Hello fellow hikers! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to check out my article on the Fairyland Loop Trail of Bryce Canyon National Park. My name is Madisyn and I’m a Junior at the University of Minnesota. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. I can’t remember the exact moment when I started wanting to really travel, but I was always outside as a kid.
My family spent a lot of weekends camping up in Northern Minnesota, which involved a lot of hiking along the beautiful Lake Superior. Being able to escape the corn fields and be immersed in forests definitely sparked my interest in hiking. As I got older and saw everyone posting about the places they were traveling to on social media, it made me crave travel even more.
Hiking the Fairyland Loop Trail in Summer
Back in July of 2021 my friend and I took a 16 hour road trip. We visited and hiked at Grand Teton National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park and Arches National Park. Bryce Canyon was actually the number one place we wanted to explore.
My friends had gone to Bryce Canyon back in May and told us that Fairyland Loop was their favorite, so we decided that would be our hike. I remember it being around 100 degrees out and very dry the day we went.
We drove to the trailhead of Fairyland Loop Trail called Fairyland Point and started our descent from there. The entire hike is around 8 miles long and is supposed to take you around six hours of walking. The hike takes you through the bottom of the canyon and back up a couple of different times.
At mile 6 there is a fork in the trail in which you can finish the loop back to the starting point or you can veer off to the bend trail (which we took). We decided to hike the 6 miles and stop there. There is a 1,700+ feet change in elevation, and for my friend who had never experienced that drastic of a change in such a short amount of time, the elevation change hit her hard.
It took us a little over 3 hours to complete (and an additional 45 minute walk back to the car because we got lost). But the views were insane. I had never been to any place like Utah, so the canyon was amazing. The rock formations and the vibrant red and orange colors were beautiful. It’s hard to put into words so I have included some pictures we took along our hike.
How Hard is the Fairyland Loop Trail?
I wouldn’t advise this hike for someone who isn’t experienced. The elevation change is hard on your body if you have never done something like this before. The hike involves a lot of uphill and it’s intense. If you are an avid hiker and know how to pace yourself then I would 100% recommend it!
Despite the challenge, Fairyland Loop Trail was hands down my favorite hike I have ever done! This hike was hot, sweaty and intense, but I had the best time of my life. I felt so much joy during this hike, being able to see how amazing our earth is! I recommend this to locals and travelers alike.
My favorite part of the hike was when we caught up to an older couple who we got to talk to along the way. We enjoyed their stories and even saw a snake with them on our way back up from the bottom of the canyon!
Need to Know Before you Go
Make sure to keep your trash in your backpack and discard it once you reach a trash can. I saw someone throw their apple on the trail and had to go pick it up. Remember to not stack rocks as it can disrupt the natural erosion from the rain. And of course please stay on the trail!
Fairyland Loop Trail is long, sweaty and hot in summer. It requires a lot of hydration and fuel, so pack plenty of both. I would advise 2 litres of water per person and enough food to stop and enjoy the food at around mile 2.5. Also make sure you are pacing yourself on this trail. Take the breaks you need and listen to your body during this hike. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
