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When you’re done admiring the Bryce Amphitheater, you can get some more spectacular scenery by taking the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive. There are several viewpoints along the 18 mile road through Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah that ends at Rainbow Point.
Rainbow Point Shuttle Tour
If you don’t have your own car, the Rainbow Point Shuttle Tour takes visitors on the scenic drive twice daily. Reservations are a must for this guided tour, but it’s free of charge. It makes stops at many of the scenic viewpoints.
Swamp Canyon
The first stop along the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive is Swamp Canyon. This narrow canyon has two small creeks flowing through it to produce lots of vegetation.
Farview Point
Next is Farview Point, which lives up to its name. From this viewpoint on a clear day, you can see all the way into Arizona.
A short trail at Farview Point takes you to Piracy Point, where there are more incredible views. It’s named for the two large buttes in the distance that apparently look like two warships preparing for battle.
Bryce Natural Bridge
The third stop along Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive is Bryce Natural Bridge, which is actually an arch. The scenery is stunning and it’s probably my favorite viewpoint along the way.
Pink Cliffs
Shortly after Natural Bridge, an unmarked viewpoint allows visitors to look out over the Pink Cliffs.
Agua Canyon
Next is Agua Canyon, where two of the park’s famous hoodoos can be found. The Hunter is on the left, and the Rabbit (also known as the Backpacker) is on the right.
In the early days of the park, an effort was made to name some of the more prominent hoodoos. That stopped after many of them naturally fell apart and stopped resembling what they were named after.
Ponderosa Canyon
Ponderosa Canyon is named for the ponderosa pines on the canyon floor. Their height, which can grow up to 150 feet tall, is dwarfed by the canyon.
Black Birch Canyon
The final stop along the scenic drive before reaching Rainbow Point is at Black Birch Canyon. As expected, there are more great views of the landscape.
