fairyland Loop Trail Parking lot. It’s a super easy hike to follow with signs almost everywhere. It really is a big loop and you can see where you’re going to hike since the trail is super visible.

Hiking shoes, water, food, and a backpack to store everything in are definitely recommended since it is a bit of a longer trail. More on this below!

If there’s something you should know about Southern Utah is that it gets extremely hot during the summer months. You can see the weather for Bryce Canyon here so you pack properly!

With all that being said, it’s a beautiful hiking trail in Utah and one of our personal favourites. Bryce is amazing and the only downside is we didn’t have more time to explore this beautiful national park.

Practical information about Fairyland Loop Trail

Distance: 11.9 km return / 7.4 miles return
Elevation: 470 m / 1542 ft. elevation gain
Type: Loop Trail
Length: 3.5 – 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Fee: $35 per vehicle or included if you have an America the Beautiful Pass.

Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon.

Here’s a picture of the beginning of the Fairyland Loop Trail

Starting at the Fairyland Loop Trail Parking Lot

It’s always convenient when the hike starts right from the parking lot. You can find directions to the Fairyland Loop Trail parking lot here.

In case you end up hiking in Bryce during the winter, the road to the parking lot and trailhead will be closed so you’ll have to start from the Sunrise Point trailhead instead. It’s basically just five minutes down the road from the other starting point.

Since it’s a long trail there are actually multiple points you can enter into the loop and start the hike. But in this post, we will focus on starting at the official trailhead which is at the Fairyland Loop Trail Parking Lot.

You basically start at the highest point of the hike and you can see the loop trail down in the valley snaking through all the hoodoos down below. It’s pretty cool since most hikes we’ve done start at the bottom and then you have to hike all the way to the top to get the full view. Here it’s the opposite.

So right from the beginning of the hike gaze down at the stunning structures below and be amazed at how these hoodoos have transformed over the years. The hike looks very familiar to the Ramparts Trail in Brian Head (one of our favourites in Utah). But this type of landscape is quite common in the Utah National Parks.

We did the hike counterclockwise just for the heck of it and recommend doing it this way. No matter which way you do it you’ll have a bit of a hike up on the last stretch.

Walking by the North Campground in Bryce Canyon

In Bryce, there is a campground called the North Campground and it is basically connected to the Fairyland Loop Trail. You will walk by it quite early into the hike. If you actually end up camping at the North Campground then you can literally just walk from the campsite and hop straight onto the trail (more on where to stay at the end of this post).

Once you pass the campsite, this is where the trail starts dipping down into the valley. So take in the last few views from above because you’re going to start heading down into the hoodoos where you really start to feel small.

You might think that the hoodoos look big from above but once you actually get down into the valley and stand next to one they really show their size. You really feel like a little ant walking in between these massive hoodoos.

Stop for a break at the famous Tower Bridge in Bryce

The “Tower Bridge” is a famous rock formation that looks like the iconic tower bridge in London. We loved this part because there’s a nice spot where you can stop for lunch in between the trees right under the “Tower Bridge”. This lunch spot is probably just under the halfway point of the hike if you start from the parking lot we mentioned.

Regardless of which starting point you use it’s a cool spot to stop and hang out for a bit. You can find a log and enjoy the views of Bryce! Maybe even daydream and see if some of the other rock formations or clouds resemble any other iconic monuments around the world! 😉

Down in the valley of the Fairyland Loop Trail

This may be one of the best parts of the whole hike! The whole hike is amazing but being down right next to the hoodoos and walking on the trail next to them is just something else. We luckily had amazing weather for hiking Bryce in October but the trail was just perfect.

Down in the valley, it’s quite flat and easy to hike. Just take in the views and enjoy the moment. As you can see in the picture below, the trail just runs next to all these hoodoos and even goes between them at some point where you’re just completely surrounded by hoodoos. It’s epic!

Back to the Fairyland Loop Trail parking lot

As you go up, the hoodoos will start to look smaller again and the trailhead where you started will come into view. Once we got to the top we just sat there and enjoyed the view for a while.

There’s something really fun about loop trails and this one was no different. Maybe it was the fact we could see almost the whole trail from the starting point or the fact that Bryce National Park is just amazing. Whatever it was, this hike is one you must do if you’re in Bryce!

Where to stay in Bryce Canyon (hotel)

If you’re planning to stay in a hotel while you’re in Bryce Canyon, we can highly recommend staying at Bryce View Lodge. It is only 10 minutes away from the Fairyland Loop trailhead and it is perfect for a 1-night stay.

There is wifi, access to an indoor pool and jacuzzi, and each room is equipped with a coffee maker (important!).

Check out the price for Bryce View Lodge here.

Camping in Bryce Canyon

There are a few places to stay in Bryce Canyon. If you plan to camp in an RV or in a tent we have a few great and affordable recommendations. We recommend staying for at least a few days since there is so much to see and do in the national park.

North Campground

The North Campground is the one we talked about earlier in the post. It’s located right next to the Fairyland Loop Trail. You can get on this trail and lots of other trails in Bryce in minutes.

The site is great because it has spots for both RVs and tents, so it’s perfect for anyone wanting to camp in Bryce Canyon. There are only 99 spots and they are on a first come first serve basis. So there are no guarantees and it may be good to have a backup plan.

Sunset Point Campground

It’s a bit further away than the North Campground but it’s still super conveniently located to all the trails around Bryce. Here’s some more information on Sunset Point in Bryce.

It’s also on a first come first serve basis. So at least if you come early enough in the day you can drive by both these campsites and see if there’s any room available. Of course during the summer months which are the busiest it might be a little harder but hopefully there’s a spot waiting for you.

Ruby’s Inn

If you’re looking for something a little more long-term or just want to stay at a place with showers, hookups, and all that jazz then Ruby’s Inn is the place to stay (this is actually a part of the Bryce View Lodge we recommended above).

If you want, you can even stay in a tipi!

They also have a free shuttle service so you can leave your trailer or RV and go explore all the iconic spots without having to drive everywhere.

How to get to Bryce Canyon

From Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon

• It’s roughly a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon.
• The directions can be found here.

From Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon

• It’s roughly a 4-hour drive from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon.
• The directions can be found here.

From Cedar City to Bryce Canyon

• It will take you just under 2 hours to get to Bryce from Cedar City.
• The directions can be found here.

What to bring to Bryce Canyon

It’s most likely going to be very hot outside when you go, it’s Utah of course! So bring anything that can protect you from the sun since you are in the desert and the days can get very hot. Even if it’s windy you can still easily get sunburnt.

So bring:

You may also like…

• Ramparts Trail Hike – Cedar Breaks Monument
• Angels Landing vis Scouts Lookout – Zion National Park
• 10 Epic Things to Do in Page, Arizona
• The Famous HorseShoe Bend Hike
• A Day Trip From Flagstaff to The Grand Canyon

Recap of hiking the Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon

We hope you enjoy this hike in Bryce as much as we did! It’s not an easy one but the views are great and we’re sure you’ll have the best time. Plan to camp in the area for a few days if you have the time!

Let us know in the comments if you also think Fairyland Loop Trail is the best hike in Bryce Canyon!

Have fun!

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