⚡ The Quick Scoop
The Verdict: It's like a miniature Arches National Park without the massive crowds. A completely perfect, quick escape for families!
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (It's a short loop, but there is some loose sandy footing.)
Distance: A quick 0.7-mile loop.
Location: Losee Canyon, Dixie National Forest (Right near the Red Canyon Area!)
Wait, Arches National Park is near Bryce Canyon? No, it absolutely isn't. But the secret, hidden Arches Trail definitely is.
Located just 30 minutes west of the main Bryce Canyon entrance, tucked away safely inside the Dixie National Forest, lies a hidden hiking loop that feels like a "greatest hits" album of Utah's unique geology. It has towering hoodoos, rock windows, tunnels, and yes—stand-alone arches—all packed into a hike that is less than a mile long!
If you have spent the morning dealing with bumper-to-bumper traffic at Bryce's Sunset Point, this trail is your ultimate escape hatch.
👇 Choose Your Path
Finding The Trailhead
The trail is located in Losee Canyon, which is part of the Red Canyon section of the Dixie National Forest. To get here, you need to turn onto Losee Road just before you hit the main Red Canyon tourist visitor center.
You'll travel down a dirt road for a few miles. While it definitely has washboards (I like to call it the "Utah Massage"), it is nowhere near as punishing as the infamous Hole-in-the-Rock road! As long as you take it slow and dodge the occasional pothole, a standard sedan can usually make it just fine. If you catch it right after the county has graded it, it is a total breeze.
❄️ Traveler's Tale: Frost on OrVilla
Don't Blink: The turn-off is surprisingly easy to miss if you are cruising fast down the highway! Because this area is public BLM land, there are some incredible dispersed camping spots tucked back past the trailhead if you want to sleep under the stars.
We often take our SUV, OrVilla, back here for early winter camping. There is nothing quite like waking up with thick frost on the car windows, bundled tight in blankets, and stepping out to see the vibrant orange rocks and green pines dusted with stark white frost! Since the canyon faces south, you don't get the perfect golden hour sunrise, but the daytime lighting is beautiful and completely escapes the intense summer heat.
🗺️ Shauna's Perfect Bryce Itinerary
I honestly love to do this Arches hike right as I arrive in the area around 5:00 or 6:00 PM. I hike the loop, set up camp for the night right here on the BLM land, and then hit the main Bryce Canyon gates right at sunrise the next morning. I enjoy Bryce from sunrise to sunset!
Then, the following day, when I am a little tired of looking at hoodoos, I head down to Willis Creek for a delightful slot canyon change of pace, and finish the trip soaking up the water at either Tropic Reservoir or Pine Lake.
Explore the trailhead parking lot in Google Maps 360 view.
Step Inside The Hike
Want to see what it's really like before you lace up your boots? I filmed this entire trail in 360° VR. Throw on your VR headset, or just click and drag around on your phone screen, to transport yourself right into the red rocks!
The YouTube VR Tour
The Insta360 Tiny Planet Tour
Hoodoos, Arches, and Wizard Wands
Unlike massive National Park trails that keep you completely behind strict wooden railings, this trail basically says "come play." It actively encourages you to explore the little spur trails and get right up close to the formations. You aren't just looking at the scenery from a distance; you are walking through it.
The vibrant red hoodoos rising against the green pines.
Choose Your Own Adventure
One of the absolute best things about this hike is the social trails. I've hiked it four times, and I swear I end up on a slightly different path every single time! There are so many tiny spur trails that are safe to explore, making it feel like a physical "choose your own adventure" book.
The "Harry Potter" Trees
Keep your eyes peeled for the scorched trees along the path! I found two of them that were absolutely unique—the trunks spiral upward in a crazy, twisting pattern and look like they were struck by lightning. They look exactly like massive Harry Potter wands waiting for a giant to pluck them from the earth and cast a spell!
The twisted "Wizard Wand" trees along the path.
The Butterscotch Pine Challenge
I have a challenge for you! As you walk through the green pines contrasting against the red rocks, go find a massive Ponderosa Pine. They are the trees with the long needles and the tan bark that looks like puzzle pieces.
Put your nose right up to the bark and smell it! It will absolutely shock you—it smells exactly like warm vanilla and butterscotch baking in the sun. It is one of my favorite sensory experiences in the forest!
The "Cages" & The Arch Scramble
One of the quirks of this trail is the infrastructure. There are sections with wooden stairs made of heavy railroad ties. While they look old and rustic, they felt very safe and secure to me—I wasn't nervous traversing them at all.
The only "sketchy" part? Trying to scramble up into the big arch! It is quite steep with some loose rock at the base. I usually love having Todd there to give me a "you are ok!" boost of confidence. But honestly, if I am hiking it solo, it is all about the gear. Relying on my trekking poles for stability and the intense grip of my Hoka hiking boots makes the scramble totally manageable. Once you are actually up on the arch, the sandstone has incredible texture and bumps for traction. It is absolutely worth the effort to sit inside!
🌟 Better than Fairyland?
I absolutely love the famous Fairyland Loop in Bryce Canyon, but the truth is, you view the arch there from a significant distance. Here on the Arches Trail? You can walk right up to the window and physically touch the stone. If you want intimacy with the rock, this trail wins hands down.
🎒 Shauna's Arches Trail Gear Guide
Whether you are scrambling up the sandstone arches or winter camping in the BLM lands, here is the gear that gives me confidence on this trail!
- 🥾 Grippy Hiking Boots: The scramble up to the main arch has some steep, loose rock. My Hokas give me the ultimate traction so I never feel like I am going to slide.
- 🦯 Sturdy Trekking Poles: An absolute must-have if you are hiking solo and need that extra point of contact and stability on the sandy slickrock.
- 💧 Hydration Pack & Liquid I.V.: If I am planning a big hiking day in the Utah desert, I always pack a hydration pack, and Liquid I.V. always does the job keeping me from getting dehydrated. If you are hiking with kids, this will definitely make things not so brutal and help them conquer the trail!
- 🏕️ Cold Weather Blankets: If you plan to take your SUV past the trailhead for some BLM camping in the winter like we do in OrVilla, pack extra thick blankets to combat that morning frost!
*Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our adventures!
Walk Under The Arch
I captured this 360° photo sphere right underneath one of the main arches on the trail! Spin it around to see the unique red rock ceiling towering right above you.
🗺️ Pro Tip for Homebound Explorers!
To get the ultimate interactive experience: Click "View on larger map" on the map below. Then, grab the little yellow dude (Pegman) in the bottom right corner and drag him onto any of the blue dots or blue lines. This drops you right into the 360° view so you can look around freely, even if Google's navigation arrows are acting glitchy!
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions
Is there cell phone service?
No. I have never had a cellular signal back in this canyon. Definitely download your maps and any information you need while you are still on the main highway!
When is the best time for photos?
Sunrise is usually popular for red rocks, but the canyon walls here are tight and can create tricky shadows in the early morning. Don't expect perfect golden light the moment the sun comes up; you might be hiking in the shade for a bit until the sun gets higher!
Do I need a National Park Pass?
Nope! This trail is in the Dixie National Forest, which is generally free to access. Save your pass for the main Bryce entrance down the road!
✨ Ask the Wilderness Guide
Curious about the washboard roads, the Harry Potter trees, or how to get here from Bryce? Ask our AI Guide!
The Magic is Yours
Sometimes the greatest adventures aren't found at the most crowded viewpoints, but tucked away on a quiet dirt road just 30 minutes away. I hope this VR journey inspires you to skip the crowds, touch the sandstone, and find your own magic in the forest!
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ SlowTVGetaways
🏜️ Keep Exploring Utah's Red Rocks
If you loved this hidden Bryce alternative, check out my other favorite red rock guides:
About Shauna
Shauna is a Utah-based outdoor enthusiast, high school educator, and the creator behind the YouTube channel @SlowTVGetaways. She specializes in cinematic Slow TV nature tours and building 3D wooden puzzles in stunning landscapes. When she isn't teaching math or creating immersive VR adventures, you can find her hiking the Wasatch mountains or road-tripping in her trusty SUV, OrVilla.
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