Bryce Canyon National Park – Peekaboo Loop Hike

on December 27, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

The major attraction of Bryce Canyon National Park is the stunning view of the red-pink towering Hoodoos rock formations. Here you can find the largest Hoodoos concentration found anywhere on Earth.

You can view the hoodoos amphitheater from the high rim plateau or better as I describe in the below blog hike down and find your way in-between the large hoodoos “forest”.

The Peekaboo Loop is a 5.5-mile-long trail that descends from Bryce Point to hoodoo-filled area before ascending back up to Bryce Point, total elevation gain of 1560 ft. I recommend hiking this trail in its loop section clockwise direction.

This hike is considered a moderately challenging route, it takes 3-4 hours to complete.

Where? :

Located in the southern part of Utah on highway 12, not so far north from Zion National Park.

The nearest town is Bryce Canyon City, that is more an hotel’s location near the park entrance. 30 minutes’ drive to the west there is the small town of Panguitch (on highway 89).

Google Map Link

Link to related blogs:

When? :

This park can be visit year-round, it can be hot at summer, but it is not as hot because it high altitude.

During winter, because its high altitude (8,000-9,000 ft of elevation), you can experience very cooled weather and snowstorms.

Most of the viewpoints and relatively the short/medium hikes are open also during snowstorm, but visibility can be limited, and visibility is what bring you to this place.

We visit here several time during the summer and during winter storms and after snow.

Due Note 1:

The park is open 24 hours a day throughout the year.

There are no advanced reservations required to enter Bryce Canyon National Park. You will need to pay the park entrance fee.

The park entrance fee is $35 for 7 days or you can have a $80 yearly pass to all America National Parks.

Due Note 2:

Visitor Center hours: Winter hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spring - Fall hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Summer hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Due Note 3:

You can sleep in the Bryce Canyon Lodge, or you can find many hotel options just at the park entrance, or along highway 12 leading to the park.

There is gas station, general stores and restaurants near the park entrance.

There are few dining option just at the park exit.

At the large historic Bryce Canyon Lodge, you can find a large memorabilia store, a general store and open to the public dining room. The Lodge is located off the Sunrise Point Road.

Due Note 4:

There are two large campgrounds within the park, and you can find other private location outside.

Due Note 5:

Although not mandatory, because you can drive your car in all roads and viewing points, there is a free of charge shuttle service in Bryce Canyon. The shuttle provide transportation to the park's most popular overlooks, amenities and trails. The shuttle travels throughout the iconic Bryce Amphitheater area of the park from April through mid-October.

Buses typically arrive at each stop every 15 minutes.

You can combine the shuttle with your long hikes, take the shuttle to Bryce Point and hike back to sunset point.

Due Note 6:

You will not be the only one here.... over two million visitors come to Bryce Canyon National Park each year, most during the summer months. I visit here several times and unlike Zion National Park that can feel really crowded here it felt more relaxed.

This is a very popular area for hiking and the viewpoint parking lot can get full during mid-day, come early in the morning or late at the afternoon.

During summer months there are parking attendants that turning people away if there wasn’t a spot immediately available, no other near parking lot.

Due Note 7:

If you’re planning on a summer hike, bringing plenty of water with you, sunscreen and a heat.

Due Note 8:

For winter hiking (as we did in this blog), snowshoes or spikes for you shoos are highly recommended to avoid slipping on the ice, this with a walking pools will help you to overcome the ice conditions going down.

Due Note 9:

In summer months, hikers may encounter horses/mules on this trail and should give the right-of-way to these riders.

Due Note 10:

Pets aren't allowed on any trail.

Due Note 11:

the trailhead did not have a bathroom or water filling !

there is a pit toilet (summer only) down on the trail on the west side of Peekaboo Loop.

My thoughts:

This is one of the best US National Parks I visit, when you will visit here you will be amazed by the unique natural landscape.

In my view this is a must visit park for people traveling to south of Utah.

In my view the Peek-a-Boo Loop, the Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden are the best and most beautiful day hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park!

You can do them separately or combine them to a longer hike.

The Peek-a-Boo Loop is probably the longer and with the most elevation gain among the three hikes.

Peek-a-Boo Loop hike is one of the most popular hiking trails in the area, we did it in late Dec when there was some large ice patches on the trail, but we had spikes, so we walked slow and manage to pass them safely. It was late afternoon when we started, and we finished the hike just as sunset, so we see only few other hikers on the trail.

The Hike:

The hike from Bryce Viewpoint parking lot.

After a very short walk going down the Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail splits left from the Under-the-Rim Trail.

The trail descend the cliff slop and after few zigzags it turn west into the direction of the amphitheater, after short walk you will pass the rock wall inside an arch.

Keep hiking down and you will start to get into the red rock hoodoos garden.

After additional switchbacks you will reach a clearly marked trail junction, this is the loop section, to the left and to the right.

This will be after 1.1 mile from the trailhead. Remember this point, once you complete the loop you will need to climb back this section of the trail.

At this junction I recommend to go left and do the loop in the clockwise direction.

Keep walking down, pass the horse corral and restrooms and stay on the Peek-a-Boo Loop Trail.

Here the trail winding its way through the lower section of Bryce Canyon Amphitheater in between the hoodoos towering above you.

Here you will pass below a large hoodoos wall with two nature windows, this is Wall of Windows landmark.

Keep hiking and the trail steeply climb with several switchbacks into a narrow canyon and at the end there is a tunnel crossing the rock wall to the other side.

From here the trail finds its way down toward the far side of the loop, where you can see here the connection to Navajo Loop Trail.

After the trail junction the Peek-a-Boo Loop keep to the right and start to climb the slop.

After few passes and tunnel the trail find it way to the loop junction.

Once you are back to the start of your loop hike junction turn left and hike the 1.1-mile climb back up to Bryce Point above you.

Summary:

I really like this hike; Peek-a-Boo Loop showcase the best of what Bryce Canyon has to offer.

It is a inspiring experience to see the amazing hoodoos and arches towering above you.

Some of the best views of Bryce Canyon can be seen here.

If you make it longer hikers may connect to either the Queen's Garden or Navajo Loop trails at the loop's northern junction.

Additional Pictures:

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