We recently received this question from a reader: “My husband and I are visiting Bryce Canyon National Park next month (October), but we will only have a half day to spend in the park. What would you do if you had to choose one half-day activity?
Great question. We’ve been in that situation a few times ourselves, and our first choice is always to hike the Fairyland Loop Trail.
Not that we don’t enjoy the other hikes in the park, but Fairyland is the perfect half-day activity for several reasons: it’s a somewhat strenuous hike, so you’ll get some exercise, it has incredible views of the hoodoos from both above and below, and it’s less crowded than many of the other trails in the park.
Basic information about the trail
The entire loop is about 8 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 1,555 feet. Depending on how long you stop along the trail, it should take you 4 to 5 hours to complete.
Truth be told, the trail by itself is not an entire loop. To make it a complete circuit, you’ll have to hike a portion of the Rim Trail from Fairyland Point to the turnoff to the south. These points along the trail are easy to find and well-marked.
Where to park and pick up the trail
There are a couple of options as to where to start the hike. One is to park at the small Fairyland Point parking lot, which you can reach by turning east on Fairyland Spur Road and driving one mile to the parking area. When driving toward the visitor center from outside the park, this spur road will be on your left before you reach the fee station. Parking is limited at Fairyland Point, so we suggest arriving early in the day to beat the crowd. (BTW – this road is often closed in the winter.)
Your other option is to drive to the parking area at Sunrise Point, walk to the rim trail, and start down into the canyon on the Fairyland Loop Trail. See map below.
Which direction to hike?
Given that the trail is a loop, regardless of where you start or which direction you hike, you’ll eventually make it back to where you began. We prefer to start at the Fairyland Point parking area and hike counterclockwise. This way, we first hike the less exciting part of the loop, a grassy stretch of the Rim Trail.
We’ve read other’s blog posts saying that if you hike the trail clockwise, the hike out of the canyon is less strenuous. Ultimately, we think it is a personal preference which direction to hike. You’ll experience the same elevation gain and loss either way.
What you’ll see on the trail
Besides stunning views of the canyon and hoodoos around every corner, some features to point out along the way include the Tower Bridge, a natural rock arch, and the China Wall, a narrow ridge of jagged rock that resembles its namesake.
The middle section of the trail in the canyon is relatively flat, making it an excellent spot to take a break and enjoy the quiet beauty of this magnificent landscape.
Several ups and downs along the trail might trick you into thinking that you’re about finished with the uphill sections of the trail. From either direction, the last rise out of the canyon can feel like a slog, but a little heavy breathing is a small price to pay to experience this incredible hike.
Know before you go
This hike is challenging, but we don’t consider it to be overly strenuous. However, in the heat of summer, especially mid-day, it can be brutally hot with little shade. Take plenty of water and protect yourself from the sun. At an elevation of over 7,000 feet, bringing layers in case the weather changes during your hike is also a good idea.
To see our most recent Instagram reel about Bryce Canyon National Park, click here.
To download the NPS map of Bryce Canyon National Park, click here.
