Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Amphitheater

This area holds the greatest concentration of hoodoos found anywhere on Earth, irregular rock spires that give the landscape its distinctive character. Most of the park's day hikes begin here, letting walkers move among the formations rather than only look down on them. Sunrise Point, the northernmost viewpoint, is equally striking at dawn and at day's end. Sunset Point overlooks some of the best-known hoodoos, and Inspiration Point offers a bird's-eye view of the collection. Bryce Point, perhaps the most iconic of the four main viewpoints, looks out over the park's most popular area. The Rim Trail links the overlooks along the cliff edge. The Queens Garden trail offers the easiest route down into the canyon, while the Navajo Loop passes formations such as Thor's Hammer and Wall Street.

Rainbow Point

At 9,115 feet, this is the highest viewpoint in the park, and the main park road ends here. Tectonic uplift raised this landscape from sea level over the last 20 million years, and tributaries of the Colorado River later cut it into rock spires and forested views. Yovimpa Point, also among the highest viewpoints, lies nearby. The Southern Scenic Drive covers the final stretch of the main road to reach here. A parking lot serves the viewpoint, and the one-mile Bristlecone Loop is also here, with a hard surface, though some grades fall short of accessibility standards. Most of the park sits at 8,000 feet or higher, so take hikes at an easy pace. UV radiation is stronger at this elevation, and storms can build quickly, so seek shelter if thunder sounds.

Fairyland Point

The northernmost overlook along the rim of the Paunsagunt Plateau is usually quiet, so it suits anyone who wants wide views without the crowds. Below, the Sinking Ship rests among hoodoos that fill Fairyland Canyon. These spires are younger than those farther south and still forming, so they look less dramatic but carry a peaceful character of their own. Deer, ponderosa pines and wildflowers show up nearby, and sunrise light draws photographers. Two trails start here. The Rim Trail follows the plateau edge, while the Fairyland Loop, an eight-mile hike, mixes rim walking near Boat Mesa with a descent into the canyon. Along the loop you pass the China Wall, Tower Bridge and tall hoodoos, making it a strenuous day hike with long views.

Mossy Cave

At the end of this easy hike, water seeps from the rock and drips beneath a mossy overhang known as Mossy Cave. The Mossy Cave Trail covers 0.8 miles and sits at one of the lower elevations in the park. It starts with an uphill stretch before finishing with a descent, a pattern few other trails here follow. From the trailhead, the route forks: one branch enters Water Canyon, where visitors can wade and play in the water, entering and leaving at bridge crossings to reduce impact, while the other continues to the overhang. A short detour leads to viewpoints of Tropic Ditch Falls. That flowing water comes through an irrigation ditch pioneers built in 1892, which still supplies nearby communities. Mosses cover the alcove in summer, and icicles hang there in winter.

Paria View

Paria View is a quieter perch than the busier rim stops, and it looks down into an amphitheater more than 500 feet deep where Yellow Creek begins its run toward the Paria River. Red rock cliffs tower over a stretch of forest and the wide river valley below. The overlook suits scenic viewing and photography, and its calm atmosphere gives visitors time for a slower look at the rock formations and the trees. Reaching the rim takes only a short, paved walk from the parking lot. The turnoff sits at mile marker 2.75 along the road, and Bryce Point is located very close by for anyone who wants to continue along the rim.