The Queen’s Garden Trail in Bryce Canyon, Utah, is a scenic hike. This hike includes fascinating rock formations and forms part of one of the most spectacular national parks in the United States. This trail is perfect for all experience levels and connects to other famous hikes like the Navajo Loop or Rim Trail. The Queens Garden Trail is an easy trail attracting nature lovers, explorers, and outdoor adventurers.
The Queens Garden Trail in Bryce Canyon is an easy hiking trail that is only 1.8 miles long and takes 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. This trail is suitable for hikers of all experience levels. The only challenge on this trail is the return hike which involves climbing out of the canyons.
- Distance: 1.8 miles out and back
- Est hiking time: 1.5-2 hours
- Elevation: 320 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
Is Queens Garden Trail In Bryce Canyon Difficult?
The explorative journey of Bryce Canyon starts at the Queen’s Garden Trail at Sunrise Point. This is a very famous spot attracting many visitors. The start of Queen’s Garden Trail can be found southeast of the parking area at Sunrise Point. This is one of the more effortless trails in Bryce Canyon, with only a few challenging spots.
This hike welcomes avid hikers and newbies and is a scenic hike of only 1.8 miles. With a combination of winding trails and arches in the rocks, this is one of the most beautiful spots for taking photographs.
The start of the hike poses a slightly steep area with a gravel surface. However, once at the canyon floor, it’s mostly flat until the walk back, where hikers should approach with caution when climbing out of the canyons.
The Queen’s Garden Trail is the most accessible if entering the canyon from the rim. This is not a loop trail, but if joined with other routes can be completed in a loop.
How Long Is The Queen’s Garden Trail?
Bryce Canyon national park lists the trail as 1.8 miles one way. Considering the walk from the parking area, it works out to just over 2 miles for a round trip. This short hike drops approximately 320 feet below the canyon rim. The Queen’s Garden Trail hike can be extended by joining the Navajo trail creating a loop of about 2.9 miles which makes the walk around 2-3 hours long.
What Is The Most Challenging Part Of The Queen’s Garden Trail?
The most challenging part of the Queen’s Garden Trail is the descent. Navigating through the canyons will pose an elevation change. Besides this, some steep parts at the beginning of the hike may be challenging for some hikers.
Going down the Queen’s Garden Trail is much safer than the steep Navajo Trail if you want to combine the Navajo Trail with the Queen’s Garden Trail.
If you’re more adventurous, you could do it the other way around, but the views will also be more restricted due to the narrow rock walls on the Navajo Trail.
Can Inexperienced Hikers Do The Queen’s Garden Trail?
Experienced and inexperienced hikers can make the Queen’s Garden Trail. The trail has slippery gravel at the beginning of the trail. This may be riskier for children and should be approached cautiously. The rest of the hiking trail is mostly flat, making it easy for inexperienced hikers to enjoy this short hike and breathtaking scenery.
Is Hiking The Queen’s Garden Trail More Difficult In Winter?
While the Queen’s Garden Trail is incredible, when hiking in the summertime, you may be hesitant to hike this trail in the winter. In winter Bryce Canyon sees snow-capped hoodoos and fewer visitors. So if you’re looking for a tranquil hike, you may prefer a winter hike in Bryce Canyon over the summertime hike.
Hiking in the wintertime can be more dangerous. But as long as you take the proper precautions, the Queen’s Garden Trail is a beautiful hike in the wintertime. However, some trails may be closed in extreme weather conditions, and it may be better to hike when the sun is out in the winter, and the weather is clear.
The trails in winter can be pretty slippery. Trekking poles can help when hiking in the winter, and shoes with sufficient traction can make your hike much safer. Even when walking in winter, it’s essential to get enough water and dress warmly.
Winter can reach extreme temperatures at 8,000 feet of altitude. As a result, many hikers avoid going during October because of the harsh weather conditions.
Trails That Join The Queen’s Garden Trail
There is always the option of joining other trails when hiking the Queen’s Garden Trail. Joining different routes offers an array of unique archways, rock walls, and views of the hoodoos.
- Queen’s Garden Trail, Navajo Loop, and Wall Street. From Queen’s Garden, you can do the Navajo Loop and Wall Street. Wall Street is an easy to intermediate hike, about 3.1 miles, and has some amazingly tall hoodoos.
- Queen’s Garden Trail and Navajo Loop. The Navajo Loop has narrow walls and colorful limestone with beautiful Douglas-fir trees and the famous hoodoo, Thor’s hammer.
- Queen’s Garden to Bryce Point. Bryce Point is one of the trails that boasts spectacular views and is famous for its unbelievably beautiful sunrises.
- Queen’s Garden to Inspiration Point. At Inspiration Point, you will find the most extensive collection of hoodoos. Inspiration Point also boasts views from three levels, allowing visitors to experience this unique attraction’s wonders from different angles.
Tips For Successfully Hiking The Queen’s Garden Trail
Hikes can be unpredictable. A successful hike requires planning and excellent preparation. When planning for your trip to Bryce Canyon and the Queen’s Garden Trail, there are a few valuable points to consider, including:
- Start your hike early to avoid getting there when everyone else does.
- Stay hydrated and pack in a few healthy snacks.
- Don’t rush; take your time to acclimatize by hiking slowly and taking breaks when needed.
- Keep on the trails and follow the signboards to guide you on the paths.
- Bring your camera, there will be lots of photo opportunities.
- Dress accordingly by including enough sun protection gear.
- Bring along a first aid kit; this can come in handy if someone gets hurt along the way.
Conclusion
The Queen’s Garden Trail is worth exploring like the other exceptional hiking trails in Bryce Canyon. This trail remains one of the most beautiful trails in Utah, with unique rock formations and awe-inspiring views. An accessible route for beginners and experienced hikers, this trail can also be completed in a loop by joining trails like the Navajo trail or completed independently.
