Bryce Canyon National Park is an enchanted wonderland. Even though it is often overshadowed by Utah's other National Parks, it's a truly special place, filled with magical trees that smell good enough to eat, charming fairy chimneys, sweeping vistas, Norse mythology, and intergalatic stargazing. Bet you never guessed that this little National Park had all that (and more!) Here's our guide to the enchanting hidden gems of Bryce Canyon:
This famed scenic route through Utah stops at Bryce Canyon on its way from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to Capitol Reef National Park. This "All-American Road" traverses Utah's incredibly distinctive red rock landscapes. Along the way, you'll find Native American ruins, ghost towns, and Wild West charm. It's seriously a magical byway.
The view down into the canyon through Natural Bridge is one of the most swoon-worthy in all of Bryce. This is only one of seven natural arches in the park, but since it's just off the main road, a short 20-minute drive south from the Lodge, it's just as convenient to reach as it is gorgeous.
Pick up the Queens Garden Trail at Sunrise Point (after you spend a bit soaking in the view, that is). This is the easiest trail that takes you down into the canyon, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you can see a stone formation that looks a bit like a queen on a throne. It's less than a two miles out and back, and the view from among the hoodoos is worth it.
Bryce Canyon is best known for its hoodoos; hoodoos are sandstone pillars formed from erosion. Bryce Canyon has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. The stone forests of Bryce Canyon stretch nearly as far as the eye can see-- and in the park, that can be a long distance; the clean, clear air and relatively dry weather provide visibility that can stretch up to 200 miles, all the way into Arizona.
Sunset point is probably the busiest of the many scenic points in the park, but for good reason: the view is incredible. Despite the name, go here in the morning to beat the crowds and take advantage of the soft light for some awesome photography.
If you're really short on time during your visit and can only make one stop, make it Bryce Point. It offers endless views of the natural amphitheater, which is filled with spiraling sandstone hoodoos in striking shades of red and orange. It's also the trailhead for the Peekaboo Loop Trail, which is steep, but offers views of some notable features in the amphitheater.
Located along the Navajo Trail, Wall Street is a slot canyon that makes for a wild bit of hiking. Steep switchbacks lead into the shady canyon, where you'll be able to look up and marvel at the massive fins and hoodoos above you. Remember to bring water, and to take your time on the way back up, especially if you're not adjusted to the high elevation of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Yeah, Bryce Canyon is in a desert, but it's still home to plenty of plants that aren't cacti; take, for example, the Ponderosa Pine. Not only are they magnificently tall (I'm talking 150 feet tall, although from above the canyon they certainly don't seem that big), and great at providing shade after a sweaty hike into the massive Bryce Canyon amphitheater, they also have a distinctive aroma... some say it smells reminiscent of vanilla and butterscotch. Yes, really! Sniff them for yourself on your visit to the park-- you'll find tons along the trail in Ponderosa Canyon.
One of the most famous hoodoos in all of Bryce Canyon has to be Thor's Hammer-- probably since it's so easy to pick out from the other hoodoos as it stands alone, a ways away from most of the other stone pillars. Also... come on. It's named for one of the most awesome comic book heroes (slash Norse gods) ever. How can you not love that?
The best time of year to visit Bryce Canyon National Park is probably during the fall. That's when the brutal summer heat starts to die down and crowds clear out, meaning easier parking and cheaper rates. Of course, spring and summer aren't bad times to visit, as long as you have plenty of water and sunblock. Winter is not a bad time to visit either: the NPS is pretty good about plowing the roads, and the sight of the red hoodoos capped with snow is pretty awesome!