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The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Bryce Canyon!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Mileage from Mt. Carmel Jct.
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
Zion National Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Bryce Canyon
vacation with our Utah
maps and information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Bryce
Canyon adventures and hiking. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps,
pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds,
things for kids to do and even information on Bryce Canyon's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Utah!
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Bryce
Canyon Map
Directions to Bryce Canyon
From Salt Lake City travel south on Interstate 15 past Beaver
to UT 20. Exit on UT 20. Turn south on UT 89 and travel past Panguitch. Follow
UT 89 to UT 12. Travel along UT 12 through Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon. Turn south
on UT 63 to enter the park.
From Las Vegas: Travel Interstate 15 past St. George to Exit
16. Drive through Hurricane, Utah. Follow Hwy 9 through Hurricane and to the
only stop light in LaVerkin. Turn right at the stop light. Continue on Hwy 9
to the south entrance of Zion Park. Drive through Zion to the junction of UT
9 and UT 89 at Mt. Carmel Jct. Turn north on UT 89, then exit on UT 12.
Follow UT 12 through Red Canyon, turning south on UT 63 to enter
Bryce Canyon.
The hoodoos at the end of the Bryce Canyon Hat Shop Trail
are a
unique structure found in Bryce Canyon. Hard rock caps, which are weather resistant,
cover the tops of conglomerations of rock and protect them from rapid erosion.
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Hat Shop Trail
The name of this small Southwestern Utah park is deceptive, Bryce Canyon is not really a canyon at all, rather it is a series of breaks in fourteen enormous amphitheaters plummeting down one-thousand feet, spanning twenty-five miles and encompassing thirty-six thousand acres. Tall, misshapen limestone formations crowd together to form magnificent castle-like scenes, dominating the uncommon views of the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. According to Paiute myth, people long ago angered the coyote so he turned them all to rock. When you visit, think of this tale while peering down into the amphitheaters and imagine them standing proud and tall. These bizarre sedimentary rocks are usually referred to as hoodoos. While most are similar in appearance, the Hat Shop hoodoos have a peculiar personality all their own. These odd creations appear as though a child has been playing in a limestone filled sandbox. Perhaps you can envision the child scooping up the limestone mixture, letting it drip down to form a cone shaped structure and then placing a rock on top to protect his creation. These types of hoodoos are not common in the park, but there is one hike, the Hat Shop Trail, that leads to a small cluster of them.
See our vacation planning section for suggested Bryce Canyon National Park trails. The shuttle in Bryce Canyon is voluntary.
Hat Shot Trail At a Glance
Photo Album: Hat
Shop Pictures
Trail Map: Bryce
Canyon Trail Map
Day Hike: Yes
Distance: 3.8 miles round-trip
Average Hiking Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate hike with a steep descent and ascent upon return .
Sun Exposure: Full sun throughout the trail. In the summer begin this trail early in the day.
Trail Usage: Though this is not one of the most used trails in the park, expect to see others along the path.
Permits: Not required.
Trail Conditions:
Rock and sand which can be slippery. From the rim to the "hats," expect a steep downhill hike and since you return the way you came, the hike out is mostly uphill.
Trailhead: Bryce Point
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Trail Access: There can be significant snow October through March limiting trail access.
Best Season: April to October
Elevation: Descent to trailend: 1436 feet, Ascent back to trailend: 1436 feet.
Water availability:None, bring your own.
Off the Beaten Path: No
Restrooms: Visitor center, lodge and the general store.
Hat Shop Trail
Begin at Bryce Point, located 2 miles south of the visitor center near the park entrance. Turn left at the sign for Inspiration and Bryce Point then follow the road to the parking area. Walk up toward the rim to locate the sign indicating the Bryce Point Trailhead, a popular place for squirrels and chipmunks as well as humans. This eastern edge of the park offers one of the most scenic views from the rim and is a favorite spot for early risers to watch the sun rise and touch upon the jagged pink stone of the vast amphitheater below. The trail is the first part of the 23 mile Under the Rim Trail as well as the Hat Shop Trail. The path descends below the rim, winding through Douglas fir, ponderosa and limber pines and past traditional hoodoos.
You will come to a junction with the Peek-a-boo Trail, where the path will then head south, descending farther into the bowl. There is no interpretive sign or marker indicating the end, but once you see the balanced rock columns on the right, where the trail begins to level out atop a ridge, you will know you are there. Although the dolomite toppers appear to be part of the original columns, they are not, but instead fell from cliffs above, creating an umbrella of sorts that serves to protect the softer rock below.
Stay away from edges and do not attempt to go down where the top heavy hoodoos are perched. At this point, return the same way you came. The hike out is steep and in full sun, so if you are doing this in the summer, it is wise to begin early in the day.
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