Navajo Loop Trail cutting across steep orange sandstone walls between hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.

    Navajo Loop Trail contouring along steep sandstone walls between tall hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.

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    Navajo Loop Trail

    Landmark

    Navajo Loop Trail is a descending trail system within Bryce Canyon’s amphitheatre, moving from the rim into dense hoodoo formations through a series of carved switchbacks. The route passes between vertical rock walls and narrow passages before opening into the basin. The composition resolves through transitions between enclosed canyon sections and wider amphitheatre views.

    37.62083, -112.16366

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    Gallery

    Navajo Loop Trail cutting across steep orange sandstone walls between hoodoos in Bryce Canyon.

    Navajo Loop Trail contouring along steep sandstone walls between tall hoodoos in…

    Navajo Loop Trail switchbacks in Bryce Canyon winding between orange hoodoos and green pine trees with hikers.

    Switchbacks of the Navajo Loop Trail weaving between dense hoodoos and pine fore…

    Hikers descending Navajo Loop Trail between tall orange hoodoos with tight switchbacks in Bryce Canyon.

    Navajo Loop Trail descending through a narrow hoodoo corridor, with switchbacks …

    Hikers on Navajo Loop Trail below Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon with steep orange hoodoos and winding path.

    Navajo Loop Trail descending below Sunset Point, with hikers moving through stee…

    Hikers on Navajo Loop Trail walking between tall orange hoodoos under clear blue sky in Bryce Canyon.

    Hikers ascend through narrow hoodoo walls on the Navajo Loop Trail, with towerin…

    Quick Facts

    Access

    Moderate Hike

    45–90 min

    Elevation Gain

    160 m

    Best Light

    Sunrise
    Golden Hour

    Low-angle light enters the canyon at an angle, illuminating upper hoodoo walls first while lower sections remain in shadow, creating depth through vertical contrast.

    Why This Light

    Low-Angle Relief

    Season

    Access Limited (Winter)

    Summer provides clear trail access with dry surfaces and stable footing through switchbacks and canyon sections. Winter introduces snow and ice that restrict movement and can close sections of the loop.

    Crowds

    Busy Midday

    Restrictions

    Fee Common
    Seasonal Access Risk

    Trail sections may close in winter due to ice on steep switchbacks; access requires entry to Bryce Canyon National Park.

    Photography Notes

    The trail reads through alternating enclosed and open sections, with narrow switchbacks compressing vertical walls before opening into wider basin views. Lower positions emphasise height and density of hoodoos, while higher return points restore separation and reveal overall amphitheatre structure. Position along bends in the trail controls alignment of walls and depth through the frame.
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