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Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon - Things to Do at Navajo Loop Trail

Things to Do at Navajo Loop Trail

Complete Guide to Navajo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon

About Navajo Loop Trail

Navajo Loop Trail yanks you off the rim and dumps you straight into Bryce Canyon's core. One switchback in, the air chills. Wind dies. The scent flips from ponderosa pine to sun-baked sandstone. Most hikers begin at Sunset Point and drop into Wall Street, a 200-foot stone hallway so tight that late afternoon leaves you in cool shadow while the rim above burns orange. The switchbacks are steep and close, glued to the cliff, and the hush is broken only by a raven's rasp overhead. The loop is short, 1.3 miles, yet it crams more spectacle into each footfall than almost any other Southwest path. You'll sidle past Thor's Hammer, thread hoodoos shaped like melted candles, and pass two Douglas firs in the Wall Street corridor that have clawed a hundred feet skyward for light. The trailbed is pale, gritty orange that dusts your boots, and the hoodoos shift color all day from dawn pink to late-day rust. Crowds? Yes. It's the park's most popular trail for a reason. Start early or late and you'll own long stretches, in shoulder seasons when tour buses vanish.

What to See & Do

Wall Street

A tight slot canyon section where the trail slips between sheer sandstone walls. Temperature drops several degrees as you enter. Footsteps echo off rock. Two ancient Douglas firs grow here, improbably tall, reaching for light.

Thor's Hammer

The well-known hoodoo with a boulder balanced on a slender column. You'll spot it from the rim. But the trail brings you close enough to feel its precariousness. Best shot from the lower switchbacks looking up.

Two Bridges

Two natural rock arches span a narrow gap on the loop's eastern side. Easy to miss if you stare at your boots. Look up. The lower bridge is the more dramatic.

The Switchbacks at Wall Street

Tight, stacked turns drop you 550 feet fast. From above they look like a paper fan pressed into the cliff. The rock layers show the pinks and creams that paint Bryce.

Twin Bridges Section

Where Navajo Loop crosses Queen's Garden Trail, hoodoos crowd both sides. Locals have nicknamed their silhouettes, including robed figures in procession.

Practical Information

Opening Hours

Open 24 hours. But Wall Street closes mid-October through late May because of ice and rockfall. When Wall Street is shut, descend via Two Bridges and retrace, or link with Queen's Garden.

Tickets & Pricing

No separate trail fee. But you need a Bryce Canyon National Park entrance pass, mid-range for a national park and good for seven days. The America the Beautiful annual pass works here and pays off if you're touring multiple parks.

Best Time to Visit

Early morning, within an hour of sunrise, gives cool air and golden hoodoos. Late afternoon is fine. But Wall Street sits in shadow. Midday summer is brutal. The orange rock throws heat. Winter adds snow but Wall Street is usually closed.

Suggested Duration

Allow 1 to 2 hours for the loop. Add time for photos or the popular 3-mile figure-eight with Queen's Garden Trail. Descent is quick. The climb back up bites.

Getting There

Navajo Loop starts at Sunset Point. The Bryce Canyon shuttle runs April through October, stopping at every major viewpoint. It's free with park admission and lets you hike point-to-point without retracing steps, handy if you link Navajo Loop with Queen's Garden and exit at Sunrise Point. Driving? Sunset Point lot fills by mid-morning in peak season. Arrive early or ride the shuttle from the visitor center. The trailhead is a short paved walk from the parking area.

Things to Do Nearby

Queen's Garden Trail
Pairs naturally with Navajo Loop for the classic figure-eight hike. Grade is gentler. Pass the Queen Victoria hoodoo, which does look like a seated monarch in profile.
Sunset Point
Your trailhead doubles as one of the park's best overlooks. Linger before or after the hike, the hour before sundown when hoodoos glow like coals.
Sunrise Point
A short rim walk from Sunset Point. Dawn light is softer here. Views into the Silent City amphitheater are arguably better than from Sunset.
Inspiration Point
A 1.5-mile drive or shuttle ride from Sunset, with three tiered viewpoints. The upper viewpoint gives the widest panorama of the main amphitheater and is worth the short uphill walk.
Bryce Point
The southernmost overlook of the main amphitheater, giving the most dramatic top-down view of the hoodoos. Locals swear by this spot for sunrise photography.

Tips & Advice

Go counterclockwise: descend Wall Street and climb the Two Bridges side. Wall Street switchbacks are kinder on knees going down. The eastern climb is more gradual.
Bring more water than you think, even in cooler months. Elevation tops 8,000 feet. Dry air dehydrates you before you notice.
Wall Street closes in winter and after heavy rain due to rockfall. Check at the visitor center before you set out. Rangers update closures daily.
If altitude hits you hard, slow your climb. The trail jumps 550 feet in half a mile on the way back. At this height, that is enough to leave you gasping. Take breaks. Sip water. Save energy.

Tours & Activities at Navajo Loop Trail

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