Pink Cliffs

The Pink Cliffs are the uppermost step of the Grand Staircase — the great sequence of sedimentary layers that descends from Bryce Canyon south toward the Grand Canyon. They form the eroded rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau and define the landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park itself. The vivid pink and orange coloring that gives the formation its name comes from iron oxide (hematite) in the Claron Formation, a thick layer of Eocene-era limestone, sandstone, and shale deposited roughly 40–60 million years ago in shallow freshwater lakes.

Geology

The Claron Formation's Pink Member is responsible for the color and the hoodoos. At Bryce Canyon, this layer runs up to 700 feet thick, and it's unusually susceptible to the freeze-thaw cycles that sculpt the hoodoos: the plateau sits above 8,000 feet, where temperatures cross the freezing point roughly 200 days a year. Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and gradually pries the rock apart. Weak carbonic acid from rain accelerates the process by dissolving the limestone grain by grain. The result is the dense forest of spires, fins, and columns visible from every overlook in the park.

Viewing the Pink Cliffs

The classic view is from the main Bryce Amphitheater overlooks — Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Points — which look out over the largest concentration of hoodoos. The Agua Canyon overlook in the southern section of the park offers a comparable view with far fewer people and is worth the extra drive. From below, the Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden trails put you inside the formation at eye level with the hoodoos, where the pink stone walls tower 100–200 feet on either side.

• Arrive at Sunrise or Sunset Point early — before 9 AM in summer — to have the overlooks to yourself
• The free park shuttle stops at all main overlooks in summer, reducing parking pressure considerably
• Color saturation is highest on overcast days; direct midday sun washes out the pinks