Bryce Canyon National Park is by far one of my favorite places to take photos. The possibilities are endless in this park of unique colors and rock formations. The sunrises are unbeatable, the morning light makes the hoodoos glow. However, most people think the amphitheater is all there is to see in Bryce Canyon, but take a short drive down Bryce Canyon Road, and you’ll realize there’s a lot more beauty to the park than just the hoodoos.
What is there to know about Bryce Canyon? --------------------------
The park is filled with rock formations called hoodoos, which are formed over millions of years from weathering and erosion. The name is believed to have come from the word “hudu” which means “spirit work” in the Ewe language spoken by several countries in West Africa. Not only are the hoodoos impressive, but the elevations the park sits at are astonishing. Bryce Canyon is a high altitude park, reaching elevations up to 9,000 feet in some areas of the park. This makes hiking a bit more challenging, but the views are absolutely worth it. On a clear day, you can see the Navajo Mountains 90 miles out!
1. Inspiration Point
Inspiration point is located in the middle of the amphitheater, and consists of three different points: lower, middle, and upper. This is the spot to be if you want to capture that iconic view of the amphitheater. In my opinion, this area has the best overall view in the park, and it’s the best spot to catch the sunrise. Here the hoodoos will glow early in the morning, and the colors of the sky and rocks are stunning when the sun peeks over the distant mountains. Lower inspiration point is the most accessible and closest to the parking lot, and upper inspiration point is just a short walk uphill. The view gets better and better as you go up, and there’s plenty of space between the lookouts to set up a tripod for the sunrise.
2. Queen's Garden Trail
The Queen’s Garden Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park due to its easy to moderate difficulty and its impressive views. The trail takes you through hoodoos and deep into the canyon, giving you a different perspective rather than just a view from the rim. I recommend taking photos here early, when the light is best and before the crowds arrive. It’s easy to feel rushed when there’s a lot of people around, so get out there early so you can take your time.
3. Wall Street
Take a walk down Wall Street to be surrounded by huge red rock spires. This area is part of the Navajo Loop trail, which can be accessed from the Sunrise point shuttle stop and parking lot. It’s the switchback part of the trail that goes down into the amphitheater, which provides a unique perspective of the hoodoos. Take some time to shoot from the top part of the trail as well as the bottom. This is another location that is best visited early in the day or in the off season since there will always be people hiking on the trail.
4. Hat Shop
If you’re willing to go for a hiking adventure, this is the spot for you. The hat shop is a very unique and secluded part of the park. It gets its name from the rock formations that resemble hats sitting on stools. The trail to the hat shop is about 2 miles out, so 4 miles roundtrip, and it is considered to be more challenging because of the elevation gain. The hike is beautiful, and there is plenty of space at the end to explore and take photos.
5. Farview Point
Escape the crowds of the amphitheater by taking a drive down Bryce Canyon Road. Take a stop at Farview point. This area is easily accessible from the parking lot along the road, and Piracy Point is just a short walk away if you want to have the opportunity for a different composition. The view from this lookout is very different from the northern part of the park, allowing you to shoot a variety of landscapes in the park. There’s more pine trees and some forested mountains in the near distance.
6. Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is another quick pullover spot, but certainly one you don’t want to miss. It’s a large red rock arch tucked into a small valley coming down from the road. Practice your composition skills at this location by framing the arch in different ways. Try shooting here at different times of day to see how the lighting on the arch affects the photo.
7. Rainbow Point
At the southernmost part of the park, Rainbow point sits at an impressive 9,015 feet. Access this point at the end of the 18 mile long Bryce Canyon Road, and photograph views of the hoodoos with mountains in the distance. There are short hiking trails nearby, and Yovimpa point also has some incredible views to capture. Be sure to set aside some time to explore this area of the park and capture it with your camera.
8. Fairyland Loop
Back at the northern part of the amphitheater, the fairyland loop is a great trail for photos. There are way less people here than in the main part of the park. The loop is 8 miles and has a variety of landscapes to photograph throughout, but Fairyland Point is also a great place to get shots of the canyon if you’d rather stay at the rim. Sunrise here is also beautiful if you’re looking for something a little different than Inspiration Point.
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