That's Plateau Geology 101 ... t glimpsed some of the craziest rock shapes—the pinnacle-like hoodoos of Bryce Canyon or the vaulting spans of Arches, canonized by Edward Abbey.

If sweeping views of the hoodoos is all you want from a Bryce Canyon adventure, hit the Rim Trail. The path winds its way along the top of the amphitheater, with great views everywhere you look.

Thanks to its position on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, which is itself at the very top of the Grand Staircase geological feature that runs down to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon’s elevation ranges ...