Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog post! Whenever anyone mentions the southwestern United States, most people think of hot, dry desert, and for the most part, they would be right. The State of Utah is no exception to this stereotype, with much of the landscape being much like neighboring Nevada or Arizona. Despite this, one of the state’s lesser known, yet spectacular, parks is found in the midst of a cool forest higher up in the much more bearable conditions of the mountains.
Bryce Canyon is a park that definitely deserves more credit than it gets. Unfortunately for Bryce, it is often overshadowed by other well-known attractions in the state, such as Salt Lake City and the northern portion of the Grand Canyon. Unlike the Grand Canyon, however, Bryce is much more accessible for the amateur hiker or explorer. Most people should have no problem walking down into the canyon and exploring the beautiful scenery around the area, whereas only the most prepared, veteran hikers could possibly trek across through the Grand Canyon.
According to the National Park Service, Bryce Canyon is not one single Canyon, but a series of “bowls” carved into a plateau, making for some stunning natural architecture. As a result of this phenomenon, there are many different locations to observe a variety of structures and the rock formations. The main locations recognized by the National Park Service, however, are Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point. Additional information about these points and the park’s shuttling service can be found on the official website.
As mentioned earlier, Bryce Canyon is comparatively more accessible to novice explorers and tourists than its larger counterparts. This is possible due to the countless hiking trails throughout the park, providing visitors with the opportunity to see the park for themselves, rather than having to settle for looking at it from a distance. However, for those who prefer not to exert themselves with any sort of rigorous adventuring, there are plenty of spectacular areas that Bryce’s vehicle accessible roads are well within view of.
While the park may not be located in the harsh, arid conditions found in many other parts of southern Utah, it is not without its climate extremes. Because of its higher elevation, Bryce Canyon is often subjected to heavy rain or snow depending on the season. When I visited the park in 2017, it stormed every afternoon I stayed (even though the mornings and evenings were still beautiful). Lightning is also not uncommon, which is something to take into consideration if you were to plan a hike in the rain. Because of this, it is always important to heed to any potential warnings from park authorities, and to obviously check in with their website for any other useful safety tips.
All in all, Bryce Canyon undoubtedly has a lot to offer. From its exciting trails to comfortable road views, the park really has something for people of all capabilities or interests to enjoy. I would definitely take it into consideration if you or anyone you know is planning to visit the west, and I hope that this post gave it some of the recognition it well deserves.