Bryce Canyon Under the Rim - Worth the drive?

[xsproutx]

I've had the under the rim trail on my list to do for a little while and was thinking about doing it next weekend during the long weekend. It's a holiday weekend but most things I'm reading have most people saying they see a small handful of people on the whole thing so hoping it wouldn't be too crazy for a backpacking trip. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the rainbow shuttle is running and since I'm solo, I can't really set up a shuttle. This had me considering just starting at Bryce point and doing an out and back; hike something like 15 in, 15 back. Anybody on here done the trail and can say if it's worth it or not? I'm a veteran, so I get into the park for free at least, but it's a bit of a drive to get up there from Phoenix. I've done some out and backs that are just amazing because the view is so different going in one direction than the other... and others that are just boring retread. Curious to what this one is like!

[jacobemerick]

@xsproutx it's worth the drive. I have a friend who did a portion (from Bryce Point to Whiteman) a few years back and I did the whole length this year, its awesome. Definitely an eye-candy adventure that has a very different experience depending on your direction, especially near Bryce Point. Throw in some Navajo / Peekaboo and you'll have a real winner.

[xsproutx]

@jacobemerick
Perfect, thanks for the feedback. My tentative plan was to drive up and hike a few miles down to one of the Yellow Creek sites and then hike out to around Natural bridge the next day before and either camping at the site near there (if I want to carry water from Swamp Canyon, which seems to be the closest reliable water source east of that) or turning around and camping in Swamp Canyon that night. I think I read Peekaboo might be closed now due to the weather mucking up the trail but I'll have to put Navajo on the list!

[big_load]

FWIW, I've never avoided a trip for being an out-and-back. For me, there's always something different about the return trip. Even if there weren't, it would still be free time by myself in a great setting, and I'll take that however I can get it.

[xsproutx]

@big_load
Oh I get you; it's more that I always have things on the list so could push this to some other time (and backpack elsewhere) when the shuttle is running if people said things like "the southern part is the best by far, you don't want to miss it". Honestly, my in-laws live in SLC and we drive up there once or twice a year, usually stopping at a park on the way, so could just day hike that portion on one of those trips anyway.