Distance: 8.8 miles (14.2 km) overall
Hiking time: About 4.5 hours
Best season: April–October
Difficulty: Moderate
Water availability: None
Topo maps: USGS Podunk Creek and Rainbow Point; Trails Illustrated Bryce Canyon National Park
Finding the trailhead: From Rainbow Point follow the sidewalk on the southwest side of the parking lot toward Yovimpa Point. Look for trailhead signs for Bristlecone Loop, Yovimpa Pass, and Riggs Spring. The hike starts here.
Trailhead GPS: 37.475082, -112.240329
Hikers can complete this 8.8-mile loop as a day hike or as a relaxing overnight backpacking trip. There are three park backcountry campgrounds along the trail--the Yovimpa Pass Campground, the Riggs Springs Campground, and the Corral Hollow Campground. The trail passes through country south of Rainbow Point, crossing some of the more remote backcountry of Bryce Canyon National Park. The northwestern portion of the trail stays above the rim of the Pink Cliffs and traverses a pleasant subalpine forest until it reaches the Yovimpa Pass Campground. From Yovimpa Pass the trail follows the Lower Podunk Creek wash down from the canyon rim to Riggs Spring. Beyond Riggs Spring the trail skirts the base of pink limestone cliffs before climbing around The Promontory and returning to Rainbow Point.
