The best dog-friendly hikes and walks in Garfield County

Lower Inspiration Point is a fantastic spot over Bryce Amphitheater, with views of the dense clusters of hoodoos known as the Silent City. The short, unpaved trail from the parking area leads to a fenced overlook with sweeping views to the north. It’s a quieter alternative to the park’s busier viewpoints and is especially stunning at sunrise or after dark under the starry sky.

Lower Inspiration Point is a fantastic spot over Bryce Amphitheater, with views of the dense clusters of hoodoos known as the Silent City. The short, unpaved trail from the parking area leads to a fenced overlook with sweeping views to the north. It’s a quieter alternative to the park’s busier viewpoints and is especially stunning at sunrise or after dark under the starry sky.

The Long Canyon Overlook is a fantastic spot with incredible sweeping views of the Circle Cliffs and the Henry Mountains in the distance. The overlook is typically quiet, with minimal traffic—making it a perfect spot to take a break in solitude and enjoy the beauty of Grand Staircase-Escalante.

Inspiration Point consists of three different viewpoints: the Lower, Middle, and Upper. Each of the viewing areas gives a different vantage point as you work your way up in elevation. The vistas look out over the Silent City and Boat Mesa, giving spectacular views of the hoodoos in the canyon. All of the viewpoints can be found on the Rim Trail.

We reach the spectacular Bryce Canyon. The bizarre rock formations ("hoodoos") are just as characteristic of Bryce Canyon as its forests. The combined forces of wind, water and ice have created a landscape of rock pillars in strange shapes and sizes. These rock formations are also called hoodoos. The hoodoos create a labyrinth of constantly changing shapes and colors from bright orange to pale pink or ochre. Here we take the opportunity to descend into the canyon. The change of perspective makes us really aware of the size of the individual rock formations. We see several chipmunks that are far too quick for my camera.

We reach the spectacular Bryce Canyon. The bizarre rock formations ("hoodoos") are just as characteristic of Bryce Canyon as its forests. The combined forces of wind, water and ice have created a landscape of rock pillars in strange shapes and sizes. These rock formations are also called hoodoos. The hoodoos create a labyrinth of constantly changing shapes and colors from bright orange to pale pink or ochre. Here we take the opportunity to descend into the canyon. The change of perspective makes us really aware of the size of the individual rock formations. We see several chipmunks that are far too quick for my camera.

The magic of this landscape, which has always inspired people's imagination, is described in a legend of the Paiute Indians. According to it, a long time ago the Legend People lived in a wonderful city that Coyote had built for them. When the Legend People began to behave ungratefully and badly towards Coyote, he turned them into immovable rocks as punishment. And so today, on hikes through the valley, we encounter curious-looking stone figures at every turn.

This white rock mass in the shape of a crocodile holds together the red towers underneath…