The Rim Trail, as the name suggests, follows the edge of Bryce Canyon, offering continuous views into the hoodoos and amphitheaters below. It runs from Bryce Point all the way north to the Fairyland Loop Trailhead, just outside the main park entrance.

At about 5.5 miles one way (11 miles round trip), you can hike the full length or just do sections—and that’s really the beauty of this trail. You can go as far as you want, turn around whenever you feel like it, and still have a great experience.

The northern end near the Fairyland Loop trailhead sits a bit higher and is more wooded, dipping in and out of forest and occasionally pulling away from the rim. As you head south, the views steadily build, especially as you approach the main viewpoints—Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Point.

Those areas can get busy, but what I’ve found is that the crowds tend to stay near the viewpoints themselves. If you’re walking the full length, much of it should be in solitude.

The trail passes above North Campground, where a few campsites sit just below the rim—I’ve stayed in those spots, and it’s hard to beat having that kind of access, especially for sunrise.

This isn’t a flat walk—there are plenty of rolling hills that can feel surprisingly tiring, likely due in part to the elevation—but it’s still a very approachable hike overall. I tend to use the Rim Trail in pieces: as an evening walk, a quick first hike when I arrive, or to connect other trails.

It’s one I come back to every time. Simple, flexible, and consistently beautiful.