Introduction to Bryce Canyon National Park

Known for its colorful "hoodoo" rock formations, Bryce Canyon National Park shares southern Utah's vast Colorado Plateau with four other national parks -- Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion, about 85 miles away. Enormous natural amphitheaters are laced with hiking trails that circle whimsically formed limestone spires with such names as Wall Street and Fairyland Canyon. Shaped by millions of years of erosion, the 56-square-mile canyon is an iron-rich palette of reds, oranges, pinks and browns -- best seen in the dramatic play of light at sunrise and sunset.

Active Pursuits

Much of the beauty of visiting Bryce is its accessibility. Several fairly easy trails lead directly to some of the park's most scenic spots. On the Queen's Garden trail, for example, you'll pass the Queen Victoria hoodoo, a rock spire that seems to be wearing a crown. A shorter but steeper hike is the Navajo Trail, which begins at Sunrise Point and curves through the Wall Street slot canyon. In winter, trails remain open for snowshoe hikes.

Flora and Fauna

Designated a national park for its unique geology, Bryce is comprised of three climatic zones of spruce and fir trees, ponderosa pines, and pinyon pines and juniper forests, with an astounding diversity of habitat. The park is home to dozens of species of mammals, including mountain lions, prairie dogs and desert cottontail rabbits. You might see gold and bald eagles and peregrine falcons soar and circle above.

Tours

Bryce is user-friendly, the grandeur of its landscape easily seen along the 18-mile scenic drive that runs between the park entrance and Rainbow Point. Check at the Visitor Center for a schedule of Ranger Programs detailing Bryce's geologic history. Park overviews are given during ranger-led rim walks. Evening astronomy talks take place under a spellbinding canopy of stars. Helicopter and bi-plane rides in an open cockpit leave from a base outside the park.