Bryce Canyon travel tips

When I think of Utah, I think of national parks. In addition to well-known Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon make up the “Mighty Five” – a must for many hikers’ bucket lists.

Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park showcases the largest collection of hoodoos — thin spires of rock — and despite its name, it’s not actually a canyon but rather a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The park is relatively small compared to other national parks in the state, like Zion, Arches, and Canyonlands. The 18-mile scenic road that runs north-south through the park traces the rims of the amphitheaters for the most part and has turnoffs for viewpoints, hiking trailheads, and picnic areas. Small or not, the park can afford you days of on-foot exploration, and the varying levels of hiking difficulty and length mean there’s something for everyone. There’s no need to rush. Staying for a few days gives you ample time to explore the region and immerse yourself in the desert.

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The desert is a dark, foreboding place at night, one that requires four wheel drive to trace the silver, starlit veins of Capitol Reef National Park to its heart.

Splash. Chocolatey water surges up and over the windshield of our ATV. My guide, Dallin, peers at me through mud-splattered sunglasses. When he sees I’m laughing, he thrusts down the pedal and hurtles towards the next puddle. Gravel grinds beneath the wheels, and water crashes into the vehicle once more.