Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park and the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument are literally in our backyard. Bryce Canyon is actually a series of amphitheaters cut into the Eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt plateau. The views of this remarkable canyon from the bottom up are just as spectacular, if not more so, than from the top looking down. The National Park ranges in elevation, along the rim, from approximately 8,000 feet to over 9,000 feet at the northern end of the park.

The formations within Bryce Canyon National Park, called Hoodoos, are the creation of wind and water erosion over eons of time. The natural orange and red hues that color these formations are the result of iron oxidizing within the rock. Bryce Canyon National Park is truly one of the most spectacular scenic wonders in the world. Step down inside these canyons and you will feel as if you have entered another world. The Native American Indians in this region have long referred to Bryce Canyon as "a bowl shaped canyon with men standing without hands."

In 1875, Mormon settler Ebenezer Bryce came to the Paria Valley to live and to harvest timber along the canyon rim. His neighbors began to refer the canyon behind his home as Bryce’s Canyon.

In 1924, national legislation was written which gave Bryce Canyon official National Park status as Utah National Park. Later in 1928 the provisions of the 1924 legislation were properly met and the park name was changed to Bryce Canyon National Park.

Red Canyon is not part of the National Park but is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. If you come to Bryce Canyon on highway 12 from highway 89 you will pass right through Red Canyon.

Red Canyon is often mistaken for being Bryce Canyon but is really just a small sample of what you will see at Bryce. A recently added pave bike and walking trail is a beautiful addition and an excellent way to travel through this canyon, although you can drive your car on highway 12 through the main part of Red Canyon.

Don’t hesitate to stop and take photos and remember that there is a visitor center where you can gain additional information. Bryce Canyon National Park is 20 miles in length and you may experience the park in several different ways.

1. Drive the paved road through the park taking time to pull off at overlooks into the canyon amphitheaters below. The park slowly rises 1,000 feet in elevation as you move from North to South.

2. Hike into any one of the amphitheaters on a myriad of trails. There is an extensive system of trail in the main amphitheater near the visitor center. You can even start at the top and walk down through the park and conclude your hike at the town of Tropic.

3. Ride Horseback into the Park or along the canyon rim with one of several different outfitters. Riding horseback is a safe and easier way to come back up to the rim. Remember that you will be hiking at elevations ranging between 7,500 and 9,000 feet so the horses can make the experience of going up-hill quite a bit easier.

4. Fly via plane or helicopter around the park extremities. For those of you who want a thrill, this is one incredible way to see more of the park and to get up close to some of the large hoodoo formations in the outer regions of the park.

5. Ride an ATV in the back country areas that have formations just like Bryce Canyon. While you can not ride a mechanized vehicle on trails in the park, you can take an ATV or even a mountain bike into some areas such as Red Canyon where the formations are identical to the park.