Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon National Park is Really Wild
By Dixie Brunner
As you approach Bryce Canyon, you get the overwhelming feeling that you are about to see something very special. Wild probably wouldn’t be the description, but definitely something different and perhaps other-worldly.
Bryce Canyon is unlike any other place on the planet. Photo by Greg DeLuca.
Bryce is unlike any place you’ve ever seen before! Red stone spires jab at the azure-blue Utah sky, like an accusing old man’s fingers. An eerie feeling takes hold as the towering rock pillars beckon. Peer over the canyon rim, and you’re treated to a dramatic, breathtaking landscape vista, far beyond that of normal, descriptive vocabulary.
Welcome to Bryce Canyon National Park.
The geological wonder known as Bryce Canyon National Park is a testament to Mother Nature having final say when it comes to creating a place of color, texture and beauty. Its spires, rocky temples and pillars, arranged within a huge ampitheater of red rock, seem like they’ve been placed to stimulate people’s imaginations.
Bryce’s allure is undeniable, from the minute you first glimpse the unusual sculptured, multi-colored pinnacles from along the canyon’s edge. The bizarre formations are nestled in 12 huge bowls sinking deep into the red southern Utah earth.
The stone spires of Bryce are actually products of erosion. The effects of wind, weather and time on sedimentary rock, such as lime and sandstone, have carved the stone sculptures.
You must explore Bryce! The many hiking trails leading to the canyon floor demand your attention. The only question is how to get down. Some choose to rent horses to make the trip, while others opt to hike down.
The gradual descent into Bryce Canyon offers a giant fantasy close-up view of the orange formations. The game many choose to play as they follow the gentle switchbacks is to guess what the spires and formations resemble.
Upon reaching the canyon floor you can rest on a bench provided along the trail. You stare up at the red spires stretching over 1,000 feet into the air and feel very small.
Each season and every passing moment offers a different view. The master artist of time provides a different perspective, as lighting creates changing magical effects. The view confirms what you already knew to be true - Bryce Canyon is not like anywhere you’ve ever been before!
A year-round visitor center and natural history center adjacent to the park entrance offer help in planning your Bryce tour. Daily ranger talks and current schedules for various park activities are posted at the visitor center.
Choose Bryce Canyon to find a wild adventure.
