Travelling to Bryce Canyon with our 6 year old Kidsetter was a phenomenal experience. Bryce Canyon is not a single canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters or bowls, carved into the edge of a high plateau.
The most famous of these is the Bryce Amphitheater which is filled with irregularly eroded spires of rocks called hoodoos. Hoodoos exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth.
Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park’s high elevations include numerous life communities, fantastic dark skies, and geological wonders that defy description.
Although Bryce Canyon is named after Ebenezer Bryce whom arrived in 1875, building roads in the area, Paleo Indians arrived 12,000 years ago. 35,835 acres of cliffs, canyons, diverse plant and animal life, and uninterrupted beauty.
Mesmerised as we gazed at red rocks, pink cliffs and endless vistas against the brilliant blue sky. Bryce Canyon’s serene vistas are deceptive; the landscape is never static. Bryce began forming fifty million years ago, so you can imagine the questions from an inquisitive 6-year-old Kidsetter. What type of animals existed? Why are rocks made in the shapes they are?
We were able to build on his thirst for knowledge and turn the entire experience into a classroom among the canyon. We visited the Bryce Canyon Visitor Centre and our Kidsetter met a Park Ranger. Bryce offers a Junior Ranger Program and our Kidsetter was beyond thrilled to learn he too could become a Junior Ranger after completing a few tasks in his activity booklet using Bryce Canyon National Park as he’s teaching aid whilst he explored.
Our Kidsetter loves the outdoors so was eager to start exploring. The viewing points are spread out through the park. We had hired a car to gain further reach to as many of the viewpoints as possible. First we marvelled at its four main viewpoints, all found within the first few kilometres of the park: Bryce, Inspiration, Sunset, and Sunrise Points. Next, we explored other less visited viewpoints; Paria View, Farview Point, Natural Bridge and Sheep Creek – Swamp Canyon.
Our Kidsetter climbed trees and walked the canyon rims. All the while filling in his Junior Ranger activity booklet and learning about his natural surroundings.
At the end of a full days exploring we retreated to the conveniently located Bryce Canyon Lodge. We had worked up an appetite, thankfully there was a pizzeria based at the lodge. We enjoyed a yummy pizza whilst sharing laughs and stories about our adventurous day. Special family time indeed.
