Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is the smallest of the Big 5 parks, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Made of orange rocks and hoodoos, it is spectacular and unique, with hikes for all abilities.  I took my kids (ages 1, 7, 8, 12, and 16) there and we all loved the views and the trek.  Queen’s Garden to Navajo Loop is a good choice for a Bryce Canyon family hike.

Family hike—Queen’s Garden

We headed to Queen’s Garden trail after hitting the park in the early morning, before the gates officially open. The parking lot at Sunrise Point had plenty of spots and it was a short walk the trail head. I did the hike carrying a baby in a backpack, and everyone else was carrying lots of water.

This portion of the hike was downhill, into the canyon, past hoodoos and a few trees.  The slope isn’t too steep thanks to switchbacks.  Queen’s Garden has some pretty hoodoo shapes, and there is one that’s supposed to look like a statue of Queen Victoria. (I could not see it. You should look at pics before going to help you find her silhouette.) The end of the trail leads to other trails—you can go deeper into the canyon on Peek-a-Boo, head toward Navajo Loop,  or come back out the way you came.

Navajo Loop—Wall Street

I thought my 7 year-old was going to poop out halfway through the hike. Then we overheard people talking about earning a prize for taking selfies with benchmark medallions throughout the park. He was suddenly very interested in continuing, so when we finished Queen’s Garden we decided to come up the Navajo Trail.

In warmer months you can take two different paths up Navajo. It is a loop trail on its own, but if you are coming from Queen’s Garden you will have to choose one side for the ascent up the amphitheater. There is a right-sided trail with notable formations, including Thor’s Hammer.  The trail on your left goes up a slot-style narrow spot called Wall Street. We chose to go up the Wall Street side and it was worth the steep climb.

The narrow portion is spectacular, with fir trees  growing from the ground, stretching up toward the canyon opening.

The ascent is filled with many switchbacks. And tourists stopping in front of you to take a thousand pictures. These pauses won’t make you mad if you are trying to catch your breath anyway, since it can be intense, especially if it’s hot.

Despite all the crowds, I only saw one other baby in a front pack. And not too many little kids. Preschool kids might get tired on this hike, and you do not want to carry a kid without a pack due to the incline. There are also some steep areas that could be a hazard for kids who can’t stay focused on the trail.

Once you’ve made it up Wall Street you can take the Rim Trail from Sunset Point back to Sunrise Point. The total length is just under 3 miles and will take you a couple of hours.

My son ended up earning his “prize” for hiking the hoodoos, but the real rewards were the views and the memories!  This is a beautiful hike that we all would love to do again.  The best time to visit is May through October.

Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Tips:

• Go early in the day to avoid the heaviest crowds and the hottest time of day
• Look at a map or guide of the must-see points before hitting the trail
• Use the restroom before you hike. If crowds are out there’s little privacy for trail peeing due to sparse vegetation and tight paths.
• Although this hike isn’t terribly long, give yourself ample time for stopping to admire the beauty and to take pictures
• If you want a shorter hike, you can do Queen’s Garden as an out-and-back, or do both sides of Navajo Loop on its own
• The Navajo portion is steeper. Some people say to start with this and end with Queen’s Garden for less intense switch backs at the end. We chose to end with Navajo for the cool shade on ascent.  Apparently the Navajo switchbacks are more dangerous to hike down.

Bryce Canyon can be combined with other Utah nature trips. We also did Grand Staircase-Escalante and stayed near Kodachrome Basin State Park as part of a big RV road trip. I recommend checking out Willis Creek slot canyon, especially if you are hiking with little ones.

Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop are great choices for a Bryce Canyon family hike that’s fun for everyone. If you take toddlers or preschool kids make sure to have a plan for corralling them on steep areas, and be prepared to carry them!