It is spectacular and it is simply breathtaking! And yet, it is serene and spiritual in its depth and powerful beauty. A visit to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, is an experience of a lifetime, a memorable experience that can actually change your perspective on life! When visitors gaze down on Bryce Amphitheater as old Sol descends at Sunset Point, conversations are whispered and children kept silent. The brilliantly colored and uniquely shaped spires, fins and pinnacles of stone (called Hoodoos) are a gift of nature's erosive power--a treasure from the ages, to be savored and enjoyed as fine wine.
Bryce Canyon National Park is located about 85 miles northeast of Zion National Park in southwestern Utah. Entering from the west via US 89, it is off Utah Highway 12 on Utah Highway 63. Driving from the east, take Utah 24 to Utah 12, then south on Utah 63. The park's elevation ranges between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. It is open year-round. The erosion of Claron limestones, sandstones and mudstones over the eons has produced the awesome and beautifully colored Hoodoos and mystical canyon. Ponderosa pines, fir-spruce forests and aspen serve as a rich, green framework for the magnificent rocks. Bryce is the top step of the Grand Staircase and one of the five National Parks that form the Grand Circle. It is a fabulous park and a wonderful place to tour and camp.
Park Attractions and Activities
There is much to see and lots to do in Bryce Canyon National Park. Sightseeing, of course, heads the popularity list. Mule deer and prairie dogs graze and play in the meadows, while, during the night, skunk visit the campgrounds. Less obvious are the fox, black bear, elk and many other mammals that roam the nearby forests. There are 160 species of birds about the park, and gentian, bellflower and manzanita are but a few of the lovely wildflowers growing here. The park is a photographer's dream!
The 18-mile Scenic Drive is the most popular attraction at Bryce Canyon. It provides 18 viewpoints and spur roads between Fairyland Point and Rainbow Point. Sunrise and Sunset Points should be viewed at their specified time of day for maximum effect.
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