Rock Landscapes and Features

The Williams Ranch Road is currently closed. The Williams Ranch Road is closed to all public access at this time due to severe damage and dangerous conditions. This closure includes public access by foot, vehicle, mountain bike, and stock traffic. Heavy rains in the summer of 2021 caused extensive damage to the road, rendering it impassable for 4x4 vehicles. This closure is enacted to allow staff time to develop appropriate planning and compliance actions in order to address road conditions and return the road to safe condition efficiently. If you have a high-clearance, four wheel drive vehicle , the primitive dirt road to Williams Ranch provides a unique opportunity to get off the beaten path and get close to the remote and imposing western escarpment of the Guadalupe Mountains. This road traverses bedrock and washes, often making for an extremely rough drive. A slow speed is mandatory for safe passage. Be prepared with plenty of water, a jack, and good spare tire. On these isolated, infrequently patrolled backcountry roads, a disabled vehicle can become a life-threatening situation. A no-fee permit and a gate key is required for access to the Williams Ranch Road. Before you attempt the drive, check in at the Pine Springs Visitor Center for road informaiton and the gate key. You Will Need A High Clearance Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD) Vehicle A high clearance 4WD vehicle is defined as a SUV or truck type vehicle, with at least 15 inch tire rims or more, with a low gear transfer case, designed for heavier type use than a standard passenger vehicle, with at least 8 inches of clearance or more from the lowest point of the frame, body, suspension, or differential, to the ground, also including a means to mechanically power both, front and real wheels at the same time. Rain can make roads difficult to drive or impassable following summer monsoons. Always inquire about current road conditions. Protect the Guadalupe Mountains. Always stay on established roadways. OFF ROAD DRIVING IS PROHIBITED . The effects of off-road driving last up to 50 years, and result in compacted soils, heavy erosion, and destroyed vegetation. Thank you for helping to keep Guadalupe Mountains National Park's ecosystem healthy.

After a difficult one-mile incline to the top, hikers can watch a waterfall cascade down a cliff and take in the incredible views of the larger river valley at Jensen’s Ledges. Rock cairns/rock sculptures sitting along the edge of the mountain near the ledges also provide a unique and majestic feature to the summit. Along the way, check out the bluestone rock, a nod to the history of bluestone quarrying in the area. For hikers who choose to continuing hiking past the ledges, the rest of the trail weaves through towering forest and alongside bubbling streams. Please note that this trail is not regularly maintained and one may encounter downed trees, wet/muddy areas, and potentially parts of the trail flooded with several inch-deep water, especially after heavy rain. Trail conditions can differ depending on season and weather. Parts of the trail require hikers to cross small streams to continue. Although these streams are less than a foot deep, they can be too wide to jump across. Red, circular trail markers on trees indicate the trail path, which sometimes can be difficult to discern due to trail conditions and confusing signage. We recommend all visitors sign in to the trail register at the start of the trail. Please note that there are no restrooms available. This trail is managed by the New York State Department of Enviornmental Conservation Game Lands 209 and parts of the trail are on or surrounded by private property. Please stay on the trail and do not trespass onto private property. Directions to Jensen's Ledges Shortly after trail register, there is a fork in the trail. Take the left path, which also has a sign indicating that it leads to the ledges. Trail will be a regular incline. After the trail begins to flatten at the top, there is a fork in the path. The right leads down to cross a wider stream. To see the waterfall, look for a smaller path to the right of the trail leading down across the stream. This path leads to a ledge with the waterfall. To reach Jensen’s Ledges, cross the stream and follow the trail. You will shortly see a path leading off the main trail to the right, marked with fall hazard signs. Take this path to the ledges. The trail continues on past Jensen's Ledges, but the best scenic views are at the waterfall and Jensens' Ledges. Parking At the trailhead there is an unpaved, gravel lot that can accommodate 10-15 cars. After rain there may be mud and/or standing water. Safety This land is managed by New York State Department of Enviornmental Conservation Game Lands. For safety, please wear bright or fluorescent orange or pink to increase your visibility while hiking in these lawful hunting areas. Please exercise caution and situational awareness with weather and river conditions while hiking. During all seasons, there is always a risk of ticks. Please check for ticks on yourself and any pets after hiking. Please note that there is very limited cell connectivity in the area and cell phones may not receive signal along the river or on the hike. Respect private property and stay on the trail. Leave No Trace and Pack It In, Pack It Out Please practice "Leave No Trace" principles and do not litter or leave any waste, including animal waste, behind. Take waste with you and dispose of it properly. There are no trash receptacles available on the trails or at the trailheads, so you must take any trash with you when you leave. Please leave nature as you found it. This includes not touching, moving, sitting on, or altering the rock cairns around Jensen's Ledges. Do not start or create fires or campfires.

The Figure-8 Combination combines three amphitheater hikes, Queen's Garden, Navajo Loop, and the Peekaboo Loop, into one ultimate hike! We recommend a clockwise direction descending Queen's Garden, connecting to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascending either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter). From there you can complete the trail by hiking back to Sunrise Point along the Rim Trail. Trailhead: Sunrise Point or Sunset Point Parking: Available at both Sunrise and Sunset Points (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles are not permitted in these parking areas when the shuttle is in operation . Distance: 6.4 miles (10.3 km) Approximate Time: 4-5 hours Elevation Gain: 1575 feet (480 meters) Difficulty: Strenuous (rapid elevation gain, longer length) Services: Accessible restrooms available at Sunset Point (year-round) and available at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally). Water-fill stations available at Sunset Point (seasonally), the Sunset Point restroom (year-round), and the General Store (seasonally). Pit toilets on the west side of Peekaboo Loop (summer only) Shuttle Service: Yes. This trail may be inaccessible during mid-winter due to snow depths ranging from 2-15 ft. (.7-5 m) Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? Hikers will encounter horses and mules on the Peekaboo Loop and should give the right-of-way to these riders. You can hike these trails individually as the Peekaboo Loop , Queen's Garden , and the Navajo Loop .

The Queen's Garden Trail is the least difficult of the trails descending from the rim into the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. Hike this out-and-back trail to the Queen Victoria hoodoo at the end of a short spur trail and experience the splendor of hiking amongst the hoodoos. Trailhead: Sunrise Point Parking: Available at Sunrise Point (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles are not permitted in this parking area when the shuttle is in operation. Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9 km) roundtrip Approximate Time: 1-2 hours Elevation Gain: 450 feet (137 meters) Difficulty: Moderate (less than 1000 feet elevation gain, moderate length) Services: Accessible restrooms and a water-fill station are available at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally). Shuttle Service: Yes. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? This trail is commonly combined with the Navajo Loop to create a 2.9 mile round trip trail where you can descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point and ascend Navajo Loop to Sunset Point. Complete the loop using the Sunset to Sunrise section of the Rim Trail.

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Evening programs, typically offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, offer topics that go beyond the rim! Check the calendar for daily times and locations. This is a Ranger’s Choice program offering an exploration into compelling stories, interesting themes, and unique resources that make Bryce Canyon special. A schedule of daily topics is available in the Visitor Center.

Depending on your journey, you've either passed through the Foothills Entrance Station or you're about to leave the park for the next chapter in your trip. Take a moment to stop at the Foothills Visitor Center. Get information about the road ahead. Pick up some maps, books, and gifts. Use the restrooms. Browse exhibits about the ecology and human history of the foothills, and join a free ranger-led program if one's on the schedule.

This moderate trail to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain is 1.8 miles/2.8 kilometers roundtrip. Rising above the surrounding canyons, the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at 7,310ft/2,228m is one of the highest points in the monument. The dark rock is dacite, evidence of a lava flow. Lightning activity is monitored from the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed fire lookout during the summer. Return the same way. Access is from the Sugarloaf parking lot.

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Typically offered year-round at Sunset Point at 11 a.m. Have your Bryce moment! Most people experience the view from Sunset Point as a breath-taking event, and for good reason. The amphitheaters filled with mazes of magical hoodoos may prompt you to ask…when…where…why…how? We have some of the answers! Geologists have spent years studying the unique geologic story of Bryce Canyon and its amphitheaters of hoodoos. Join the Ranger along the rim at Sunset Point to explore the evolution of the hoodoos and the groups of people who have passed through this magical terrain. Handicap accessible.

The lesser used Permian Reef Trail leads to sheltered campsites and spectacular views into McKittrick Canyon, making a great destination of a one night, two day backpacking trip into the Wilderness. Distance: 9.0 miles (14.5 km) round-trip, out and back Elevation Change: 2,000 feet Time Estimate: 3-4 hours to reach the campsites Difficulty: Strenuous Duration: Minimum of one night, two days. Trailheads: Start and end at the McKittrick Canyon Trailhead.

The Fairyland Loop is a quiet 8 mile hike that combines hiking along the plateau rim near Boat Mesa with a hike in the canyon with long views of the Bryce Amphitheater surrounded by unique hoodoos. You can start this hike at Fairyland Point or on the rim trail north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. There is no shuttle pick-up at Fairyland Point, so you will need to hike to your starting point to complete the loop. Trailhead: Fairyland Point or north of Sunrise Point at the Tower Bridge trailhead . Parking: At Fairyland Point (oversized vehicles permitted) or at Sunrise Point (oversized vehicles are not permitted in this parking area when the shuttle is in operation. ) Check when parking lots are busiest . Distance: 8.0 mile (12.9 km) Approximate Time: 4-5 hours Elevation Gain: 1900 feet (579 meters) Difficulty: Strenuous (rapid elevation gain, longer length) Services: Accessible restrooms available at the General Store near Sunrise Point (seasonally). Water-fill stations available at the General Store (seasonally). No services at Fairyland Point. Shuttle Service: Yes at Sunrise Point, None at Fairyland Point. Private options may be available. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? This trail may be inaccessible during mid-winter due to snow depths ranging from 2-15 ft. (.7-5 m)