Bryce Canyon National Park

• Park Size: 35,800 acres
• Elevation: 8,000-9,000 feet

Everyone struggles to describe the otherworldly beauty that is Bryce Canyon. The so-called "canyon" — it's actually a large cauldron-like expanse — is studded with hoodoos, slender, jagged rock formations that can look equal parts Giacometti and Dr. Seuss. The native American legend goes that the long, slender spires used to be the evil Legend People who were turned to stone by the coyote.

Unlike Zion, where visitors start out on the bottom of a valley, at Bryce hikers begin at the top. The Bryce Lodge is situated along the rim of the Amphitheater, which overlooks the most dramatic gathering of hoodoos. The easiest trails run along the rim; others drop into the landscapes for longer, more challenging hikes.

Top Hikes

The aptly named Fairyland Loop is an 8-mile hike that passes through stunning scenery. It starts along the rim, then meanders through pine forests, past incredible hoodoo formations and steadily climbs up the valley for spectacular vistas. It takes between 3-5 hours to complete this hike.

The other challenging hike at Bryce is Peek-a-Boo Loop, which starts at Bryce Point, itself a marvel of vistas, then drops into the canyon past spectacular hoodoo formations. If you're trying to decide between the two hikes, Fairyland is the more varied terrain while Peek a Boo spends the most time in and around Bryce's famous Amphitheater.

Who Should Go

Bryce is a smaller, more remote park, with fewer hiking trails than more famous Zion and Arches. But the hoodoo scenery is completely otherworldly – and unique to Bryce –which makes the park a favorite of photographers. Since you are staying at the top of a vast canyon, with walks along a rim that doesn’t have many railings, this is not a good choice for travelers with small children. For anyone else, though, Bryce should be on the top of the southwestern list.