Bryce Amphitheater Traverse, UT

The Bryce Amphitheater Traverse is exactly what it sounds like. You get to hike across the hoodoo amphitheater.


Hike
Starting from Bryce Point Trailhead descend into the hoodoos along the Peek-A-Boo Connector Trail (1.1 mi). The Peekaboo loop junction is well signed. We opted to go left at the junction and head towards The Wall of Windows (cool views in a full moon).

Follow this steep and undulating west/upper section of the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail about 1.7 miles to a clearly signed junction, turn left to continue towards Navajo Loop and complete the Amphitheatre Traverse via Queen's Garden (or turn right to finish to Peekaboo Loop and bail out at Bryce Point.

Shortly after this first junction, another junction will pop up, this second junction will be signed Horse Trail to the right or Navajo Loop to the left.
Stay left and continue through a gentle creekbed until you reach a four-way intersection where you can hike your own hike.

To complete the actual Amphitheatre Traverse you should finish off the final 1.6 miles and exit out Queen's Garden Trail.

Or save yourself 0.3mi by exiting Two Bridges which is the north side of the Navajo Loop.

Or get some more cardio in by taking the south side of the Navajo Loop and climbing out some 500 feet along the Wall Street switchbacks.
All three options are well signed. We notice Bryce has a sign fetish, it should be fairly difficult to get lost along these main trails.

Note
You can add 2.7 miles to this hike by parking your vehicle at Sunrise Point (where Queen's Garden Trail exits) and hiking the Rim Trail from Sunrise to Bryce Point. This avoids needing two vehicles or using the free Bryce Shuttle Bus (operates during the summer season). Sunrise to Bryce on the rim is almost entirely uphill and was a good warm-up for the moonlit "Traverse" we did. Highly recommend it.

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2020-06-07 Hippy