Red Canyon, Natural canyon in Garfield County, United States.
Red Canyon is a canyon in Garfield County, Utah, within Dixie National Forest, about 15 km northwest of Bryce Canyon National Park. Water, wind and ice eroded the Claron Formation into red hoodoos up to 60 m high, coloured by iron oxide. The mostly dry bed of the Paria River runs along the valley floor, and Highway 12 passes through the canyon.
The canyon lies on the southeastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, where the Paria River's mostly dry bed runs along the valley floor. Water, wind and ice eroded the Claron Formation into hoodoos up to 60 metres high, coloured red by iron oxide. The canyon is crossed by Utah's Scenic Byway 12, a busy route to Bryce Canyon.
The name comes from the red-brown colour of the rock, caused by iron oxide in the Claron Formation. Most travellers on Scenic Byway 12 drive past without stopping on their way to Bryce Canyon, and the canyon appears in few guidebooks. About a dozen trails open the area, including the 1.3 km Birds Eye Trail and the 4.8 km Losee Trail.
A visitor center near the entrance provides maps and information about local trails and the canyon's geology. A nearby campground with various sites, water access, and fire pits makes it easy to spend the night.
The two red rock tunnels that carry the highway were blasted directly through the canyon walls rather than built around them. This unusual design creates an odd feeling while driving, as you pass through the interior of the rock itself.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,145 contributors worldwide.