Bryce Canyon Family Adventure: Hoodoos, Hikes & Historic Pie Crusts
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from traveling as a family, it’s that the best trips are a delightful mix of epic views, minor meltdowns, and pie crust so perfect it deserves its own zip code. Our adventure to Bryce Canyon National Park checked all those boxes—and then some. With hikes that made our quads scream (in a good way), stunning lookouts, and a warm, cozy stay at the legendary Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn, it was the kind of getaway that makes you seriously consider moving into a log cabin and becoming a hoodoo tour guide.
Here’s how our family fell head over hiking boots for Bryce Canyon—plus a little family history twist you won’t find on most travel blogs.
🏨 Home Base: Ruby’s Inn (with Bonus Family History!)
We booked our stay at Ruby’s Inn, a place so close to the entrance of Bryce Canyon National Park, it practically counts as camping—except way warmer, cozier, and with an indoor pool that our kids basically moved into. After long days of hiking and photo-snapping, soaking in that pool felt like pure luxury (and gave the adults a chance to sit still for 15 minutes).
But here’s where it gets fun: my great-grandaunt, Zetta Mae Shakespear, actually worked at the original Ruby’s Inn back when it was a frontier lodge run by the Syrett family. That makes this trip more than just another tick on our travel list—it was a bit of a homecoming. We even spent a little time reading the inn’s history plaque in the lobby, where the story of Ruby Syrett and his family building the inn from the ground up had us feeling all kinds of nostalgic. Thanks, Aunt Zetta Mae, for blazing the trail (and probably hand-washing the linens).
🥾 Hike 1: Queen’s Garden / Navajo Loop Combo — All Hail the Hoodoos
Let’s just get this out of the way: Bryce Canyon is not a canyon. It’s a giant natural amphitheater filled with gravity-defying rock spires called hoodoos. And the best way to get up close and personal with these Martian sculptures? The Queen’s Garden / Navajo Loop Combination Trail.
This 3-mile loop is the most popular hike in the park for a reason. It’s got everything: views, switchbacks, tunnels, and a queen-shaped rock who honestly deserves her own reality show. We started at Sunrise Point, descending through the hoodoo labyrinth on the Queen’s Garden Trail. The kids were pumped—climbing in and around the rock formations like little desert goats.
Then came the Navajo Loop, where you get to tackle the infamous Wall Street switchbacks—a steep series of zig-zagging trail that’s basically a stairmaster made of dirt. By the time we climbed back out at Sunset Point, we were sweaty, dusty, and absolutely grinning. It was one of those hikes that leaves your legs burning but your camera roll overflowing. Not gonna lie the trail up and out is pure torture.
Highlights:
- Hoodoos that look like they were built by Dr. Seuss during a sugar high
- A mini cave you walk through (cue the adventure soundtrack)
- The moment the kids realized hiking can be fun if it includes scrambling
🥧 Fuel Stop: Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant
After burning what felt like 12,000 calories on the trail, we rolled into Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant in search of comfort food. The menu was solid, but let’s be honest—we came for the pie.
Friends, this was not just pie. This was THE pie crust. Buttery. Flaky. The stuff of dreams and possibly ancient hoodoo magic (I’ll admit that I’m a food critic everywhere I go, this is the best crust I have eaten for any pie, I tried replicating it but can’t). We’re still debating which flavor was best (Bonnie’s vote was boysenberry, mine was the mixed fruit), but we all agreed we’d drive back for the crust alone.
🚶♂️ Hike 2: Mossy Cave Trail — Short, Sweet, and Surprisingly Green
The next morning, we decided to do something a bit more low-key and headed for the Mossy Cave Trail. It’s located just outside the main park entrance on Highway 12 and is a gem of a hike for families.
The trail is only 0.8 miles round-trip but packs in a ton of charm: a waterfall (it’s actually run off from a manmade irrigation ditch), a little stream, and of course, the mossy cave itself. It’s easy, kid-friendly, and offers great rock scrambling opportunities. Bonus: you can toss in a geology lesson without the kids even realizing they’re learning.
Pro Tip: Go early in the day for good lighting and fewer crowds.
📸 Scenic Drive Shenanigans: All the Viewpoints, All the Ooohs and Aaahs
You know a national park is special when you can drive through it and still have your breath stolen at every turn. We took our time on the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive, stopping at every single viewpoint—and yes, I do mean every single one. The kids started out enthusiastic and ended up rating each stop based on snack potential and selfie quality.
Favorite Viewpoints:
- Bryce Point: Sunrise here is unreal. The amphitheater glows like it’s lit from within.
- Inspiration Point: Appropriately named. You’ll want to write poetry or at least a very heartfelt Instagram caption.
- Natural Bridge: Because who doesn’t love a giant rock arch?
- Rainbow & Yovimpa Points: The end of the road but the start of some jaw-dropping long-distance views over the Grand Staircase.
The great thing about these stops is that you can mix and match—some require zero walking, while others have short trails that loop you into different perspectives.
🍔 Dinner Detour: Showdowns in Tropic
After a long day of sightseeing and just enough hiking to make everyone mildly cranky, we headed into Tropic, a small town just a few minutes outside the park. Our goal? Food.
We landed at Showdowns, a casual western-themed joint with a decent burger, excellent fries, and surprisingly tasty fry sauce. It’s got outdoor seating, friendly service, and just enough cowboy flair to make the kids want to reenact a spaghetti western.
🎠 Park Time: Just Down the Road, Swinging into Sunset
Right near Ruby’s Inn, there’s a public park that ended up being one of the surprise hits of the trip. After hours in the car and on trails, the kids were thrilled to run wild on the swings and slides. We adults? We sat on a bench with pie, leftovers, and zero complaints.
It’s proof that sometimes the best family travel moments aren’t on the itinerary—they’re the simple ones where everyone’s smiling, moving, and not arguing over snacks.
📚 Hoodoo History and Zetta Mae
We couldn’t leave without diving a little deeper into the history that made this trip so special. Ruby’s Inn was founded in 1916 by Reuben C. (“Ruby”) Syrett, who saw the beauty of Bryce and knew others would too. He opened his lodge near the canyon rim and began hosting curious travelers, helping put Bryce on the map.
And somewhere in that early chapter? Zetta Mae Shakespear, my great-grandaunt, working the original inn and laying down a little family legacy. There’s something truly special about walking the same grounds your ancestors did—especially when those grounds now come with hot tubs, souvenir shops, and really great biscuits.
📝 Final Thoughts: Bryce is Best
Bryce Canyon may not be the biggest or most hyped of the Utah national parks, but for our family, it’s top-tier. Between the jaw-dropping views, the kid-approved hikes, the delicious food, and the extra sprinkle of family history, this trip was unforgettable.
Whether you’re conquering the Queen’s Garden Loop or just conquering the dessert menu, there’s something magical about Bryce. It’s the kind of place that makes your heart a little fuller and your camera roll a lot fatter.
So next time you’re looking for a trip that hits all the right notes—scenic, active, meaningful, and pie-fueled—set your GPS to Ruby’s Inn and let the hoodoos do the rest.
Planning Your Bryce Adventure? Here are some quick tips:
- Stay at Ruby’s Inn (indoor pool = guaranteed kid happiness)
- Hike Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop early to beat crowds
- Eat at Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant and don’t skip the pie – or just go for the pie
- Stop at every viewpoint (trust us)
- Bring layers—mornings are chilly, afternoons can be toasty
- Pack more water than you think you’ll need
- Add Mossy Cave and a visit to Tropic for the full experience
Happy trails—and save a slice of pie for us! 🥾🥧📸
