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Viewpoint · Bryce Canyon City, Utah
Bryce Amphitheater
The largest natural amphitheater in Bryce Canyon National Park, full of orange rock pinnacles, viewed from four rim viewpoints: Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration and Bryce Point.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Bryce Amphitheater
The Bryce Amphitheater is the large open bowl on the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau; despite the name, it’s not a true canyon. Frost-wedging—water freezing and thawing in the rock’s cracks hundreds of nights a year—together with rain, carved thousands of orange, white, and pink limestone pinnacles here, the hoodoos, some dozens of meters high.
Four main overlooks sit along the rim and are connected by the Rim Trail, which is flat for much of its length: Sunrise Point and Sunset Point, closest to the park center; Inspiration Point, higher, with views of hoodoos arranged in rows; and Bryce Point, at the southern tip, from where you can see the whole amphitheater. The section between Sunrise and Sunset Point is paved.
One of the best-known hoodoos, Thor’s Hammer, stands just below Sunset Point. Light changes a lot throughout the day: sunrise lights the eastern rocks, and tones become warmer in the early hours.
The park is named for Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon settler who lived in the area in the 1870s.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours between the overlooks; half a day with a trail.
Best time
At sunrise, from Sunrise Point or Bryce Point. Snow in winter enhances the colors of the hoodoos.
How to get there
Along the park’s main road, a few kilometers from Bryce Canyon City, with parking areas next to the viewpoints. In season, the park shuttle serves all four.
Tip
Hike a section of the Rim Trail between the overlooks to see the hoodoos from different angles. The altitude tires you: go slowly on the climbs.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bryce Amphitheater
What are the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon?
Limestone pinnacles carved by ice and rain erosion along the plateau edge. Bryce has one of the largest concentrations of these pinnacles in the world.
Which Bryce viewpoint is best for sunrise?
Sunrise Point and Bryce Point are the most popular. Arrive before dawn and bring warm clothing: sunrise at 2,400 meters is cold.
Do foreign visitors pay more to enter Bryce Canyon?
Yes. Nonresidents pay an additional fee to enter Bryce Canyon, as in other heavily visited parks. Check fees and rules on the park’s website.