Bryce Canyon National Park, National park in Kane County, Utah, United States.
Description
Bryce Canyon National Park is a national park in Kane County, Utah, known for its densely packed limestone pinnacles called hoodoos. The terrain stretches along a series of natural amphitheaters, with the largest formation roughly 12 miles (19 kilometers) long and featuring thousands of pointed spires shaped by frost and water.
History
Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon pioneer and carpenter, settled below these cliffs in 1875 and built an irrigation canal for his livestock. The area received monument status in 1923 and was formally declared a national park five years later in 1928.
Culture
Former inhabitants, the Paiute, called this area Angka-ku-wass-a-wits, which translates to red rocks standing like people in a bowl-shaped canyon. Visitors today walk trails once used by indigenous groups who gathered plants and hunted game across these plateaus.
Practical
The main entrance sits on Highway 63, roughly half an hour south of Panguitch, while the elevation between 8000 and 9000 feet (2400 to 2700 meters) means hikers should bring clothing for cooler temperatures. A vehicle is useful because viewpoints are spread along a scenic drive, but free shuttles connect several popular trailheads during summer months.
Did you know?
Despite carrying the name canyon, it is not technically a canyon but rather a series of notches along the edge of a high plateau. The extreme elevation causes more than 200 freeze-thaw cycles per year on average, making the rock formations erode faster than in most other areas of the American Southwest.
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From the highest peaks to coastal cliffs, this collection brings together geographically significant observation points across all continents. The locations offer views of mountain ranges, waterfalls, deserts, oceans, and notable architectural structures. The selection includes the Great Wall near...
Rock pillars and spires shaped by erosion stand as natural monuments across various locations worldwide. These geological structures, known as hoodoos, display different colors and shapes based on their mineral composition and environmental conditions. From the red rocks of Utah to the limestone...
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitors Center
60 m
Pink Cliffs
15.9 km
Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District
2.6 kmUnder-the-Rim Trail
6.1 km
Bryce Canyon
3.6 km
Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District
1.6 kmRiggs Spring Fire Trail
20.3 km
Rainbow Point Comfort Station and Overlook Shelter
19.3 km
Old Administration Building
1 km
Horse Barn
1.9 km
Old National Park Service Housing Historic District
1.1 km
Bryce Inn
966 m
Bryce Canyon campground comfort stations
656 mDaves Hollow
5.9 km
Rainbow Point
19.2 kmDead Ox Canyon
5.9 km
Loop C Comfort Station
505 m
Loop D Comfort Station
617 m
Farview Natural Bridge
12.5 kmBristlecone Loop Trail
19.7 km
Bryce Canyon Visitor Center
55 m
Tropic Ditch Falls
5.7 km
Peekaboo Loop Trail
3.2 kmSwamp Canyon Connecting Trail
7.4 km
Navajo Loop Trail
2.6 km
Fairyland Loop Trail
2.4 km
Queens Garden Trail
2.4 kmDeluxe Cabins
1.5 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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