How to visit and what to see in Bryce Canyon, pinnacles park in Utah

In your trip through the interior of the west coast of the United States, apart from the best-known national parks, such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite o Monument Valley, there are others that are also worth a visit as they show peculiar landscapes.

Without a doubt, one of them is Bryce Canyon, which you find southern Utah and north of the Grand Canyon and the Kanab enclave. where you can see spectacular and very original landscapes.

In reality, it is not a canyon formed by a river, but rather a large area of ​​about 30 kilometers in which some curious and spectacular rock structures known as hoodoos.

What are hoodoos

The hoodoos They are groups of elongated rocky pinnacles, with a great combination of colors, red, ocher and white, which can reach a height of up to 60 meters.

They are the result of millions of years of erosion by water, and you will find them in large amphitheaters that extend along the tourist road that runs through the park, being able to see them from up to 14 viewpoints.

What to see when visiting Bryce Canyon

La Bryce Canyon sightseeing tour It will take you as long as you really want, since very close to the entrance you will find some of the most interesting points, such as the viewpoints Sunrise, Sunset, inspiration y Bryce.

But if you are going to have time, for example, half a day, what is recommended is to go directly to the southernmost area of ​​the park, located 20 kilometers from the Visitors Center.

First, it may be worth watching the film about the park that is shown every half hour in the center.

In that area you can enjoy the views from the viewpoints Rainbow Point y Yovimpa Point.

From here you can return to the entrance again, stopping at the other eleven viewpoints that the park has.

In this Bryce Canyon tour you will find yourself next to the road spectacular rocky bridge called natural bridge.

Bryce Amphitheater

The point of Bryce Canyon where they concentrate more hoodoos is in the so-called Bryce Amphitheater, which is located at the entrance of the park and is the most visited area of ​​the park.

Best panoramic views of the Bryce Antitheater you can enjoy them from the viewpoint Sunset point.

And the best time to do it is during dawn, because due to the disposition of the famous hoodoos, it is at that time of the day when you get greater color and greater beauty of these rocky pinnacles that have made the Bryce Canyon.

It is also in this area where in 1870 he settled Ebenezer Bryce, the Mormon who discovered this place and whose surname has been used to name this national park.

Since the entire area of Bryce Canyon It is located at an altitude of between 2.000 and 2.775 meters, in the Bryce Amphitheater There is a depth of up to 240 meters.

Thorn Hammer in Bryce Canyon

From the aforementioned viewpoint you can also see another of the most outstanding corners of Bryce Canyon; It is known as Thorn Hammer (thor hammer).

This impressive pinnacle is one of the most photographed by visitors to the park.

Furthermore, this is facilitated because in this area of ​​the park Bryce Canyon it's possible to do Hiking along routes that go down to the base of the pinnacles.

The path known as Navajo Loop is that it will take you to the vicinity of the aforementioned Thornhammer, a clear example of the color combination that characterizes the hoodoos.

The intense red color is marked by the existence of iron oxide, and the evolution towards orange, yellow and, finally, white tones is conditioned by the change in mineralization.

From here you can return back to the entrance stopping at some of the other eleven viewpoints that the park has.

In this Bryce Canyon tour you will see next to the road a spectacular rocky bridge, Called natural bridge.

Bryce Canyon ticket schedules and prices

The Bryce Canyon National Park Visiting Hours They are 24 hours a day throughout the year, and the most common period to visit is from May to September.

El Bryce Canyon park entrance fee It is $35 for a vehicle with all its occupants, and $30 for a motorcycle.

Distances to Bryce Canyon National Park

from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon National Park, 404 kilometers, 4 and a half hours.

from Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon National Park, 435 kilometers, 4 and three quarters hours.

from Zion National Park to Bryce Canyon National Park, 138 kilometers, 2 hours.

from the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park, 457 kilometers, 5 and a half hours.

from Monument Valley to Bryce Canyon National Park, 443 kilometers, 6 and a quarter hours.

How to Get to Bryce Canyon

For get to Bryce Canyon You have to access route 12/63, the aforementioned road that crosses the national park from east to west, and taking a road heading south, you will reach its entrance and the Visitors Center.