Navajo Loop Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The elevation sits above 8,000 feet — visitors coming from sea level will feel the thin air on the climb out. Take the switchbacks slower than your ego wants and stop to breathe without shame.
Wall Street's narrow switchbacks get icy and treacherous in winter and are closed seasonally. Even in shoulder season, shaded sections can hold ice patches well into April. Check with the visitor center before assuming Wall Street is open.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Hike the loop clockwise — drop down Wall Street first while your legs are fresh, then climb out the more gradual Two Bridges side. The Wall Street switchbacks are brutal going up and the narrow walls trap afternoon heat.
Arrive before 9 AM or after 4 PM to dodge the worst of the Sunset Point parking crush. The lot fills by mid-morning in summer, and the overflow shuttle situation adds 20-30 minutes to your start.
The best photo of Thor's Hammer comes about a third of the way down the Two Bridges side in the late afternoon, when the low sun lights the hoodoo against deep blue sky. Morning light flattens it — patience pays off here.
Photos
NPS
