Hoodoo: A Column of Weathered Rock

… also called a tent rock, fairy chimney, or earth pyramid; a tall, thin spire of rock formed by erosion. Bryce Canyon National Park is the number one place to see these geological formations. You can also find hoodoos in other places in the United States, and around the world such as Turkey and New Zealand.

Dale and I immersed ourselves in Bryce’s hoodoos this past weekend. Our first view upon exiting the park shuttle was the Bryce Amphitheater, a 12-mile-long, 3-mile-wide bowl of rock towers. It was an astounding site, and for me, even more impressive than the Grand Canyon.

Bryce Point and the Rim Trail

After setting up our tent at the Sunset Campground, Dale and I boarded the park shuttle and headed to Bryce Point, the best place (in my opinion) to start your hoodoo adventure. We spent quite a bit of time on the overlooks, then headed along the Rim Trail towards Inspiration Point. The trail offered unlimited opportunities to take in the extraordinary vistas. Adding to the dramatic scene was the formation of thunderclouds many miles away. We could see lightning and rain falling in the distance. Unfortunately, the storm was heading our way!

Scenic Overlooks Along the Rim Trail

We continued along the Rim Trail, stopping at several scenic overlooks such as Sunrise Point and Inspiration Point. There are also several trails you can take down into the canyon. The park lodge is also located just off the edge of the canyon. We walked slowly and absorbed every angle. When the storm hit, thankfully we were near some bathrooms with a small porch. About six of us huddled together and watch an amazing amount of small hail, or maybe sleet, cover the ground. Along the edge of the roof where the sleet accumulated, it got over a foot deep! It was a warm day too! So weird. After that we continued our walk.

Later that afternoon we took the scenic drive to Yovimpa Point and did a short trail called the Bristlecone Trail. It was at a scenic spot that we encountered a terrifying turkey and raving raven. No bears though, so that was good!

Our Campsite

We were blessed to find a great campsite at the Sunset Campground, which is a first come, first served campground. I always make reservations, so this type of risk is uncomfortable to me. However, we found one that was relatively private and near the bathroom. Though the days were nice and warm, the night got down to 40 degrees. Thankfully our sleeping bags are warm! I was surprised how many solo campers we saw – both male and female.

Queens Garden Trail

On Sunday morning we headed back to Sunrise Point to take the Queens Garden Trail to the bottom of the canyon so we could see the hoodoos more closely. According to the map, this is the least strenuous route to the bottom. I was skeptical, but it wasn’t too bad! At the end of the trail is a hoodoo that looks like the shape of Queen Victoria. After ascending back up the trail, we headed to Valhalla Pizzaria located just behind the lodge. After that, we headed back to Cedar City, about an hour and a half away. On our way home we passed through quite a bit of snowy areas. It’s amazing how long snow stays at higher elevations.

Next week we hope to spend three days at Grand Tetons National Park and one day at Yellowstone, but more about that later!