Bryce Canyon National Park is considered by many visitors to be one of America's most beautiful natural treasures. Situated on the eastern edge of Utah's Paunsaugunt Plateau, it's spectacular natural amphitheaters and amazing rock formations are the result of millions of years of natural erosion by wind, water, and ice. Bryce Canyon Tours from Las Vegas are an interesting alternative for vacationers who want to do more than just watch night shows and visit casinos.
Covering an area of only thirty-six thousand acres, it is the smallest of Utah's national parks. The more famous and much larger Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks often overshadow it. Overshadowed and underrated as it is, it is still a rare gem of a park. It's smaller size, incredible views, and accessible trails make it a must-see.
The main attraction at the park is Brice Canyon, a huge natural amphitheater. Rising from its floor are numerous spectacular freestanding limestone rock formations known of as 'hoodoos'. The Paiute Indians that inhabited the area for centuries before the coming of European settlers, believed that the hoodoos were the remains of the ancient Legend people who had been turned to stone as a result of their bad deeds. Whether the legend is true or not, you can get a closer look at them by hiking along one of the four major trails that run along the Amphitheater.
The Rim Trail runs for about five and a half miles along the cliff above the famous Bryce Amphitheater, connecting the five major viewing points that overlook it. It is flat enough to be suitable for wheelchairs between the Sunset and Sunrise points.
The Queen's Garden Trail starts and stops at Fairyland Point from where it runs below the Bryce Rim for just over one and a half miles in one direction. It is the easiest of the trails. You can see the Queens Castle and Queen Victoria rock formations from along its route.
The Navajo Loop Trail starts and stops at Sunset Point, running below the Bryce Rim for a distance of under one and a half miles. Along the way, it passes through a narrow opening between sheer cliff faces known as "Wall Street". The Silent City, Temple of Osiris and Thors' Hammer rock formations are visible from this trail.
The most strenuous of the four trails is the Fairyland Loop Trail. It is also the longest, at a length of eight miles. The trail starts at Fairyland Point, runs down into Fairyland Canyon, goes back up along the China Wall, and runs along the Rim Trail, before finally ending back where it started at Fairyland Point. The trail descends quite steeply at points, making it one of the more difficult trails. The Tower Point Junction, which leads to the Tower Bridge formation, is located on trail's Fairyland Canyon portion.
Fairyland Point does not receive as many visitors as the other points do because it is on the regular beaten track. However, not taking the time to see it would be to deprive yourself of the best view that the park has to offer. The Boat Mesa, which is the highest hoodoo in the park, as well as the impressively lifelike Sinking Ship formation are both visible from it.
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