Hat Shop via Under the Rim Trail is a 4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Bryce, Utah that offers the chance to see wildlife and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from April until October.
birding
hiking
nature trips
forest
views
wildlife
no shade
no dogs
Did this right after watching sunrise at Bryce point and was literally the only person on this trail. Gorgeous views of the grand staircase. To me, those views we're more awesome than the hat shop formations. Really easy going to hat shop because it's all downhill. So, coming back was really steep. Even just those two miles back were exhausting.
Hat shop formations are worth it! Hike early in the morning or later evening. Take water. Save most of it for the return. Great views along the way. It took us about 3 hours. We went in the middle of the day. The way out is much harder. We are average ability hikers.
nice going down, STEEP on the way back out - it's fun to go part ways but doing the whole thing is a drag - if you want a less travelled trail which won't kill you on the uphill try the Riggs Spring Loop instead
Excellent trail, took us 2 and a quarter hours with lots of stops for photos. Amazingly lightly trafficked for Bryce in the summer season - we saw only one other person!
Quite a work-out on the way back but totally worth it. Hat Shop itself was great to see close up.
Look out for the pine tree, right by the trail, recently struck by lightning, blasting large chunks of trunk off the tree