It’s remarkable that one of the most beautiful hiking trails in one of the most famous national parks in Utah has barely anyone on it. Whilst most visitors head for the trails just beneath Sunrise and Sunset point, hardly anyone makes for the Fairlyland Loop, making this a beautiful hike without the selfie stick crowds.
This hike took us a lot longer than we were expecting due to the sheer amount of time we spent taking photos and videos, it truly has the wow factor in spades.
Here’s why the Fairyland Loop is one of the best hikes in Bryce Canyon and what you can expect from the trail.
Hiking the Fairyland Loop
Fairyland Loop Stats
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8 miles (13.4 km)
Elevation: 1580 ft (482m)
Time taken: 3 hours 15
In our opinion Bryce Canyon is best seen from below the rim and the Fairyland Loop offers spectacular views of the hoodoos as they loom overhead.
It’s a surreal landscape and we thought it must be what inspired the Big Thunder Mountain ride at Disneyland! It’s so unusual and almost looks like it has been sculpted, but it’s actually the result of thousands of years of erosion.
Allow plenty of time to take in this unique area, it really has to be seen to be believed.
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Starting the trail
The trail kicks off from Fairyland Point - a lookout that is just outside the national park entrance gates. We hiked clockwise so the trail begins by heading downhill into the canyon. If you’ve only been to the canyon rim so far it won’t be long before the views from below are absolutely blowing you away - it really does look different and even more impressive from this perspective.
Before long you feel like you’re a million miles away from civilisation, into this unique desert-like landscape.
You’ll notice signs for slippery gravel which made me a bit worried that it would have sections of slippy scree - my least favourite terrain! Luckily we didn’t find this to be the case at all and even on the steepish downhill section into the canyon on a narrow path I found the footing to be really good (with hiking boots on, I definitely wouldn’t recommend flip flops!).
The undulating trail winds round several corners and with each view we thought it couldn’t be beaten, yet continuously it was! After some fairly easy ups and downs you come to a steepish uphill climb. At the top you’ll see a whole new section of canyon that you’ll drop down into, giving the feeling of going even deeper into the wilderness.
There are plenty of flat sections on the hike which allow you to catch your breath back and the amount of photos you will probably take gives you lots of nice breaks too! It’s worth bearing in mind though that for the most part the trail is very exposed, when we hiked in fall this was no problem but in the height of summer the hike would feel much more difficult if done in the middle of the day.
It’s hard to really convey just how incredible the landscape is every step of the way, this trail genuinely has no boring sections! The hoodoos are everywhere and it feels like you’re walking through a fairytale.
As you meander around the canyon there are lots of offshoots which look like small side trails but the paths are very precarious and look unsafe so stick to the main route.
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Reaching Tower Bridge
At approximately half way you have the option of a very short detour to see Tower Bridge, a rock formation that’s been heavily eroded and looks similar to the famous London icon. It’s only 0.2 miles off the main track and worth a look.
The trail then begins to head uphill and gently weaves through lots more crazy hoodoos. We knew we were on the final climb back up to the rim and really didn’t want it to end! The climb is not extremely steep but it is fairly relentless for a while until you hit the sign for Sunrise Point.
If you haven’t visited this lookout yet then it is well worth the short detour to check out, but if you have you can continue making your way along the main pathway heading towards Fairyland Point. The trail is mainly flat but there is the odd short climb.
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On top of the rim
Soon you’ll reach the rim and be on top of the canyon once more. You’d be forgiven for thinking this was the end of the uphill, but you still have a little more to go!
The trail heads up a couple more inclines along the rim but you will have plenty of views above the hoodoos and yet another perspective of the canyon to make it all worth it. The rim trail whilst not as glorious as the rest of the track, is still a nice edition and also fairly easy. You’ll spend a couple of miles walking along the canyon edge which was just coming towards golden hour when we hiked, a perfect time to see the orange and pink hues of the rock enhanced.
It’s not long before you then head downhill and reach the car park.
It’s easily one of our favourite hikes in Utah and after completing it we agreed it was worth the 15 hour car journey it had taken to get there!
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Essential information about the Fairyland Loop
Fairyland Loop vs Peekaboo
This is a tough one.
When we did the Fairyland Loop, I truly believed it couldn’t be beaten! But the Peekaboo Loop - combined with the Navajo (which is the only way you can access it) - is a truly breathtaking hike and one of the best we did in the whole of Utah. Both are great hikes, but Peek-a-boo probably just edges it.
If you don’t have much time, the Peekaboo is shorter and will still give you the same whimsical landscape with epic rock formations. You’ll also get to walk down Wall Street and through a small slot canyon which is very cool.
The Fairyland is a quieter trail (the Peekaboo itself is quiet too but the Navajo is heaving) and it didn’t appear that horses were allowed on it which meant there weren’t huge piles of manure along the trail like there was on Peekaboo.
Of course we’d say do both if you can, they really are worth your time.
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Fairyland Loop Parking
Whilst a lot of people head to Sunrise Point to start the trail, The Fairyland Loop has its own designated parking lot. It is pretty small, so you will need luck to get a spot. Otherwise head to Sunrise Point which has a lot more spaces.
Fairyland Loop Difficulty
Overall we’d class this trail as moderate, it does have some climbs but nothing that is too steep. We were hiking in fall though and that is much easier than hiking on a very hot day as the track is so exposed. If you’re not used to hiking you will probably find it fairly strenuous but there are no sections which have any technical difficulties or difficult terrain.
Fairyland Loop Trail Time
The Fairyland Loop took over 3 hours for us to complete, this included the small side trip to Tower Bridge and time for taking photos. Whilst you could go quicker than this, we recommend allowing up to 3-4 hours to enjoy this at a leisurely pace.
Best time to hike the Fairyland Loop
We think fall is an amazing time to do this hike, you don’t need to worry about too much heat or too much snow. If you’re hiking in summer we’d recommend making an early start to avoid the worst of the sun, once you’re down in the canyon there really is no quick way out.
Apparently the Fairyland trail is often open even when there is snow if you have snowshoes. Although the visitor centre kept telling us it would re-open when we visited Bryce in winter but it never did. We did have a particularly large amount of snow though so it’s worth checking if it is open if you’re in the area during a snowy period.
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Packing suggestions for Bryce Canyon
Having the right gear can make a huge difference, whether it’s hiking during the hot summers, or the potential snow in the winter. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon, REI or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check then out on REI or Amazon
For winter
Where to stay Bryce Canyon
Ruby’s Inn (Best Western Plus)
There’s no place closer to Bryce Canyon than Ruby’s. This hotel is an institution and is huge! It is a Best Western Plus, which means you know the quality and comfort will be good.
We stayed here in the winter when the temperatures were -12C, snow was everywhere and the room prices were incredibly low ($35 per night including breakfast!). In peak season it becomes very expensive. If you’re on a budget we’d recommend the option below.
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Dragonfly Motor Lodge - Panguitch
If you don’t mind a drive (30 minutes) and are looking for a comfortable, clean budget option, then head to the Dragonfly Motor Lodge. This place has recently been taken over and the renovation has began. The rooms are cosy and definitely need that update but if you don’t mind rustic then the price was great. Over time the standard will also get a lot better as they complete the renovations.
Panguitch is 30 minutes away from Bryce, which isn’t too far away. However, there aren’t many dining options!
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What is your favourite hike in Utah? Have you hiked any of the other trails at Bryce Canyon yet? Let us know in the comments below!
