Bryce Canyon National Park is named for just one of a series of horseshoe-shaped
amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in
southern Utah. Erosion has shaped colorful Claron limestones, sandstones
and mudstones into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles and mazes. Collectively
called "hoodoos," these unique formations are whimsically arranged and
tinted with colors too numerous and subtle to name.
Ponderosa pines, high elevation meadows and spruce-fir forests border the rim of the plateau, while panoramic views of three states spread beyond the park's boundaries. This area boasts some of the nation's best air quality. This, coupled with the lack of nearby large light sources, creates unparalleled opportunities for star gazing.