Bryce Canyon National Park: Hoodoo Heaven and the Hike of a Lifetime

Stop #2 on our Utah National Parks Adventure

After wrapping up our jaw-dropping adventures in Zion, we packed up the RV, hitched up the Maverick, and made the scenic 85-mile drive northeast to Bryce Canyon National Park. It was only about two hours on paper—but when you travel with a dog, an iPhone/camera, and a healthy sense of curiosity, it’s never just two hours.

Than, all of a sudden, driving eastbound along Highway 12, we hit the unexpected jackpot: Red Canyon.

Out of nowhere, fiery red/orange rock spires shot up on both sides of the road, flanked by towering ponderosa pines and those classic western-style stone tunnels carved right into the cliffs.

We pulled over to gawk, took photos, and let Izzy stretch her legs. It turns out that Red Canyon is part of Dixie National Forest, but it felt like we’d stumbled across a mini national park. The hoodoos here teased what Bryce would soon deliver in full.

Shortly after our gawking, oohs and ahhs, we rolled into our campground around 1pm—just five miles from the Bryce entrance. After a smooth setup (conflict-free), we unhooked the Maverick and made a beeline for the park. With only two days to explore, we had no time to waste, we needed to get some Bryce Canyon Park Ranger intel.

As always, we began at the Visitor Center, our go-to for real-time info, trail tips, and ranger wisdom. We quizzed our Ranger on the best hikes, the quietest viewpoints, and the golden hour magic. And we learned something pretty cool: Bryce isn’t a canyon—it’s a giant natural amphitheater, carved over time by freezing and thawing rather than rivers.

The star of the show? Hoodoos—thousands of tall, skinny rock spires that glow pink, orange, and red. They’re like stone totem poles built by wind, water, and time. Each one is weird and wonderful in its own way. To get the best lay of the land before we hiked, we drove the entire 18 mile scenic view of the rim of Bryce Canyon. Here we got a glimpse of various hoodoos and overlooks and with all the major viewpoints accessible from pullouts, it felt like a scenic buffet of overlooks. Every stop had its “amazing” factor.

We woke up early the next morning to temperatures in the 40s, freezing cold for south Floridians in late May. Layers were mandatory. But by 10am it warmed up just in time for our main event: hike a loop starting at Sunrise Point, dropping into Queens Garden, continuing along the Navajo Loop, and climbing up through Wall St. and out at Sunset Point. It was about 3 miles total, with 550 feet of elevation loss/gain, and according to the time stamp on my photos, it took us 2 hours and 21 minutes from Sunrise to Sunset (that was a short day). Let us tell you—every single step was worth it, a memory that will be forever remembered and recorded.

The trail led us down into a surreal world of stone spires and switchbacks. At one point, we walked through a narrow passage no more than two feet wide, with walls towering 100 feet overhead. It felt like we were in a sunlit stone cathedral. Every turn revealed a new jaw-dropping view. Some hoodoos looked like castles. Others looked like people, animals, or something from a Dr. Seuss book, but to me, I was reliving scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

By the time we hit the final climb out of the canyon, the sun was baking the trail, the dust was clogging our throats, my legs were questioning life choices, and we rationed water like we were crossing the Sahara. But wow—what a hike, and we survived to high-five our achievement.

Back on top at the rim, we rolled into Bryce Canyon Lodge for a much-needed late lunch. The lodge is a gem—log cabin and stone architecture with green trim and a wavy, cedar shingle roof that looks straight out of a 1930s travel poster.

We (I) inhaled ice cold beer, devoured hot soup, gobbled sandwiches, and enough fries to justify sitting still for a while. It was the perfect reward—and the ideal place to cool off, reflect, and debate whether we were doing another hike (we weren’t, or were we?).

Later that afternoon we arrived back at the rig, Izzy gave us the whole guilt trip ‘look’ for leaving her behind. So we leashed her up and headed back to the park for a short walk along the paved Rim Trail, one of the few dog-friendly options. We wandered to a quiet overlook and stood there, soaking in the view, and Izzy forgot she was left alone like some adopted step child (that is after a couple of treats and a car ride with mom and dad).

As the late-day sun painted the hoodoos in deep gold and burnt orange, it felt like nature had flipped on a spotlight just for us. Back at the RV, tired, and the soreness had set in that evening—but so had the sense of accomplishment. That Sunrise-to-Sunset hike wasn’t just the best of Bryce—it might be the best we’ve ever done. The views, the challenge, the magic of walking through stone forests—it was unforgettable.

We were grateful, proud, (and happy that we didn’t have to be airlifted to a hospital.)

Next stop: Capitol Reef