Hike the Painted Canyon Nature Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Bentonite clay becomes dangerously slick when wet — if it has rained in the last few hours, the steeper sections can feel like hiking on greased tile. Check with a ranger at the visitor center before heading down.
There is zero shade on the exposed sections of the loop. On summer afternoons, temperatures can climb well above 100 degrees on the canyon floor, and the climb back up will feel twice as long. Carry water even for a one-mile hike.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Time your visit for the first or last hour of daylight — the canyon walls light up in warm tones that flatten to nothing under the midday sun, and you'll dodge the tour bus crowds that peak between 10 AM and 2 PM.
Wear shoes with actual tread. The bentonite clay that makes the canyon so photogenic turns into an ice rink when wet, and the descent has a few sections where smooth-soled shoes will betray you.
The overlook at the visitor center is where most people stop and snap a photo before driving on. Walk the full loop and you'll find a bench at the canyon floor with a view that puts the overlook to shame — and you might have it entirely to yourself.
Photos
NPS Photo/J. Houghton
