Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos (large columns of rock formations) on earth and is situated so that you can view miles of them right from the parking lot or hike into them. Whether you have two hours or two days, Bryce Canyon will not disappoint.
Every time we told someone we were going to Utah to visit Zion National Park, they asked if we were also going to Bryce Canyon. To be honest, I didn’t know much about it except that it was part of Utah’s Mighty 5. I was concerned it would be too far, too crowded or too much of the same. But I was definitely wrong.
Located about 2 hours northeast of Zion, Bryce Canyon is near the top of the Giant Staircase – a geological formation that begins just east of here and continues southwest to the Grand Canyon. Formed millions of years ago when most of this area was covered in water, Bryce Canyon sits at an elevation of 9,100 feet. Unlike Zion, where you are looking up at the sandstone formations, at Bryce Canyon you are looking down into an amphitheater of sandstone that has been formed in a completely different way. Where Zion has huge monoliths, Bryce Canyon has hoodoos, fins and arches that were formed at ice, water and wind eroded the rock away.
We knew we only had about two hours to explore Bryce Canyon and I was initially concerned that we didn’t have enough time to really justify the trip, however with fewer crowds and ample parking throughout, we had no trouble doing everything we set out to do. After a quick stop at the Visitor Center, we drove to Sunset Point, where we easily found parking. From here it was a short, paved trail to the edge of the amphitheater where the views were incredible. We walked along the Rim Trail to Sunrise Point, stopping at various points to take in the changed views. You are above the hoodoos here and can easily see down into the amphitheater of rock formations. The walk to Sunrise Point was flat and easy and there was a raised lookout here as well.
With two superhero fans, we opted to return to Sunset Point to take the Navajo Loop Trail past Thor’s Hammer, one of the rock formations in the amphitheater. You could also take the Queen’s Garden Trail from Sunrise Point, which is less steep than the Navajo Loop Trail. If you’re looking for a longer hike, you can connect through to the Navajo Loop Trail. These trails are considered moderate because of the elevation changes that take you from the top of the amphitheater down into the bottom, but the opportunity to hike amongst all of those rock formations made it well worth the work!
Be sure to bring water along, as there are no facilities inside the amphitheater. There were clean bathrooms with water refill stations in each parking lot. We hiked down to the two bridges before opting to return to the car. Because of its high altitude, Bryce Canyon’s temperatures were far lower than its neighboring parks but be sure to check the forecast for rain before venturing into the hoodoos, as mud slides can occur with high rains. Visitors who want to hike further or travel one way can opt to park at the Visitor Center and take a shuttle, so that they don’t need to worry about parking and returning to the same place, but it is not required.
We returned to the Visitor Center and spent some time learning about the geological formations of Bryce Canyon and the Giant Staircase in the museum. It was extremely informative, and the boys really enjoyed all of the interactive displays. There was even one where they could pretend to be a prairie dog! They also had several outdoor exhibits for children to enjoy. The boys completed their Junior Ranger books in the museum and we picked up their badges. The book was filled with questions about the geological formations, which taught them so much about this region and its topography.
Whether you have two hours like us or two days to explore, Bryce Canyon National Park was well worth the stop. The views from the Rim Trail are amazing, but if you have the ability to walk down into the hoodoos themselves, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity. I enjoyed the hike down and the ability to stand right in between them immensely. One of the most amazing things was simply to see how much the views changed as you moved along the trails.
Have you been to Bryce Canyon National Park? What was your favorite part?
