hoodoos

Named for Ebenezer Bryce, a Scottish immigrant who settled in the Paria Valley in 1875, Bryce Canyon National Park is known for the spire-like hoodoos that seem to magically rise from the canyon floor. Created by a combination of freezing, thawing and erosion, these unusual limestone formations were sculpted over millions of years. Today, this Utah national park is often described as a cave without a ceiling; as the hoodoos bear a striking resemblance to stalagmites found on cavern floors.

Insider Tips

• Free wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus transportation through the park amphitheater is available from April through the end of September. Although cars are allowed along this route, parking is at a premium during the busy summer season, so taking the shuttle bus is the easiest way to see the park.
• Don’t miss the Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path – the longest accessible trail in the park. This paved trail begins outside of the park at the shuttle staging area at Ruby’s in Bryce Canyon City, and travels 2.4 miles to the park entrance, then continues another 2.6 miles to Inspiration Point. It also connects with the shuttle system at the visitor center, general store, lodge, Sunset Point, Sunset Campground and Inspiration Point, so you can do as much of the trail as you like, then hop on the accessible shuttle to return to your car.
• The historic Lodge at Bryce Canyon, which dates back to 1925, offers four wheelchair accessible rooms – two with roll-in showers and two with tub/shower combinations. This rustic property was the brainchild of Gilbert Stanley Underwood who also designed Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone, the Ahwahnee at Yosemite, and Jackson Lake Lodge at Grand Teton National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park Accessible Itinerary

Nearby National Parks

Zion National Park
Capitol Reef National Park

More About National Parks in Utah