Bryce Canyon from Sunset Point

"O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?" -Deuteronomy 3:24

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Scenery		Strange, brilliant-red spires filling and entire valley
Uniqueness		There's nothing like these formations anywhere
Wildlife		Weren't there long enough to see much
Diversity		Some diverse trails, but mostly just canyon
All ratings are on a "4-star" scale - for more on how these were assessed, view the how parks are rated page

The Park Bryce Canyon is one of the most bizzarre rock formations around.  This valley, full of wind-eroded red spires known as "hoodoos," is justifyibly world renowned and was protected as a National Park in 1928.

In a Word  "Enchanting"

Park Map
Click on red circles to see photos

Map for reference only - not intended for navigation

Our Visit We visited Bryce Canyon in June 2003 while driving back home from Zion National Park.  While the scenery is no less spectacular than Zion, it's a much smaller place, so we planned  a few-hour stop.

Our Weather The day was bright and warm with only high, wispy clouds.

Overall Impression The first glimpse into the valley full of red "hoodoos" was nothing short of breathtaking!   There just isn't anything like this anywhere else in the world.  The strange landscape is something between pre-historic and science fiction, and is difficult to describe in words.  You simply have to see it to believe its unique beauty.  The only reason Bryce Canyon did not get a "4-star" rating is that it doesn't offer a lot of diversity like Yellowstone, Zion or other large parks, but the views at Bryce surpass all other Parks in the sense of wonder they instill.

Favorite Spot Looking out from Sunset Point

Minimum Time Required About 90 minutes.  There is one road into Bryce with several stops along the way to see the canyon.  You'll only have to hike the last 100 yards or so to peer over the rim.   One hour will allow you sufficient time to see the canyon from a couple of vantage points.  We chose Sunset Point and Bryce Point and were not disappointed.

A Longer Visit If we'd had more time, we would have hiked down into the "hoodoos" on one of the trails.   There were also a couple of interesting looking stops further down the road than we were able to go in our short time.

Other Nearby Attractions Zion National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Suggestions A half day at Bryce is probably sufficient.  If you want good pictures, go in the morning to get the best sun angle on the canyon.  Also, enjoy the drive into and out of the park--there are some pretty cool rock formations there too.  

Official NPS Website Bryce Canyon NP

Photos Click on thumbnails to view larger image

3. Looking down into the hoodoos, Jun 03	4. From Bryce Point (looking West), Jun 03
5. Spectacular color from Sunset Point, Jun 03

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