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Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is the main destination for outdoor recreation here, with iconic hoodoos, rim viewpoints, and extensive hiking opportunities throughout the park.

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its vast amphitheaters filled with thousands of hoodoos—tall, thin rock spires carved by erosion into one of the most unusual landscapes in the American Southwest. Visitors come for sweeping viewpoints along the rim, scenic drives, and trails that descend into the canyon for a closer look at the formations. It is especially striking at sunrise and sunset, when the red, orange, and pink rock glows in changing light.

History

The area was protected as a national monument in 1923 and later designated a national park in 1928. Its name comes from Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon settler and rancher who lived in the area in the late 19th century and is commonly associated with the canyon’s early local history.

Quick tip: Plan to visit the rim viewpoints at sunrise or sunset for the best light, and bring layers because the high elevation can make temperatures change quickly.

Expert notes

More things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park

All things to do in Bryce Canyon National Park