Fairyland Loop in Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Hike Fairyland Loop Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Class 1 7.7 miles 1600 gain 3-5 hrs Loop May 16, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Fairyland Loop GPX Track

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The Fairyland Loop is a gorgeous, well-maintained trail in Bryce Canyon National Park. While it misses some of the grandest hoodoo scenery Bryce has to offer, it makes up for this with its colors and other unique formations. Plus, while certainly popular, it's far less traveled than some of the other shorter loops in the park. We started from the Fairyland Loop Trail and headed east along the trail. It slowly descends into the white and orange landscape of typical crazy Bryce colors mixed in with coniferous trees. Along the way the hike weaves through the eroded landscape, ascending and descending lightly on various hills and through ravines. It takes a nice stroll along various bright ridges and offers some incredible views. Although the drama of some other loops is missing, we found the landscape in this area to be more easy to comprehend. It's less dizzying and you can sort of focus more on the specific features rather than just be overwhelmed by the countless hoodoos.

Eventually the trail drops down to a viewpoint of Tower Bridge before starting the ascent back up to the rim after reaching a sign labeled "Sunrise Point". The trail is more direct from here, less weaving in and out of the various features. Once on the rim, we took the Rim Trail back to the east to reach the trailhead. Along the rim there are of course more excellent views.

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Starting along the Fairyland Loop Trail.
Starting along the Fairyland Loop Trail.
Entering Bryce Canyon Wilderness.
Entering Bryce Canyon Wilderness.
The trail descends from the hills upper landscape into the hoodoo-filled canyon below.
The trail descends from the hills upper landscape into the hoodoo-filled canyon below.
Excellent scenery below the rim.
Excellent scenery below the rim.
View back as we continue along the Fairyland Loop Trail.
View back as we continue along the Fairyland Loop Trail.
Image 5 from gallery
One of many small bits of uphill along the trail as it weaves around the landscape.
One of many small bits of uphill along the trail as it weaves around the landscape.
View back at the winding trail we just hiked along.
View back at the winding trail we just hiked along.
Image 8 from gallery
View back toward the first quarter of the hike, just before reaching the ridgeline stroll.
View back toward the first quarter of the hike, just before reaching the ridgeline stroll.
Close-up along the gorgeous ridge walk.
Close-up along the gorgeous ridge walk.
A gorgeous ridge walk. The trail continues to the left, down into the lower landscape again.
A gorgeous ridge walk. The trail continues to the left, down into the lower landscape again.
View north, down into the landscape we just hiked through.
View north, down into the landscape we just hiked through.
Descending into the landscape below the rim again.
Descending into the landscape below the rim again.
The Fairyland Trail weaves in and out for a while beneath the hoodoos.
The Fairyland Trail weaves in and out for a while beneath the hoodoos.
Tower Bridge comes into view (center).
Tower Bridge comes into view (center).
A junction past Tower Bridge where we took the trail up toward Sunrise Point.
A junction past Tower Bridge where we took the trail up toward Sunrise Point.
View back as we make our way up to Sunrise Point.
View back as we make our way up to Sunrise Point.
More great scenery on the way up.
More great scenery on the way up.
An interesting row of hoodoos.
An interesting row of hoodoos.
View back at the landscape we came out of.
View back at the landscape we came out of.
The rim of Bryce Canyon seen ahead.
The rim of Bryce Canyon seen ahead.
Just below the rim, a view down into the Fairyland Loop landscape.
Just below the rim, a view down into the Fairyland Loop landscape.
Along the Rim Trail.
Along the Rim Trail.
A short ascent along the Rim Trail.
A short ascent along the Rim Trail.
View south into the Fairyland Loop area.
View south into the Fairyland Loop area.
Continuing along the rim, making our way back to the trailhead.
Continuing along the rim, making our way back to the trailhead.
A shot west along the rim.
A shot west along the rim.
A shot down into the gorgeous hoodoos seen from along the rim.
A shot down into the gorgeous hoodoos seen from along the rim.
Almost back to the trailhead after hiking along the rim for a few miles, completing the loop.
Almost back to the trailhead after hiking along the rim for a few miles, completing the loop.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!