The Rim Trail

Best Time to Hike The Rim Trail

The Bryce Point to Inspiration Point section is regularly closed in winter, so hiking The Rim Trail end to end works best outside that closure window. Difficulty and surface type vary by section - the Sunset Point to Sunrise Point stretch is paved, while the rest is dirt and less traveled - so it's worth checking current conditions for whichever portion of the 5.5 miles you plan to walk before you set out.

Trail Tips for The Rim Trail

• Traveling with a dog? Pets are allowed only on the paved section between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point - not on the rest of The Rim Trail.

Getting to The Rim Trail

The Rim Trail can be picked up at any of its named viewpoints - Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, Sunrise Point, or Fairyland Point - all located inside Bryce Canyon National Park. An entry pass is required to enter the park.

• The park shuttle stops at Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points, so you can walk one direction and ride the shuttle back instead of retracing your steps on foot
• Fairyland Point, at the trail's north end, is not listed as a shuttle stop, so plan how you'll get back to your vehicle if you start or end there
• Because the trail runs point to point rather than as a loop, deciding which segment to walk and where you'll end up is worth working out before you start

What to Expect on The Rim Trail

The Rim Trail traces 5.5 miles along the edge of the Bryce Amphitheater, connecting Bryce Point in the south to Fairyland Point in the north and passing Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point along the way. Because it stays on top of the rim rather than dropping into the amphitheater itself, you get the full sweep of the hoodoo field below the entire way, without the elevation loss and gain that the trails descending into the amphitheater involve.

Difficulty isn't uniform across the route. The stretch between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point is paved and easy, while the sections beyond that are dirt and less traveled. Walking the full 5.5 miles end to end typically takes 3-4 hours.