Hike the Peekaboo Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park to admire its impressively colorful array of unique hoodoos and rock formations.
Chris & Mac
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Length: 5.5 Miles
Trailhead(s): Bryce Point
Elevation Gain: 1,571’
Trail Type: Loop
Dogs: Not Allowed
Difficulty: Strenuous
Permit Required? Yes – National Park Entry Fee $35
Considerations: Summer Heat / Winter Snow
Season: Year Round
Overview
For an out of this world treat, hike the Bryce Canyon National Park Peekaboo Loop to see stunning multi-hued hoodoos and otherworldly rock formations.
BRYCE CANYON
Bryce Canyon is, surprisingly, not a canyon at all. This national park is actually a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the side of a high plateau. In the largest of them, the Bryce Amphitheater, hikers go below the rim for an up close and personal encounter with its uniquely spectacular and grand geology. Alternatively, for those who choose to view its expanse from above, an 11 mile rim trail runs from Fairyland Point to Bryce Point. With multiple access points, this trail is dog friendly and provides incredible birds eye views of the hoodoos below.
Although hikers going below the rim get up close and personal with the rock formations, they must also ascend back up to the rim. Whereas some of these hikes are not too difficult, others like the Peekaboo Loop Trail are more difficult.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK – PEEKABOO LOOP TRAIL
Peekaboo Loop has Beautiful Scenery
Hikers get an eyeful on the Bryce Canyon National Park Peekaboo Loop. The trail showcases an impressively stunning array of colorful rock formations and hoodoos in the eastern section of the Bryce Amphitheater. Enjoy hiking though, around, above, and below the hoodoos to view them from multiple angles and vantage points. All the while, incredible rock walls with stunning formations ring the rim overhead for a truly surreal hiking environment. In all directions, from start to finish, this trail is breathtakingly gorgeous. Thoroughly enthralled, we found ourselves stopping often to marvel and take pictures. Though incredibly beautiful, the Peekaboo Loop Trail is also definitely one of the more strenuous trails in the Bryce Amphitheater.
Peekaboo Loop is a Strenuous Hike
Starting at 8,300 feet of elevation the Peekaboo Loop Trail descends quickly, has numerous elevation changes throughout, and then quickly ascends again to the rim. To be clear here: “quickly” means the trail is steep. Although switchbacks help to level out some of the elevation changes, the Peekaboo Loop Trail a not necessarily a great choice for everyone.
Because the trail’s lowest elevation is at 7,400 feet, hikers not acclimated to altitude may experience fatigue and shortness of breath. This may continue throughout the hike, and in particular when ascending. As such, be kind to yourself when hiking this trail and pay attention to your breathing. It’s not a race, so stay fueled and hydrated, and take breaks as often as needed. The views are stunning, so think of stopping to rest, hydrate and fuel as a way to linger a little longer to enjoy the wonders surrounding you on this hike.
Peekaboo Loop is a Multi-User Trail
Finally, hikers need to know that the Bryce Canyon National Park Peekaboo Loop Trail is not just a hiking trail. It is also used by equestrians. Thus, for safety reasons, horses and mules have right of way at all times. If you encounter them, exercise care to ensure safe, solid footing for yourself and your party, and then step aside to let them pass. If you need to move either forward or back along the trail to an area which has the space needed, then by all means move there. Lastly, be sure to watch out for what they leave on the trail!
Scroll down to learn about the GEAR WE USE and OTHER OUTVENTURES in this area.
Additional Information
Peekaboo Loop Slideshow
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Gear We Use for Day Hiking
To see descriptions of the gear Chris & Mac use for day hiking, as well as links to manufacturers and retailers offering the gear for sale, please CLICK HERE.
Articles About Other Regional Outventures
SAFETY DISCLAIMER: The activities discussed in this website are outdoor activities and, as such, have inherent risks to which participants are exposed. It is not the intent of this website, nor is it possible due to the variability of weather, terrain, equipment, and experience, to detail all of those risks. The information contained in this site is informational, but not instructive nor exhaustive. It is the sole responsibility of the user to ensure he/she is in good health, fully prepared, and fully informed as to dangers before undertaking any of the activities discussed in this website and the user does so at his/her own risk. The user understands that by using this website he/she acknowledges and accepts all risks associated with use of information from this website and participation in any particular activity addressed herein. Please see “Terms of Use” for additional information.
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