Bristlecone Loop Trail
A one-mile loop hike through high-elevation forests.
Plan Around Bristlecone Loop Trail
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Bristlecone Loop Trail Details
The one-mile Bristlecone Loop trail is a four-seasons experience: you can hike it in the warmer months and cross-country ski in winter, when snow depths can range from two to 15 feet. The loop trail starts and ends at Rainbow Point, and remains above the canyon rim in the high-elevation southern end of the park. Heavily forested, the trail wanders among 1,800-year-old Bristlecone Pines as well as blue spruce, Douglas fir, and white fir. The woods provide shelter for wildlife that includes squirrels, chipmunks, owls, grouse, woodpeckers, ravens, and Steller's Jays. Breaks in the forest yield long-distance views that stretch to the Four Corners area, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. The trail intersects with the Under-the-Rim Trail for those interested in a long-distance hike.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
1.0 mile
Estimated time
1 hour
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Bristlecone Loop Trail
Compare nearby parks around Bristlecone Loop Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Bristlecone Loop Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Bristlecone Loop Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Rainbow and Yovimpa Viewpoints
Start your auto tour at these northern viewpoints, which provide a nice overview of the park's geology.
0.1 mi away
Riggs Spring Loop Trail
The Riggs Spring Loop Trail begins at Yovimpa Point and travels through spruce, fir, and bristlecone forests.
2.4 mi away
Ponderosa Canyon Viewpoint
Peer into a canyon filled with towering Ponderosa pines.
3.2 mi away
Agua Canyon Viewpoint
Look for hoodoos resembling a hunter and a rabbit at this scenic overlook.
4.1 mi away
Natural Bridge Viewpoint
Natural Bridge is one of several natural arches in the park, all formed by erosion.
