Tower Bridge

Best Time to Hike to Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge Trail is open year-round, so timing a visit mostly comes down to how you want to handle snow. If you're hiking when there's snow on the ground, bring snowshoes or traction devices for the descent past Boat Mesa and the climb back out. Outside of snow season, no special seasonal gear is needed, and the trail can be hiked comfortably whenever you plan a trip.

Trail Tips for Tower Bridge

• No pets are permitted on any trail in Bryce Canyon National Park, including the Tower Bridge Trail
• Carry water — there's little shade below the rim along the route
• Budget a moderate half-day outing rather than a quick stroll — the trail is a real descent below the rim and a climb back out, not a flat walk

Getting to the Tower Bridge Trailhead

Access the Tower Bridge Trail from the Fairyland Loop's southern trailhead, near Sunrise Point. The trail itself is open year-round, but Fairyland Point Road closes in winter, cutting off vehicle access to the trailhead during that season — check road status before a cold-season visit.

• Trailhead: the Fairyland Loop's southern trailhead, near Sunrise Point
• An entry pass is required for Bryce Canyon National Park

What to Expect on the Tower Bridge Trail

Tower Bridge is a hoodoo formation featuring two natural arches and two standing rock towers, close enough in shape to its London namesake that the comparison sticks. The formation sits along the Tower Bridge Trail, a 3.6-mile round-trip route with about 840 feet of elevation gain that takes most hikers 2 to 2.5 hours to complete.

The trail descends past Boat Mesa and through groves of bristlecone pine on its way to the viewpoint, with additional views along the route of the Chinese Wall and the Sinking Ship formations. It works well as a shorter, intermediate-distance alternative to hiking the full Fairyland Loop, giving hikers a taste of the loop's scenery without committing to the entire circuit.