| Bryce Canyon, Utah |
 Trail Name:Fairyland Loop Summary: |
| Outstanding One Day Hike of the World |
| Trail Description |
| If you have never before seen Bryce Canyon or the Pink Cliffs region in south-west Utah, this hike will be unforgettable. A series of natural amphitheaters are filled with hundreds of sandstone hoodoos that resemble a city of spires and minarets. Walking among the natural formations, your mind’s eye will see castle turrets, windows, arches, bridges, domes, obelisks and many other architectural creations. Specific hoodoos have been named – such as The Chinese Wall and Tower Bridge – to reflect their form and grandeur.
As you hike the Fairyland Loop, especially if you start at sunrise, you will be taken into an enchanted wonderland that will fill your senses and imagination. As the sun climbs higher in the clear sky the hoodoos change hue and glow. The breathtaking views become almost kaleidoscopic, changing with every step as you pass pinyon-juniper forests and ancient bristlecone pines. The trail descends from the parking lot into Fairyland Canyon, one of the amphitheaters carved into the Pink Cliffs that make up Bryce Canyon National Park, and loops around a huge sandstone form called Boat Mesa. At one point, you cross a ridge, giving magnificent views into Fairyland Canyon on one side and Campbell Canyon on the other. These other-worldly views, of pink sandstone spires stretching into the distance, continue as you carry on along the trail – views so fantastic you will certainly want to linger. After 4 miles, a short spur on the left takes you to Tower Bridge. Return to the main trail and continue towards the Chinese Wall to your left. The views, peace and quiet are mesmerizing, and you will not want the trail to end. But your time in the canyon is coming to a close, and soon you start the climb out to the rim. It is pretty hard in the heat of the day, so be sure to take plenty of water. On reaching the top, it is a 2.7 mile/4.1 km hike back along the Rim Trail to the car-choked parking lot at Fairyland Point, enjoying the fantastic views into the canyon as you go. It is definitely advisable to start this hike early to enjoy it to the full. We began at 7 am, and at that time the trail was practically deserted – we saw barely another person until we reached the Rim Trail. Fairyland Loop gets less use than others in the Park (perhaps because Fairyland Point is before the entrance station, so some people miss it), but given the numbers of people that flock to Bryce Canyon, this still makes for a popular trail in the middle of the day. |
| FACT FILE |
| Location: Bryce Canyon National Park, south-west Utah.
Directions: From Hwy 89, take SR 12 east for 14 miles, then 63 south for 3 miles. Trailhead: Take the road on the left, about a mile before you reach the Park entrance station, to the parking area at Fairyland Point. Length: 8.3 miles / 13.3 km Trail Type: Loop Elevation Change: 900 ft / 274 m Duration: 5 hours Trail Condition: Clearly defined. Features: Sandstone formations, hoodoos, magnificent canyon views, bristlecone pine. Climate: Warm days April through October, with thunderstorms in summer. Cold in winter, with snow covering the sandstone formations and far fewer people. Accommodation: Inside the Park there are two campgrounds and cabins at Bryce Canyon Lodge. There is a motel just outside the Park entrance, but it is often full with tour groups. Plenty of other motels in nearby communities of Hatch, Panguitch and Tropic. Trail Notes: Be aware of altitude – trail is 7,000-8,000 feet above sea level. |
Popularity: 11% [?]
