Photo by Bryant Le

Bryce Canyon, with its magnificent, unique rock formations shaped by Mother Nature – what a great place to travel!

Located near the southwest corner of Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park contains a mix of orange, white and pink cliffs created by millions of years of wind, water and geological activity. Words can’t completely describe its breathtaking grandeur, but a personal encounter will.

Summer of '95, during a typically hot, dry week in Utah, we decided the time was right to kick off our Bryce Canyon expedition. Our journey began at dawn from southern California and by late afternoon, we were surrounded by “hoodoos” of all shapes and sizes. Hoodoos are pillars of rock left by erosion and weathering. The view was great; the heart-pounding sensation within was a thriller.

Once in Bryce Canyon, we had an endless number of activities to choose from, including hiking, biking, camping, backcountry off-roading and horseback riding. We spent our first day hiking and shooting photos, our second biking and horseback riding. Feeling like a modern-day cowboy, I thought back to when these same paths were once traveled by Native American tribes, pioneers and settlers.

Bryce Canyon at night was a different experience – crickets, lizards, spiders, scorpions and other bugs were our closest friends. In the moonlight, the hoodoos looked animated, as if wanting to lead us weary travelers millions of years back in time.