Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its thousands of hoodoos—striking red-rock spires and pillars. A network of trails offers excellent hiking and horseback riding.
The highest of all Utah national parks, Bryce Canyon National Park forms the upper step of what’s known as the Grand Staircase. This vast part of the Colorado Plateau is sculpted by water and characterized by canyons, river systems, rock formations and valleys.
With its total area of 56 square miles (145 km²), Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the smallest national parks in America. Its relatively small size makes it a great day trip destination. Often combined with nearby parks like Zion and/or Grand Canyon, this is one of the most visited parks in the system.
The park’s landscapes consist of several natural amphitheaters, which are technically not canyons—The flowing water that creates the deep canyons elsewhere in the region isn’t present in Bryce Canyon. Situated on the edge of a desert plateau, the park is filled with spectacular rock formations called hoodoos.
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Highlights of Bryce Canyon National Park
The majority of highlights in Bryce Canyon National Park are in and around Bryce Amphitheater, the park’s largest and most famous natural amphitheater.
Bryce Amphitheater is its absolute star attraction and focal point, the place where you’ll find most of the hoodoos that so typify the park. There, you’ll see hundreds upon hundreds of these towering, narrow pinnacles and pillars of red rock.
All of the following highlights (formations, viewpoints and hikes) are in Bryce Amphitheater.
Major Rock Formations
Rock formations characterize this fantastic desert park. They’re the number one reason people go there, and their sheer magnificence is hard to exaggerate.
It’s also difficult to pick the most striking rock formations out of a total of literally many hundreds of them. The following, however, have names, which usually means they’re more “special” than others.
Note that you can see all of them from the hiking trails listed further down this page.
- Thor’s Hammer
- Queen Victoria
- Wall of Windows
- Wall Street
- Two Bridges
Best Overlooks
There are four spectacular viewpoints on the rim of Bryce Amphitheater. All of them offer a (slightly) different vantage point.
The views from each overlook extend over and beyond this sensational natural amphitheater, but because of their different angles, you’re encouraged to visit all of them. All hiking trails into the amphitheater start at one of these overlooks.
- Sunrise Point
- Sunset Point
- Inspiration Point
- Bryce Point
Recommended Hikes
There’s a number of hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park, but only four you should focus on. They’re the following.
- Navajo Loop Trail (1.3-mile (2.2-kilometer) loop past some of the park’s most famous rock formations and hoodoos)
- Queens Garden Trail (1.8- mile (2.9-kilometer) child-friendly descent to an area filled with hoodoos)
- Peek-a-Boo Loop (superb 5.5-mile (8.8-kilometer) circuit into the heart of Bryce Amphitheater)
The beauty of these three trails is that you can link them together to create longer and more challenging hikes.
- Rim Trail (scenic stroll along the edge of the plateau, distance varies from 1 to 11 miles (1.6 to 11.7 kilometers) depending on your own preference and ability)
Accommodation Near Bryce Canyon National Park
In addition to two campgrounds and the historic Lodge at Bryce Canyon, there are several accommodation options in towns around the park.
Booking.com
Useful Info
Location: Southern Utah
Nearest Town: Tropic
Area: 56 square miles (35,835 acres)
Annual Visitors (2022): 2,354,660
Features: Hoodoos, red-rock formations, desert landscapes
Top Attractions: Bryce Amphitheater, Silent City, Thor’s Hammer, Wall of Windows, Queen Victoria, Wall Street, Two Bridges, Natural Bridg, Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive, scenic overlooks
Popular Activities: Hiking, horseback riding, stargazing, sunrise and sunset watching, snowshoeing
Suggested Stay: 1 day
Campground(s):
- North Campground (99 sites)
- Sunset Campground (100 sites)
More Information: National Park Service
Nearby National Parks:
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
- Zion National Park, Utah
- Arches National Park, Utah
- Canyonlands National Park, Utah
- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
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