Episode 11Travel & Outdoors

Bryce Canyon National Park: Dark Sky Gazing & Hoodoos Are Amazing!

IN the Parks·Allison Martin·Aug 13, 2026·34 min
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Show Notes

On my family trip to the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks, our next stop is Bryce Canyon National Park. This park left a lasting impression on all of us; it was definitely a favorite! We got to enjoy Astronomy Fest events on our first night there, taking advantage of the park’s Dark Sky status.

We were in awe of the hoodoos, unique rock formations all throughout the amphitheater. (Note: Bryce Canyon is not technically a canyon). And if a little kid can hike Navajo Loop and the Queen’s Garden Trail, so can you! Learn more about hoodoo formation from the NPS site. This is definitely a must-do national park!

You are going to learn about:

  • Historic Ruby’s Inn
  • Bryce Canyon’s Astronomy Fest
  • How to Take Star Pictures at Night with Your Phone
  • What Hoodoos Are
  • Our Favorite Trails from Bryce Canyon

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Episode Details
Show
IN the Parks
Category
Travel & Outdoors
Topic
IN the Parks
Duration
00:33:40
Published
Aug 13, 2026
About the Host
Allison Martin
Allison Martin
Host · IN the Parks

Allison Martin tells the stories behind Indiana's state parks: the best trails, the campgrounds, the history and the corners worth the drive.

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Frequently asked

Quick answers.

The useful details, answered clearly and without the digging.

01

What is Bryce Canyon National Park known for?

Its hoodoos: unique rock formations that fill the park's amphitheater. Bryce Canyon also holds Dark Sky status, which is why the park runs Astronomy Fest events after sunset. Allison Martin and her family rated it a favorite of the whole Utah Mighty 5 trip.

02

Is Bryce Canyon actually a canyon?

No. Despite the name, Bryce Canyon is not technically a canyon. What you're looking at is an amphitheater filled with hoodoos rather than a river-cut canyon, and the episode covers the distinction.

03

What are hoodoos at Bryce Canyon?

Hoodoos are the unique rock formations found all throughout Bryce Canyon's amphitheater, and they're what most visitors come to see. The episode has a full section on what they are. For the geology of how they form, the National Park Service has a page on hoodoo formation at nps.gov.

04

What is Bryce Canyon's Astronomy Fest?

It's a set of stargazing events the park puts on, taking advantage of Bryce Canyon's Dark Sky status. Allison and her family went on their first night in the park and it became one of the highlights of the trip.

05

Which trails does IN the Parks hike at Bryce Canyon?

The Navajo Loop and the Queen's Garden Trail. The episode closes with the family's favorite trails from the park, so it's a good starting point if you only have a day.

06

Can you hike Bryce Canyon with kids?

Yes. As Allison puts it, if a little kid can hike Navajo Loop and the Queen's Garden Trail, so can you. Her extended family did both with young kids along.

07

How do you take star pictures at night with your phone?

The episode walks through it as one of its five topics, recorded after the family's Astronomy Fest night under Bryce Canyon's dark skies. It's aimed at people using a phone rather than dedicated astrophotography gear.

08

How long is the Bryce Canyon episode of IN the Parks?

33 minutes and 40 seconds. It's the third episode of Season 2, following the Zion National Park episode, as the family works through Utah's Mighty 5 national parks.

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