Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

Best Time to Hike the Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

The description doesn't specify a best season for this route, so plan around its logistics rather than the calendar. Because this is a one-way hike that requires catching a shuttle or coordinating a car shuttle back to your start, an earlier start gives you the most flexibility on timing and shuttle waits. If you're unsure about shuttle schedules or seasonal conditions on a given day, check current park information before you go.

Trail Tips for the Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

• Hike the Peekaboo Loop portion clockwise from Bryce Point, per NPS guidance, for the best views of the Wall of Windows
• Sort out your return transportation before you start - either the park shuttle or a car shuttle - since this is a one-way route
• Leave pets at home - they aren't permitted on any of the connecting trails that make up this route

Getting to and Through the Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

Because this is a one-way route that starts at Bryce Point and finishes at Sunrise Point, getting back to your vehicle takes some planning before you go. Use the park shuttle to return to your starting point, or arrange a car shuttle. Decide which option you'll use before you set out rather than sorting it out mid-hike.

An entry pass is required to hike here.

What to Expect on the Bryce Amphitheater Traverse

The Bryce Amphitheater Traverse is the National Park Service's name for a one-way route through the park's main bowl of hoodoos. It begins at Bryce Point, descends into the Peekaboo Loop, and climbs back out via Queen's Garden to finish at Sunrise Point - stringing together the amphitheater's best terrain without repeating any ground.

At about 5 miles one-way with roughly 1,033 feet of elevation gain, this is a strenuous outing that covers more distance and elevation change than any single amphitheater loop. Most hikers should plan on 2.5 to 3 hours. Because it finishes at a different trailhead than it starts, this is a point-to-point hike rather than a loop or out-and-back, so you'll need a return plan before you set out.