The hoodoos of Bryce Canyon have to be one of my favorite landforms on Earth. Their uniqueness that formed over the last 20,000 years through “frost wedging” (freezing and thawing of these plateaus that were carved over the last 6 million years) never ceases to amaze me. Contrasting redish-pink sandstone, deep blue skies, and emerald green vegetation transports you to another planet. But, it is simply another of Utah’s jaw-dropping natural wonders!
Favorite Hikes
Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Trail – 2.9 miles – Direction: Sunset point to Sunrise Point – Hawks glide on thermals overhead while otherworldly pink and red hoodoos fill the silent canyon below. Switching directions every 10 yards, you quickly descend through layers of sandstone laid down millions of years ago. An orangey-pink glow tints everything and the contrast of the azure blue sky sharpens the outlines of the cliffs above. Each bend in the canyon brings a new adventure – a tunnel, an enormous Douglas Fir stretching up through the canyon walls to the sunlight above, and of course, the hoodoos towering above and all around you. As the canyon walls open up, you are treated to changing scenery around every bend. This is a hike not to be missed.
Mossy Cave Hike – .8 miles – along a crystal clear pale aqua-colored river. Easy hike to some weeping rocks, gorgeous waterfall, and beautiful scenery. This little hike packs a lot into it’s small distance. It would be an amazing place to cool off on a hot day. The tricky thing about this hike is that the parking lot along the highway is quite small, so unless you get lucky, you might have a hard time finding a spot on a hot day.
Other Activities:
Rim Drive – Bryce has one 18 mile north to south road that offers amazing vistas from viewpoints along the way. This is a great way to orient yourself with the park and scout out places you want to tackle during your visit.
Junior Ranger Program – Pick up your Junior Ranger booklet, join daily ranger talks, and learn all about the park and how to care for natural wonders such as this.
I Hiked the Hoodoos Scavenger Hunt – as kids hike along various trails in the park, they will encounter plaques with information and little medallions for them to shade in on their Junior Ranger booklet. A great way to engage those active minds while enjoying the views.
Ranger Talks – check out the park newspaper for their weekly schedule. Here is a photo of the schedule from 2020.
Where Did We Stay?
Kodachrome Basin State Park – surrounded on three sides by multicolored sandstone cliffs and formations, Kodachrome is a silent refuge away from crowds and tourists. Many of the sites in Basin Campground were large enough for our 23ft trailer + tow. The outside loop sites have fun little features like bridges from the parking pad to the picnic area and low vegetation providing privacy from the road and other campers. The inside loops have electricity and water as well as ample space to spread out and enjoy the views. There are several hikes in the park – from the ADA-friendly nature loop (sand path not paved) to more strenuous hikes for views of the surrounding topography; there is something for everyone. Kodachrome also has a Junior Ranger Program for kids to learn about the topography and wildlife in the park. A big hit with all!
Rainbow of sunset reflected in sunglasses 
Super clean spa showers! 
Great laundry facilities 
Junior Rangers 
S’mores! 
Other Points of Interest:
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park: Situated on a reservoir about an hour away from Kodachrome is this hidden gem. With miles of trails through ancient petrified wood, it was a perfect detour for our geology-loving kids. We hiked the 1.6 mile moderately strenuous Petrified Forest Trail in about an hour with lots of stops for photos and admiration of petrified wood. Along the trail there are 14 markers which correspond to a pamphlet you pick up from a box at the hike entrance. It also offered glorious views of the surrounding countryside and we would recommend it for anyone interested in learning about petrified wood and the Escalante area. It was pretty windy and chilly the day we visited, otherwise, the reservoir looked like a great place to cool off on a hot day!
How Much Time?
Bryce Canyon can easily be experienced in a day by simply driving the rim and stopping at viewpoints or maybe doing a quick hike or two. We highly recommend hiking into the canyon. The perspective from amongst the hoodoos is much shorter than hiking into the Grand Canyon and provides a very different experience from the rim view. Since Bryce is not really close to any major cities, it would be ideal to spend at least 2 nights here…. and if you want to explore the area, 4 would make it much more leisurely and enjoyable!
When to Visit?
Bryce is open year-round and is a joy to visit any time. The contrast of snow against the hoodoos is incredible (though the trails can be quite slippery as we discovered on our first visit in March years ago when I slipped and slid my way down the Navajo Loop trail)! But so are the hiking opportunities that abound late spring-early fall. Just come prepared with plenty of water, season-appropriate clothing, and sturdy footwear so you can immerse yourself in any season at Bryce Canyon National Park.
How to Get There?
Bryce is located off highway 12 in southern Utah about 2 hours from Zion National Park, 2 hours from Capitol Reef National Park, 4 hours from Arches National Park, 3 hours from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (closed in winter), and 6 hours from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is a great central stop as you make your way from park to park.
Hop, Skip & Voyage Away 