- Distance: 14km
- Duration (with breaks): 4h 00min
- Duration (only hiking): 3h 00min
- Route type: loop
- Start/end: Sunset Point or Fairyland Point
- Elevation gain/loss: 460m/460m
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- When to hike: all year round, depending on weather
- When did we hike: early September
Why this route?
Fairyland loop trail is an iconic trail for those who want to explore Bryce Canyon national park for a few hours. We chose it mainly because it’s a decent half-day hike with beautiful views all the time. And indeed, we enjoyed this hike a lot. I’d say if you only have one day at Bryce Canyon, this is the hike to explore for a half day.
How to get there?
Although it is a loop, there are only a few points where you can start the trail since the roads are only on one side of the canyon. You can either drive to Sunrise Point or Fairyland Point and start the hike from there. There are a few large parking lots and if you start early, you’ll have no problems finding a parking spot.
The official trail board is close to Sunrise Point (maybe I missed one at Fairyland Point 😅), where we started as well. If you’re staying in the North Campground, you can just walk to the trail as it passes very close to the Campground.
So how was it?
From the beginning this trail was breathtaking. I stopped multiple times to take pictures and videos or just stood there speechless. Every turn was opening a new panorama and more and more grandness. So I’m not going to elaborate further on how it was view-wise. It was awesome. Period. Do it if you have a chance.
Alright, now that we have the impressions view-wise out of the way, let me share my thoughts about the trail from other points. When we visited, there was a heatwave and we were advised to start early and be done with the trail at around 11:00. After then, the trail is way less enjoyable as there is zero shade and more than 35 degrees Celsius. No thanks. So we started at 7:30, shortly after sunrise. That way we not only had a fresh start but also met only a few other hikers. ‘
Taking about other hikers, I got the impression that this trail is relatively quiet, especially compared to the shorter loops, like the Navajo loop. Maybe an early start helped, and maybe fewer people commit to a 14km hike. Anyway, we had all the space and peace to enjoy the landscape.
From a difficulty perspective, the trail is well maintained, there are no technical parts. It is constant ups and downs though, which can be tiring, especially in the heat. I won’t lie, towards the end, I was kind of done with the trail. My tolerance towards the heat is not the greatest and so it was refreshing to take a break at Fairyland Point in the shade.
Overall, what a great hike. I loved it. And it was hard to select which photos to upload, too many awesome views 😄
Tips
- Take plenty of water, as there are no water stations anywhere along the trail. Don't rely on the streams either.
- It is a very exposed trail, so make sure you have clothes appropriate for the weather. While we had to endure heat, I heard that Bryce Canyon can also have crazy winds (and ice in winter).