Bryce Canyon

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Bryce Canyon is made up of several natural amphitheatres or bowls, that are carved into a plateau. The Bryce Amphitheater which is one of these, has irregularly eroded spires of rocks. These are called hoodoos. The park has four main viewpoints, all of which are within first few miles of the park: Bryce Point, Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, and Sunset Point. There is a shuttle service operates in this area of the park to reduce congestion between April and October.

Description

The 18-mile main road travels from the park’s entrance along the plateau rim to its highest elevations in the south (over 9,000 ft / 2,743 m.) Hiking trails connect between viewpoints along the rim of the Bryce Amphitheater and wander through the hoodoos below.

The orange, red, and white colours of the rocks give visitors spectacular views. In comparison to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park is much smaller and sits at a much higher elevation.

Bryce Canyon was never formed from erosion from a central stream, so it technically is not a canyon. It’s beginning was initiated by headward erosion, which has excavated large amphitheatre-shaped features in the Cenozoic-aged rocks of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The erosion has carved colourful pinnacles called hoodoos that are up to 200 feet (60 m) high. The amphitheatres extend more than 20 miles (30 km) within the park. Bryce Amphitheater, the largest, is 12 miles (19 km) long, 3.5 miles (5 km) wide and 825 feet (250 m) deep.

The highest part of the park at 9,105 feet (2,775 m) is Rainbow Point, which is at the end of the 18-mile (29 km) scenic drive.

Utah

Description

Related Links

Bryce Canyon National Park Website