Red Canyon Trailhead

Red Canyon sits in Dixie National Forest along Scenic Byway 12, about 10 miles southwest of Bryce Canyon National Park's entrance. Unlike the park itself, there's no entrance fee — it's national forest land, free to visit year-round.

The Trail Network

Four short, well-signed trails start within a few minutes of the Red Canyon Visitor Center: Pink Ledges (0.4 miles one-way, an easy interpretive walk beginning right at the Visitor Center), Hoodoo, Birdseye, and Golden Wall. Combined into one loop, the four trails cover about 4 miles with roughly 820 feet of elevation gain, taking 2 to 2.5 hours — but each can also be hiked individually for a shorter outing.

Other Ways to Explore

Red Canyon isn't just for hikers. A paved 5-mile bike path runs alongside Highway 12, connecting the canyon to the upper Paunsaugunt Plateau, and the Buckhorn Trailhead inside Red Canyon Campground links to the Golden Wall Trail for a scenic 5-mile round trip popular with mountain bikers heading toward Thunder Mountain.

Practical Details

Dogs are welcome on leash. Restrooms and drinking water are available at the Red Canyon Visitor Center and Red Canyon Campground; the trailheads themselves generally don't have their own facilities. Trails are hikeable most of the year, though spring through fall is most comfortable.