Explore the best rated trails in Bryce Canyon, UT, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path and Coal Creek Trail (UT) . With more than 3 trails covering 21 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This is a great way to beat the lines and the crowds to see Bryce Canyon. It was a little challenging pedaling to the top, but we could stop at the overlooks and move at our own pace. The views from Inspiration Point are worth the short, steep hike from the parking lot. The ride back down was a breeze. We would do this one again.
We rode this on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and it really was not crowded on the path. Long line of cars waiting to get in and fight the traffic but the bikes go right in and no entry fee. I felt bad for the people in the cars Beautiful trail. It has lots of curves and turns and a lot of shade from the huge trees. We parked in the Shuttle Parking lot with our jeep (lots of parking space!) and the trail starts right from there. It is a gradual incline all the way to Inspiration Point and a super fun almost coast on the way back down. There is another viewpoint before you get out to inspiration point which is amazing. You have to park your bikes and walk a short way at both viewpoints but not a problem. You can also stop at the visitor center. If you have an RV or are camping stay in Ruby's campground in Bryce Canyon City. This trail and the Red Canyon Bicycle Trail both start right from the campground.
We rode this from Ruby’s Campground to Inspiration Peak which was mostly uphill. NOTE!! If you’re not acclimated to the altitude (8,000’) the climb can be challenging
This is a beautiful, curvy asphalt trail with a slight incline. We started our ride at the shuttle station in Bryce Canyon City and rode to the end of the trail at Inspiration Point inside the park. It’s nearly an all downward ride back to the shuttle station. There are many gorgeous pine trees and chipmunks to see along with a brief canyon view from the trail. Riders may choose to ride on the paved road through the remainder of the park for an additional 13 miles of do but the road has several challenging hills.
Location: Cedar City, UT
Parking: Large parking area at Veteran’s Park Baseball Fields, mid-point of trail.
Trail Condition: Wide pavement in good condition.
Signage: Trail is well signed with the exception of the area of Canyon Park, East Side. Trail loops over itself and crosses the creek, a sign is needed here.
Comments: This is a nice trail across the northern part of Cedar City and into Cedar Canyon along Coal Creek. Veteran’s Park is very nice and the ride up into Cedar Canyon is pleasant. There is a historical site along the trail at the mouth of the canyon. Another trail spurs off the trail leading to the south of town at the south end of Ann J Gardner Canyon Park, if wanting a little longer ride.
I rode down the canyon. Only saw one other bike the whole way. Agree with other reviewers, while the bath has been resurfaced, some of the many cracks were very jarring on narrow tires. Beautiful fall ride. A very abrupt end at the end of trail.
The reason I gave only four stars is the very poorly fixed cracks in the last five miles at the red canyon end of the trail. This part is the most interesting but hard to fully enjoy it with the very bumpy ride. Being in the mountain you find lots of ups and downs and you will always encounter strong winds to or from the round trip. From Bryce Where the actual painted trail starts it took 13.2 miles to get to the other end, not 16. I highly recommend electric bike unless you are an avid biker. Don’tforget you are on high altitude
My friends and I enjoy riding the paved trails around our hometown on the weekends and we also enjoy a little camping. In my search to find a way to combine these two passions, I found Red Canyon Campground here on traillink.com. Reading the reviews helped me get a feel for what to expect, so we found a weekend and headed up for a bike-centric camping break from the summer heat.
We arrived after lunch on Friday and had plenty of spacious spots to choose from. We found the perfect one with plenty of shade, trees spaced ideally for hammocks, and lots of room to spread out our three tents. All the spaces here are first come first serve, and by sundown there was only one spot left.
The next morning we geared up and started out on our ride. What we anticipated was to be a 8-ish mile, slightly uphill, paved trail away from the cars passing on the scenic byway. This ride was that and so much more in every aspect!
Our group of six consisted of casual to active bike riders on a variety of bike styles and gear. The first four miles leaving the campground and heading east are a little tougher than I expected. Those four miles gradually increase in incline difficulty and weave through a scenic forest and red rock vistas. Once we were able to finally crest the last half mile of fairly steep hill, the trail opens up to a long, straight portion of easy rolling hills with views of pastures extending to mountains far off into the distance. The beauty of the landscape makes exerting to get up that first four mile section of hill climbing completely worth the effort!
We passed a gas station/ convenience store before we asked another rider how far the trail went, as we seemed to be past the 8-ish miles we were expecting. We found out this trail had been extended in recent years to reach all the way to Inspiration Point inside Bryce Canyon National Park. Taking this full trail from the Red Canyon Campground to Inspiration Point would put the route at 16.5 miles one way. We decided that was a little further than we wanted to go on that day, but we continued on to touch the “Welcome to Bryce Canyon City” sign which made our end-to-end ride at 10.5 miles one way.
One the way back, the long rolling hills section was slightly more uphill than I had thought it was, but nothing that was too challenging. By the time we reached the last four miles, now a steep downhill section, I discovered that the cracks in the trail that I barely noticed slowly making my way up the hill, were jarring and abusive when flying down the hill. Those of us with skinny butts and even skinnier tires got spanked pretty good because of the the multiple and unavoidable cracks.
Other than some maintenance that seems long overdue to make this trail smooth and comfortable, the ride was challenging but not impossible, stunning in scenery, and made for a fun and unforgettable experience for our rag tag group of bicycle enthusiasts. We absolutely loved the spacious campground with clean bathrooms and the super friendly campground hosts!
We will absolutely be coming back next camping season to do this one again and encourage anyone who is considering a biking/camping trip to put Red Canyon Campground on your list of must do’s!!
What a great ride. Lots of breaks in the asphalt that are large and actually hurt. The way down was fast and the bumps were horrible. However, this is a great trail and I’ll continue riding it. It is beautiful.
I started at Thunder Mountain Trailhead and worked my way east. It was a gradual uphill the entire ride all the way to end of the canyon. I thought the section of trail not inside the canyon was pretty meh but the rest of the canyon was pretty scenic and well maintained. I would recommend doing the 1st five miles only and then just turn around unless you just really have a hankering to ride a few extra miles of boring prairie.
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