Tower Bridge

The hike to Tower Bridge in Bryce Canyon National Park is a straightforward 3.6-mile trek that takes hikers below the rim and offers views of some fascinating rock formations including the namesake Tower Bridge and others such as the Chinese Wall and the Sinking Ship. The hike does feature a fair amount of elevation change with a loss of over 900 feet on the way down, and the same 900 feet of gain on the way up.

Begin by finding a parking spot near Sunrise Point. This may be a challenge during midday hours as crowds are common. The Bryce Canyon General Store is near the trailhead and offers water and restrooms as well as food, showers, laundry, and more.

From Sunrise Point the route follows the Rim Trail north for a short distance before dropping into the canyon on the Fairyland Trail. You’ll see a sign for Tower Bridge (1.5 miles from this point) as well as a sign pointing out entry into the Bryce Canyon Wilderness Area.

The trail descends steadily down from this point, passing under the cover of pine trees before meandering beside some impressive wall-like hoodoo formations. While this hike doesn’t offer the iconic views of the famous hoodoos of the Bryce Amphitheater, there are some stunning formations along the way and as a bonus there are fewer crowds on this trail. One of these impressive formations is the Chinese Wall - an impressive long, straight row of fin like hoodoos that almost appear to be purposefully built, thus the allusion to the Great Wall of China in the name.

The Tower Bridge is ultimately reached after taking a right at a signed junction at the bottom of the descent. The resemblance to the iconic London Tower Bridge is striking. The rock formation features two natural arches and two high “towers.” The spur trail dead ends here near the bridge at a perfect photography spot. Once you’ve taken your share of pictures, return via the same route back to the trailhead, or continue along the Fairyland Trail for a much longer loop hike.