Bryce Canyon is home to the largest collection of hoodoos on Earth. It is not a canyon at all, actually, but a 6-square-mile field of intricately carved statues that were crafted over the course of millions of years by the forces of erosion. Facing east and south, vast labyrinths of high promontories, deep canyons, jagged spires of balancing rocks, and other mysterious formations are emblazoned by bold colors of red, orange, pink, and white. It is a landscape that is totally unique – entirely different than nearby Zion as well as other Utah national parks – partly attributed to its high elevation location ranging from 8,000-9,000 feet. The air is thinner up there, the environment colder, and the wind much, much stronger – elements that come together to create an otherworld on the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Stepping onto any lookout, you are challenged to connect with a most amazing example of the forces of nature affecting this planet, and at the same time, you will almost certainly feel as though you are stepping foot onto the edge of another world.

For this article, we want to highlight a few different ideas that will deliver a diverse experience in Bryce – where to stay, hike, auto-tour and capture the best sunrise and sunset views – with the caveat that at this one-of-a-kind national park, there is nothing more spectacular than the red rock nation that sprawls across Utah’s high desert on the Colorado Plateau.

Drive: Hitting the scenic auto-trails in the national parks is often the best place to start to gain an understanding of the lay of the land. Many of the park roads were developed and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early days of the park service in an effort to provide access to the most interesting (and marketable) features nearby. A scenic tour along the 38-mile (round trip) Bryce Canyon National Park Rim Road provides access to 13 viewpoints that peer over the amphitheaters. It is a perfect first outing to get acquainted with the park.

Stay: There are three lodging options located inside of the park: the North Campground (open year-round,) Sunset Campground (high season,) and the recently renovated 114-room Bryce Canyon Lodge, which was built from local timber and stone in 1924-25. Any non-park related activity – be it sleeping, eating, shopping, gassing up, or learning about the local history – will almost surely bring you to Ruby’s legendary roadhouse. The lodge was built in 1919 by Reuben C. (Ruby) Syrett who was so spellbound by the scene at Bryce that he decided to stand up a “tourist rest” where he and his family could host visitors to the area. As the park became more popular, so did Ruby’s – it is an absolute can’t miss in the area (you couldn’t miss it even if you tried!) Everything you need to fuel a park adventure is available there. The operation is still family run – by Ruby’s son Carl, and two generations that follow him.

Wander: A 1-mile walk between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point offers panoramic views of the amphitheater and is suitable for anyone, the only real challenge being that severe weather can cause the paved pathway to ice over during colder months. Each overlook is situated at a trailhead where from you can descend into the hoodoos if you want to explore deeper

Enjoy the sunset: Sunset Point is usually the first stop on everyone’s list and is a top spot to capture shots of a golden forest of stone. There is no shortage of onlookers capturing selfies and panoramic shots of the amphitheater at this lookout, but you’ll likely find yourself distracted only by the geologic wonder surrounding the scene. This area is called the Claron Formation, made up of deposits from the Claron lakebed comprised of 50-million-year-old limestone that shows rich and vibrant color – especially under the sun – created by its iron oxide mineral compounds. Whether you are intrigued by geol

ogic processes or just want to marvel at the area’s undeniable beauty, all visitors stop in their tracks at this famed overlook, particularly when the sun falls onto the canyons.