The iconic red rock spires that fill the landscape in Bryce Canyon National Park look even more ethereal when coated with a dusting of white snow. Visitors can delight in full moon snowshoe adventures and Saturday astronomy programs at this certified Dark Sky Park. So beloved is this stunning destination come wintertime that it plays host to a kid-friendly Winter Festival each President’s Day weekend.

Bryce Canyon is well known for some of the most scenic hikes in any national park, namely the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop trails which wander among a mind-blowing assortment of the park’s famous hoodoos. These are “irregularly eroded spires of rocks,” as explained by the national park website, but that description undersells the true grandeur of this landscape.

A central route within the national park is the Bryce Rim Trail. This wide path traces the airy edge of the plateau, with steeper trails branching off to descend into the labyrinth. From the Rim Trail’s level surface you’ll gaze out over it all, making this the best way to experience the landscape without taking a strenuous hike.

Creamsicle-hued ranks of stone soldiers -- stubby hoodoos -- show off nature’s whimsical personality. Carved by wind, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles, these peculiar formations rise over you as you explore the trails that weave through the colorful underbelly of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Try one of the park’s many hiking trails or camp out in the park’s North and Sunset campgrounds, not far from the short hikes that dip down into the canyon’s geologic wonders.

Bryce Canyon National Park’s remote location and thin, clean air makes it a phenomenal place for stargazing, due to less air and light pollution. The high elevation at Bryce Canyon provides a breathtaking view of hundreds of miles into the desert, and you can even search the sky for the Andromeda Galaxy after dark. The park offers ranger programs, such as constellation tours and full moon hikes. Visit the park's website for program schedules and general park information.

Red rocks, pink cliffs and endless vistas await at this Insta-famous park in Utah. People travel to Bryce Canyon from around the world to see the largest concentration of hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) in the world, but the park's high elevation also makes it a great place for star gazing. One of the US's more compact national parks, you don't need a ton of time to hit the highlights like Thor's Hammer, Inspiration Point, and the Queens Garden Trail.

Creamsicle-hued ranks of stone soldiers -- stubby hoodoos -- show off nature’s whimsical personality. Carved by wind, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles, these peculiar formations rise over you as you explore the trails that weave through the colorful underbelly of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Try one of the park’s many hiking trails or camp out in the park’s North and Sunset campgrounds, not far from the short hikes that dip down into the canyon’s geologic wonders.

Winter at Bryce Canyon National Park offers snow-covered hoodoos and incredible views. A focus on the sky, though, really differentiates this winter wonderland experience from all others. Bryce Canyon embraces astronomy as a major part of its interpretive experience. November through March, ranger-led full moon snowshoe hikes are a real treat, snowshoes and poles provided. Most hiking trails remain open during winter for snowshoeing, winter hiking and backpacking, and cross-country skiing.

Thousands of orange- and red-colored spire-shaped rock formations, known as hoodoos, fill the natural amphitheater at Bryce Canyon National Park. Take the park’s main road for sprawling views of the formations, best seen at sunrise and sunset.