Bryce Canyon National Park is a popular park located in Southwestern, Utah receiving over 2.5 million visitors every year. It is more remote than its sister parks, The Grand Canyon and Zion National Park making the atmosphere quieter and more relaxing. The area is 35,835 acres and was originally established in 1923 and settled by the Mormon pioneers in the 1850’s.
It is covered in a wondrous land of pines, and pinnacles, the rock formations often resemble fairy tale castles. It has the world’s largest collection of the oddly sculptured formations known as hoodoos. According to the Native American legend, the hoodoos were once human, they simply shapeshifted as humans fitting as the name hoodoo means bewitch. The park is filled with stunning colours with magnificent spires, tinted with shades of pink, orange, and red. They put on a captivating show as the light changes throughout the day changing the colours. The park also offers some unique wildlife including mule deer, coyotes, marmots, and prairie dogs.
Thor’s Hammer is one of the park’s most famous landmarks and looks exactly like its name, resembling the god of thunder’s weapon standing at 150 feet tall. The park hosts an annual event, Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival usually hosted in June over 4 days and nights. Featuring family-friendly daytime activities and special evening programs, telescope viewing and constellation tours. During other times the park have activities such as hiking, rock climbing, winter cross-country skiing trails and more.
