Family Friendly Hikes at Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is a treasure trove of jaw-dropping landscapes, towering hoodoos, and captivating views, making it the perfect destination for families looking to create unforgettable memories. Whether you have toddlers on their first adventure or energetic teens eager to explore, there are plenty of trail options that everyone in the family will enjoy. Here's your guide to family-friendly hikes at Bryce Canyon National Park, complete with tips for hiking with kids and highlights of each trail.

1. Bryce Canyon National Park: Rim Trail 5.5 miles

Rim Trail is the path that follows the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater starting at Bryce Point and ending at Fairyland Point. Children of all ages will enjoy the 5.5-mile long Rim Trail. This hike offers stunning views of the canyon and the famous hoodoo formations. The trail is mostly flat and paved, making it accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. You can also choose to hike only a portion of the trail before turning back.

2. Bryce Canyon National Park: Mossy Cave to Waterfall 1.0 mile

Mossy Cave trail is one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park as well as one of the only hikes that begins with a climb and ends with a descent. Most of the hikes in this park begin with a descent and end with a climb. The trail is 0.4 miles in length one-way, and forks to provide access to Water Canyon in one direction. The view at the end is a sheltered overhang known as Mossy Cave. I do have to say that it was a bit uneventful considering our kids thought that we were actually going to see a cave rather than an overhang. BUT it was a beautiful area, the kids loved playing in the water AND if you venture off the trail a bit there is a waterfall. If you get into town in the morning or early afternoon and want to look around this would be a great short hike as it is on the park boundary and not as close to the other hikes.

3. Bryce Canyon National Park: Queens Garden to Navajo Loop 3.3 miles

We woke up before sunrise and parked at sunrise point, hiked down Queen's Garden which descends about 320 feet. There are multiple options to hike this area but we chose this route as it is considered the least difficult trail entering the canyon from the rim. As you go down into the Queen's Garden there are many hoodoos, which if you use your imagination, you are able to see Queen Victoria at the end of the trail, looking over the garden before her. We then hopped onto the Navajo loop. This iconic Navajo Loop Trail has two sides: the Two Bridges side and the Wall Street side. We went on the Two Bridges side which could be hiked as an out and back if you didn't want to combine them. We went up the Navajo loop doing the switchbacks between narrow walls of colorful limestone up to sunset point. You will look down at tower fir trees and the hoodoos. The entire loop took us about 1 hour and 20 miles for the 3.3 mile hike. 

If you are unable to go down into the canyon you can park at either sunrise or sunset point and there is a paved trail/walkway with benches. From this walkway on the rim you can observe the stunning hoodoos in the canyon of Bryce Canyon National Park.

4. Bryce Canyon National Park: Bristle Comb Loop Trail 1.1 miles

This trail is accessed from Rainbow Point which is at the southern end of the national park. This trail is beautiful and mostly a gravel path along bristlecone pines that are up to 1,800-years-old. The kids loved this hike as we saw quite a bit of wildlife such as, woodpeckers, owls, squirrels and chipmunks. There is a decent sized parking area at Rainbow Point and you can look out at some stunning views at this spot even if you don't do the trail. 

Bryce Canyon National Park is truly a wonderland for families. Its short, accessible trails and one-of-a-kind scenery make it an inviting place for kids to discover the joys of hiking. The park’s hoodoos and unique rock formations are unlike anything else, making every trail feel like an otherworldly adventure. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, wandering through iconic rock formations, or simply enjoying a view from the rim, Bryce Canyon has something to delight everyone in your family.