Welcome to Bryce Canyon National Park

Let's continue our national park tour in Utah! Welcome to Bryce Canyon National Park, nestled in southwestern Utah. The main feature of this park will be the featured image of this blog (hehe) that is Bryce Canyon. However, despite it's name, it not actually a canyon due to the way it was formed. 

Hoodoos

Canyons are defined as being formed from erosion that is initiated from a central steam. In Bryce's case the canyon was created by headward erosion that excavated the large amphitheater shaped features. This headward erosion exposed delicate and colorful pinnacles called "hoodoos." Rain and frost wedging carved these stones into curious shapes. There is even a rock shaped like a Queen Victoria statue in London. 

The park is filled with Hoodoos which can be quite tall, up to 200 feet. Similar to Zion NP, you can hike through the narrow walls of these hoodoos. At the top of these massive hoodoos, you may find limber pines (pictured below). This tree species is resilient and can survive harsh habitats where less hardy trees would be unable to survive. You can also find the ancient bristlecone pines in the park that can live up to 5,000 years old.