Riggs Spring Loop

Starting from Yovimpa Point at the far southern end of Bryce Canyon — where most tourists never bother to drive — the Riggs Spring Loop drops you off the rim and into a world that feels nothing like the famous hoodoo amphitheaters up north. You'll descend through ancient bristlecone pines, some older than the Roman Empire, into thick spruce-fir forests where the temperature drops noticeably and the silence gets almost unsettling. The western leg is the steeper side, with a relentless grade through dense forest canopy, while the eastern return opens up to long views of pink and white cliffs stretching toward the horizon. At roughly eight and a half miles, this is a legitimate day-long effort that rewards hikers who want Bryce Canyon without the crowds. If you've done the Navajo Loop and thought 'that was too easy,' this is your trail.