Ana Maria's Travel Blueprints

Bryce Canyon is one of my favorite national parks, and seeing it in winter sealed the deal. I visited during the third week of February 2024 and surprisingly it was the perfect moment to go. There was snow everywhere, clear blue skies, long enough daylight hours, none of the summer crowds, and pleasant weather (cold, yes, but totally bearable).

That said, winter in Bryce poses some challenges, and there are a few things I really wish I had known beforehand. That is why this guide is both a trail breakdown and a winter survival manual, focused specifically on hiking the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.

If you’re planning to hike Bryce in winter, this should help you choose the right trail and avoid making it harder than it needs to be.

All prices, schedules, and reservation requirements in this itinerary are accurate as of 2025 (please please please double-check official websites before your trip). This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog!

Index

🎯 TL;DR: Which Trail Should I Pick?

If you don’t want to read the entire guide (I get it), here’s the short version:

• If you want views without effort → Sunset to Sunrise / Rim Trail
• If you want one iconic descent without overdoing it → Queen’s Garden or Navajo Loop (with winter restrictions in mind)
• If you want the most iconic Bryce hike in one go → Queen's Garden + Navajo Loop Combination Loop
• If you want to see everything → The Figure-8 Combination (my top recommendation)
• If it’s icy and you’re unsure → Stick to the Rim Trail or double-check at the Visitor Center.

❄️ Must Know Before You Go (Winter Edition)

Winter hiking in Bryce Canyon is completely doable and safe if you’re prepared. It’s miserable if you’re not.

Stop at the Visitor Center

This is not optional in winter. It was the first thing I did, and I strongly recommend it.

Rangers will tell you:

• Which trails are open
• Which sections are icy or closed
• What direction they recommend hiking that day

Read this guide first so you know your options, then use the Visitor Center to make the final call.

Shoe spikes are non-negotiable

Inside the Visitor Center, they strongly encouraged us to get shoe spikes. They were absolutely right.

These are rubber traction devices with metal spikes that fit over your boots and prevent slipping on ice. When I went, parts of the trails were very slippery. With spikes, it was fine. Without them, it would have been miserable.

There’s a place nearby where you can rent them (we paid $10 at the time, no idea what the current price is). You can either bring your own or rent locally, but don’t skip them. You will regret it later.

Trail and road conditions

Some roads and trail sections close depending on snow and ice, so always check the National Park Service website before your visit. Conditions change quickly in the winter, so what was open yesterday may not be today.

Snow tires and chains: learn from my mistake

Inside Bryce Canyon National Park the roads were cleared and fine for regular vehicles. No issues there.

Where things went wrong was the small town where we stayed. Overnight ice turned into a full-blown problem that cost us our sanity for about 12 hours. Long story short: we ended up having to buy snow tires locally for $140.

Lesson learned: If you’re staying in towns around the park, bring snow chains. You can find them online for around $30, and they’ll save you money, stress, and near-death experiences.

🧊 Winter-Specific Trail Conditions in Bryce Canyon

Winter in Bryce Canyon isn’t just “the same trails but colder”. Snow, ice, sun exposure, and trail orientation all matter, and they affect which hikes are enjoyable versus unnecessarily sketchy.

• Snow vs ice. Snow is usually compacted and manageable, especially with spikes. Ice is the real problem. It forms on shaded areas and the more popular sections, and it’s what makes some trails temporarily unsafe.
• North-facing switchbacks are worse. Sections that don’t get direct sunlight stay icy for much longer. Even on sunny days, these parts can remain slick well into the afternoon, which is why traction devices are so strongly recommended.
• Why Navajo Loop is often restricted in winter. The Navajo Loop includes steep, narrow switchbacks that become extremely icy when shaded. For safety reasons, one side of the loop is often closed in winter, turning it into a one-way or partial hike rather than a full loop.

This is also why checking conditions at the Visitor Center matters so much. Two trails with the same rating can feel very different depending on ice exposure that day.

🧤 What to Wear for Winter Hikes in Bryce Canyon

This is not a packing list. It’s the bare minimum to enjoy your hike instead of enduring it.

• Waterproof hiking boots. Snow melts, trails get slushy, and wet feet make everything worse.
• Traction devices (spikes). Easily the most important item in winter. They turn slippery trails into manageable ones and make hiking far more enjoyable.
• Layers. Temperatures change quickly, especially when moving between shaded trails and sunny viewpoints.
• Gloves. Always useful and they keep you warm while keeping your hands out of your pockets.

Personally, I carried thermal clothes (both leggings and t-shirt), a coat, gloves, a hat and a neck warmer. However, during some stages of the hike I removed everything but the thermal clothes. These are two pictures of me throughout the trail (ignore my nonexistent posing skills).

💡 General Hiking Recommendations

Some common-sense advice that becomes very important in winter:

• Follow the recommended trail direction. It exists for a reason, and you’ll see the same formations regardless of directions.
• Carry water and snacks. There’s no water on the trails. Bring more than you think you’ll need, especially for longer hikes.
• Park strategically. If a hike starts at Sunset or Sunrise Point, park at one and walk the rim to the other before starting the descent. After climbing out of the amphitheater, you’ll be very happy your car is right there. (Thank me later)
• Download offline maps. Cell service is unreliable. Know where you are without depending on having signal.
• Check the Bryce Canyon Visitor Guide. It includes shuttle info (April-October), seasonal closures, and pretty much everything else you might need.

⏱️ How Long Do You Actually Need in Bryce Canyon?

You don’t need multiple days to hike the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, but you do need to be realistic about how much you want to do.

• Half day. Rim Trail viewpoints plus one descent into the amphitheater (Queen’s Garden or Navajo). Enough to see the highlights without rushing.
• Full day. One of the longer combination hikes, like the Figure-8 or Navajo/Peekaboo combo. This gives you a complete experience and time to enjoy it properly.

Anything beyond that depends on whether you want to explore other areas of the park, but for the amphitheater itself, one well-planned day is more than enough.

🥾 Bryce Canyon Amphitheater: Ultimate Trail Guide

This guide focuses on the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater, where most of the park’s iconic trails are located.

Before choosing a hike, ask yourself two things:

1. How much time do you have?
2. How much distance and elevation are you willing to deal with?

Using information from the National Park Service website, I’ve summarized each trail with distance, time, elevation gain, rating, and starting point. In my maps:

• Blue lines show open trails and recommended direction
• Red lines indicate sections closed in winter

I have also included some pictures for the trails I visited, which (spoiler) are all part of the Figure-8 Combination Trail. And trust me, it’s much more impressive in person.

Easy Trails

Sunset to Sunrise Point

Paved, flat, and wheelchair accessible. This is technically a walk, not a hike, but the views over the amphitheater are excellent.

Rating: Easy
Distance: 1.0 mi (1.6 km)
Time: 20 mins
Ascent: 40 ft (12 m)
Start: Sunset or Sunrise Point

Rim Trail

Runs one-way from Bryce Point to Fairyland Point. You can hike as much or as little as you want and pair it with the shuttle when available.

Rating: Easy
Distance: 1.0-11.0 mi (1.6-17.7 km)
Time: 1-7.5 hours
Ascent: 719 ft (219 m)
Start: Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset, Sunrise, or Fairyland Point

Moderate Trails

Queen’s Garden

The least difficult trail descending into the amphitheater. Down-and-back.

Rating: Moderate
Distance: 1.8 mi (2.9 km)
Time: 1-2 hours
Ascent: 450 ft (137 m)
Start: Sunrise Point

Navajo Loop

An iconic trail. Only a full loop in summer. In winter, one side is closed due to ice.

Rating: Moderate
Distance: 1.3 mi (2.1 km)
Time: 1-2 hours
Ascent: 515 ft (157 m)
Start: Sunset Point

Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop

Most recommended short hike.

Rating: Moderate
Distance: 2.9 mi (4.6 km)
Time: 2-3 hours
Ascent: 625 ft (191 m)
Start: Sunset or Sunrise Point

Tower Bridge

Southern portion of the Fairyland Loop. Down-and-back.

Rating: Moderate
Distance: 3.0 mi (4.8 km)
Time: 2-3 hours
Ascent: 760 ft (232 m)
Start: North of Sunrise Point

Strenuous Trails

Fairyland Loop

Long hike with sweeping views of the amphitheater.

Rating: Strenuous
Distance: 8.0 mi (12.9 km)
Time: 4-5 hours
Ascent: 1,900 ft (579 m)
Start: Fairyland Point or north of Sunrise Point at Tower Bridge trailhead

Peekaboo Loop

Roller-coaster-like journey but incredible formations along the way.

Rating: Strenuous
Distance: 5.5 mi (8.9 km)
Time: 3-4 hours
Ascent: 1,560 ft (474 m)
Start: Bryce Point

Navajo / Peekaboo Combination Loop

A demanding but rewarding combination of two iconic trails.

Rating: Strenuous
Distance: 4.9 mi (7.9 km)
Time: 3-4 hours
Ascent: 1,475 ft (450 m)
Start: Sunset Point

The Figure-8 Combination

The ultimate hike to see it all! The one I did and would 100% recommend.

Rating: Strenuous
Distance: 6.4 mi (10.3 km)
Time: 4-5 hours
Ascent: 1,575 ft (480 m)
Start: Sunrise or Sunset Point

Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

One-way hike through the entire amphitheater.

Rating: Strenuous
Distance: 4.7 mi (7.6 km)
Time: 3-4 hours
Ascent: 1,145 ft (349 m)
Start: Bryce Point

✨ My Personal Recommendation: The Figure-8 Combination

If you have a full day in Bryce Canyon and want to see as much as possible without repeating the same trail twice, the Figure-8 Combination is the one. All of the pictures in this guide were taken in this trail, so you really get to see it all.

It takes around 4-5 hours of hiking, plus time for photos and breaks. Elevation gain is moderate but constant, alternating between climbs and descents, which makes it surprisingly manageable and more interesting than one long uphill/downhill.

Some people feel worn out by the repeated elevation changes, especially knowing that every descent means another climb later. Personally, I preferred it. It keeps things dynamic, it’s less tiring (at least it was for me), and it's never boring.

There’s a “lunch spot” at the intersection between both loops, which makes it a perfect place to stop and refuel.

How I recommend doing it

• Park at Sunset Point
• Walk the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point
• Descend via Queen’s Garden
• Continue onto Peekaboo Loop
• Finish with the right side of Navajo Trail

The final ascent is tough, so ending right where your car is parked makes it much more satisfying.

If you still have energy afterward, drive to Bryce Point for sunset. It’s a short detour, and you just need to hop off the car to see views that are absolutely worth it.