Bryce Canyon National Park Utah is a magnificent display of erosion. The red, orange and white colors of Bryce Canyon National Park provide a spectacular landscape with sunrise and sunset being especially impressive. In a splendid geologic process of erosion, Bryce Canyon has been sculpted into an incredible landscape just waiting for you to explore!

In Bryce Canyon National Park you will be rewarded with the dramatic view of spectacular overlooks into vast natural amphitheaters. The panorama before you of towers, fins and hoodoos of a color hard to describe will astound you.

Sunrise on the wide expanse of hoodoos (strange shaped pillars of red rock left standing by the forces of erosion) sets the surreal landscape aglow. White tips on the hoodoos appear to be lit from within like glowing light bulbs. Another incredible sunrise you may want to read about was when we visited Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

What is Bryce Canyon National Park?

Bryce Canyon, one of Utah’s 5 National Parks, is not a canyon at all but rather a large area of natural amphitheaters of geological structures called hoodoos and fins. Wind, water and time have eroded the sandstone cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park Utah. Hoodoos are formed by rainwater seeping into cracks in the rock. During Bryce’s cold nights the water freezes, expands and breaks the rocks apart. Fins are deep, narrow walls that are the result of rain and melted snow running down the slopes of the rim of Bryce Canyon. These fins form holes called windows. When these windows grow larger they collapse and create the strange looking hoodoos we see in Bryce Canyon today.

During sunrise the hoodoos themselves take on an incredible orange hue. Be sure to check the charts for sunrise times and weather forecast then head out and watch the grand scene unfold.

Facilities Near Bryce Canyon

All the facilities and services you may need can be found in the nearby towns of Panguitch, Bryce Canyon City, and Tropic. Hotels, restaurants, outfitters and tour guides are all nearby. We stayed in the town of Tropic and had no problem arriving at Bryce Canyon National Park in time to witness sunrise in this amazing park. You can find lodging deals for any season near Bryce Canyon National Park at Booking.com.

The rim of Bryce reaches 9,100 feet above sea level. Due to its high elevation climate, temperatures usually range in the high 70s to low 80s in July and August. Winter snow can stay in the canyon through April making it a perfect location for winter sports such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Bryce Canon National Park overlooks can be viewed by car, while the canyon floor can be viewed by foot. Most overlooks are reach by a short walk from the parking lot to the overlook.

Day hikes range in distances from 1-mile loops to more difficult 11-mile round-trip adventures. The park is open year-round with many opportunities for summer as well as winter activities.

Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon is an outdoor lovers paradise. Popular activities in Bryce include biking, hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, landscape and nature photography. Jeep and helicopter tours are also available and fun! Camping at Bryce is also fun if you would like to enjoy the evening sky with its amazing stargazing. Because of its clean air and lack of development surrounding the park, it is one of the best stargazing spots in the nation, especially when the moon is dark.

Hiking in Bryce is the best way to see the hoodoos from the canyon floor. We hiked the Navajo Loop trail and were in awe of the size of the canyon walls and surrounding hoodoos.

Where is Bryce Canyon National Park?

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah near the junction of Utah Scenic Byway 12 and U-63.

There is no place like Bryce Canyon. Although hoodoos can be found throughout the world, here you will find the largest collection on earth! Get up early enough to see the brilliant colors of sunrise over Bryce Canyon; it will be an experience you will not soon forget!

Interested in staying at or near Bryce Canyon National Park? Check on Booking.com for lodging options. Here you will find photos, discriptions and reviews along with availability on many hotels choices.

Check out these other National Parks we’ve written about:

•Canyonlands National Park & Mesa Arch
•Zion National Park & Canyon Overlook Trail
• Mesa Verde National Park

Have you been to Bryce Canyon? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the area too.

Let us know about your visit in the comments below.

About Us

Hi! We are Lou and Barbara, a world traveling, nature loving couple searching out new and interesting places to explore, photograph and share with you our readers.CONTINUE READING

Photographers at the arch arrive early! Some of the finest photos of the arch are taken at sunrise. Be prepared to jockey for position on most mornings well before sunrise. This is what we were greeted with when we arrived before first light. The entire opening of the arch was packed with photographers that had already staked their claim to their chosen spots.

Where is Mesa Arch?

The arch is located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Drive south for 6.3 miles from the Island in the Sky Visitor Center and turn left into the parking area for Mesa Arch located on Grand View Point Road. The trailhead which begins here is a short, well marked and easy to follow trail. The arch is located right on the rim of the plateau.

Mesa Arch is perched on a cliff with the entire canyon and the La Sal Mountains as a backdrop. The trail will take you to the edge of the plateau where you will have an expansive view of the rugged terrain below.

More fun things to see & do in Utah, Arizona & Colorado!

Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah
Zion National Park – Canyon Overlook Trail – Utah
Antelope Canyon – Arizona
Monument Valley – Arizona
Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado
Estes Park – Base camp to Rocky Mt. Nat. Park – Colorado

This lizard and grasshopper seemed to be facing off as we walked along the trail. I’m not sure of the outcome as we continued on our way back to the parking area.

The nature guide we picked up at the trail head informed us of how our footsteps can damage the cryptogamic soil that is just off trail. It explained how the black crust on the ground forms the basis for desert ecosystems. This vital mixture of algae, lichen mosses and fungi prevents soil erosion to helps support the growth of larger plants. Please be careful to stay on the trail to help prevent damage to the delicate environment.

What is Mesa Arch?

Mesa Arch is classified as a pothole arch. The arch was formed by surface water pooling on the sandstone behind the arch which slowly eroded the rock. This erosion resulted in an arch that is suspended across the mesa’s edge. Sitting on the edge of the mesa, admiring the view of the expansive canyon below through the arch, I was definitely not in a hurry to leave.

This is the view from the top of Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. The arch spans fifty feet across the top of a 500-foot vertical cliff. The arch itself is not very wide. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. Although we saw several visitors walk across the arch the day we were there I could only stand at the beginning of the arch and would not recommend anyone trying to walk the length of the arch. It’s a long way down!

Sunrise revealed Washer Woman Arch which can be seen in the distance just as the sun was making its first appearance. Washer Woman is an arch resembling a woman standing at a wash tub washing clothes. Below is White Rim Canyon, carved over years by the Colorado River. The La Sal Mountains can be seen in the distance beyond the canyon.

Sunrise at this spot would have to be one of the more spectacular experiences in Canyonlands National Park. The scenery here is amazing any time of day but standing in front of this arch witnessing the beginning of a new day with the red glow of the rising sun lighting the arch is awe-inspiring!

Canyonlands National Park is located 35 minutes (30 miles) from the town of Moab. With Arches National Park located 1-1/2 hrs (72 miles) from Moab. We highly recommend a stay in the Moab area for several reasons; 1.) You can experience 2 national parks, Canyonlands and Arches, with some of the most dramatic landscape on Earth from one convenient location 2.) Moab has a small town atmosphere that has made it one of travelers favorite locations in all the Southwest. 3.) Moab has restaurants, microbreweries, shops, galleries as well as tour guides, outfitters and more! Check out Booking.com. for lodging deals in any season in Moab.

Have you visited Canyonlands National Park? Did you witness sunrise at Mesa Arch? Let us know about your experience in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

As you climb the trail you will have a view of the entrance to Zion-Mt Carmel Tunnel. This 1.1 mile tunnel, completed in 1930, was originally constructed to provide direct access to Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon from Zion. There are restrictions on oversized vehicles entering the tunnel. Be sure to check with the park service if you will be traveling in a large camper, RV or bus.  The bridge spans Pine Creek Canyon, a popular canyoneering route in Zion.

The trail continues along a dirt path leading to a picturesque alcove lined with maidenhair fern. The shady overhang and water seeping through the sandstone provide the fern with the environment they need for a healthy existence. It’s also an enjoyable resting point for hikers!

Some sections of the trail wind close to the cliff edge. The sandstone can be slick or covered in sand so watch your footing while in these areas.

The long, winding slit in the rocks below is Pine Creek Canyon, a favorite of canyoneers. We could hear the canyoneers talking and even screaming as they entered the cold water in the canyon. They literally have to swim in some sections of the canyon. An overhanging walkway constructed along this section of the hike is used to connect a small portion of the trail.

The scenery, as you can image, is outstanding along Canyon Overlook trail. The trail will take you over slickrock with views of interesting hoodoos (strange rock formations) that can be seen in almost every direction.

The twist and turns of the famous Zion Switchbacks, similar to the swithchbacks we drove on the Moki Dugway in Utah, can be seen at the trails end. The switchbacks are located at the west entrance to the tunnel. This winding road that doubles back on itself has been known to be thrilling to some while scary to others. However you regard the drive you’d have to agree the surrounding vistas are magnificent.

At the end of Canyon Overlook Trail the scene is breathtaking. Towering cliffs can be seen in the distance with lower Zion Canyon below. A fenced view point, located to the right of this image, gives you an impressive view of the scenery below. At this point you will be directly above the Great Arch which is pictured below.

More great places to explore in Utah, Arizona & Colorado!

Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah
Canyonlands National Park – Meas Arch – Utah
Antelope Canyon – Upper & Lower – Arizona
Monument Valley – Arizona
Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado
Garden of the Gods – Colorado

The Great Arch in Zion National Park seen from the other side of the canyon. You can see the Canyon Overlook Trail viewpoint where we hiked to above the Great Arch…breathtaking. The photo above was taken near the west entrance of the tunnel around the switchbacks.

Zion Canyon View

The view across Zion Canyon is so stunning that you will almost certainly want to sit awhile to take it all in. I know we did. It was early morning when we arrived. The air was cool and the sky was blue, there was nothing else we could ask for. We were content to sit and admire our surroundings.

If you’d like to hike to a high elevation viewpoint without a strenuous trek like some of the more demanding hikes in Zion, then Canyon Overlook Trail is a good choice. This moderate trail, only gaining 163 feet in elevation, is 1-mile roundtrip taking approximately 1-hour to complete and the views are outstanding!

For lodging deals in any season near Zion National Park you can check on Booking.com.

Have you hiked the Canyon Overlook Trail in Zion or another trail that you can compare to this trail? Tell us about your hiking experience in Zion in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!