Beware, this post has a lot of hoodoos. Really, awesome hoodoos.
Bryce Canyon National Park is famous for its magnificent collection of hoodoos, which are caused by erosion over a long period of time. These tall chimney-like stacks of rocks form all over the Southwest. I’ve already showed you them from nearby Cedar Breaks in Central Utah and from Chiricahua in southern Arizona. However, Bryce’s collection of hoodoos is even more outstanding.
Hoodoo found along the Queen’s Garden Trail.
Bryce is located high up there, averaging over 8,000 ft (2500 m) in elevation. Even during my visit in mid-April, spring had only begun. Snow was still on the ground and the scenic road was only partially open.
Bryce Canyon isn’t even a canyon. Canyons are formed by water, flowing through a stream or river, eroding the rock. Bryce was formed by erosion and is almost open on one side. Nevertheless, the original name stuck.
Let’s start with the most famous of part of the park, the Amphitheater.
The view from Bryce Point, 8300 ft (2530 m) up. Quite a pretty view even with the clouds.
And then a little more to the left. Bryce has many fir trees.
Even more to the left. This is what is known as the Amphitheater.
The view from Inspiration Point overlooks the Amphitheater as well. So many hoodoos.
I walked the Rim Trail from Sunset to Sunrise Point. Gorgeous views.
The Rim Trail is fantastic.
I hiked in this area the next day. The Queen’s Garden Trail is the easiest trail that goes into the canyon. (And one of few that was actually open at the time.) It was really cool going down and hiking among the hoodoos.
I started right after a cloudy sunrise. I just wanted to get an early start since it was supposed to rain later that day.
A closer look at some hoodoos from the top.
The different colors of the rocks are really noticeable in this lighting.
Trail going down into the hoodoos.
Pretty awesome.
Heading towards the Queen’s Garden.
The Queen’s Garden was named for this hoodoo which looks kind of like Queen Victoria. I think it looks like Queen Victoria on a whale, to be honest.
Heading back out. Such a cool trail.
On the scenic road is Farview Point. Less hoodoos but still fantastic views.
Little bit farther is Natural Bridge view. Pretty cool.
After seeing the Amphitheater and driving what was open of the scenic drive on my first day at Bryce, I headed to the Mossy Cove Trail. This trail is located outside of the main area of the park, along Highway 12. It is much lower in elevation (so much easier to hike) and somehow the sun came out right on time.
The Mossy Cove Trail follows an actual canyon with a year-round river. It wasn’t always year-round, it’s now fed by a reservoir and used for irrigation.
Mossy Cove isn’t very much but it has a seep spring that makes ice in the winter and grows moss in the summer.
There is also a waterfall!
I didn’t expect the waterfall honestly.
I walked up the side of the river to see the waterfall. It was pretty.
Bryce Canyon National Park is an excellent place to escape to nature. However, it gets busier and busier every year and often gets snowed in the winter, so plan accordingly. Check the weather and park updates and arrive before 9 to get a coveted parking spot inside of the park. Mid-morning to late afternoon, park in town and take the bus. There won’t be much parking at all in the summer. I only snagged one because I have a tiny car (and that was in April).
Check out my next update where I explore some history and pre-history along US-89.
