Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop

From Sunset Point walk the paved Rim Trail half a mile north to Sunrise Point. The Queen's Garden Trail drops from there into the amphitheater among the hoodoos; a short spur leads to the one named for Queen Victoria. Carry on along the canyon floor to the junction with the Navajo Loop and take the Two Bridges side, which climbs in tight switchbacks past its two small rock bridges, and past Thor's Hammer near the top, back to Sunset Point.

It is 3 miles (4.8 km) around the loop with 570 feet (173 m) of climbing; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: it is short, but the climb back to the rim is steep and the rim stands at about 8,000 feet.

This is the direction the park recommends. The Wall Street side of the Navajo Loop is closed until further notice after heavy rain (alert of September 29, 2026), and it closes every winter; the Two Bridges side stays open all year. Other trails are open but muddy. There is no water below the rim, and pets are not allowed on this trail. Wear boots with good grip: the park says poor footwear is the main cause of rescues. In 2026 the free park shuttle stops at Sunset and Sunrise Points until October 18.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.