Fairyland Loop Trail Route Guide
Table of contents
Route Description for Fairyland Loop Trail
From the parking lot at Sunrise Point, head out towards the rim of the canyon. To your right will be Sunrise Point, however our trail goes left. You can complete the loop either clockwise or counter-clockwise, we will describe clockwise.
The first leg of the loop is therefore traversing along the Rim Trail towards Fairyland Point. This path ungulates up and down for approximately 4 km, yielding fantastic views down into the orange-walled canyon. As you hike you will be able to see the obvious - and massive - Boat Mesa jutting out into the canyon.
When you reach Fairyland Point follow the signs for the Fairyland Loop, veering to the right. Here the trail will start to descend rather sharply, switchbacking down until it reaches the main valley bottom. This can be steep, and the gravel loose, so stay cautious and try to maintain good footing.
Once you reach the bottom of the canyon you will be totally surrounded by the red hoodoos. These awesome rock formations were not totally carved by erosion, as you might find in the Grand Canyon or Zion Canyon. The freezing and thawing of snow and ice every winter in fact, principally causes them!
The trail winds through several clusters of hoodoos and other formations, slowly gaining and losing elevation. As you near the end of the loop, you will gain a steep crest. Following this, continue to traverse along a sub canyon for approximately one mile, contouring around the ridges and reliefs.
Finally you will begin the final – and grueling – climb to the ridge. A dozen or so switchbacks later you will arrive at the rim. Turn left as you match up with the rim trail and follow it for a hundred yards or so back to the Sunrise Point parking lot.
Escaping the crowds? See more hiking routes in Bryce Canyon.
Insider Hints for Fairyland Loop Trail
- Hiking poles can be useful for the ascent and descend.
- Complete this loop is whichever direction allows you to hike the rim trail when it is least busy. For example if you are hiking in the morning, hike the rim trail first and complete the loop clockwise.
Getting to the Fairyland Loop Trail Trailhead
Enter Bryce Canyon National Park, just south of the town of Bryce. Shortly after you pass through the park payment gates, you will see a sign towards Sunrise Point. Turn left here and follow signs for the point, parking in the large parking area.Route Information for Fairyland Loop Trail
When to do:
Spring, early summer and fall, avoid summer heat and winter snow
Backcountry Campsites:
None
Toilets:
At Sunrise point trailhead
Family friendly:
No
Route Signage:
Average
Crowd Levels:
Moderate
Route Type:
Out and back
Fairyland Loop Trail Elevation Graph
Weather Forecast
Check Area WeatherReviews for Fairyland Loop Trail
As you take this trail be prepared to stop often and admire these geological wonders. The scenery along the way is stunning.
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Incredible views as you hike around the rim trail down into the canyon and then back out
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- 02:00
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I loved this trail. It was a great way to see the beauty of Bryce canyon.
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Incredible views of the canyon and hoodoos. This was an amazing journey
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Great hike, with a decent elevation. Anticipate rocky trail, wear appropriate shoes. Definitely challenging but worth it
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Surreal scenery. Lovely views around every bend! Incredible hike!
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My husband and I accidentally did this hike on July 5, 2019. We started at fairyland and we’re just going to hike down to the bottom and go right back up. When we got to the bottom, the scenery was so beautiful we decided to take the trail all the way to the end to sunrise pointe. We have not hiked in about six months and it kicked our backsides, but we did it! As soon as we got home we started a diet have lost 10 pounds already and already have booked reservations to come back in October and do it again. We can’t wait to go back!
Nice hike, good views, not too hard.
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There's a little bit of a challenge with incline at times, but definitely worth the hike. Incredible trail with amazing views. Highly recommend it if you have the time.
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Amazing and fun hike. The path is a little bit icy so bring microspikes with you. There are some pretty steep parts to the trail.
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