Geologic map of Bryce Canyon National Park and vicinity, southwestern Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is located along the eastern escarpment of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, which along with the Markagunt Plateau to the west, form the southernmost of the High Plateaus of Utah. The park’s unique scenery has been created by forces of differential erosion acting on colorful rocks exposed along and below the rim of the plateau. Park headquarters and major scenic viewpoints that lie on or near the rim of the plateau are accessible from Utah Highway 12 mi west of the park. More remote parts of the park are located in canyons beneath the rim and are accessible only by foot, along horse trails or from a few unimproved dirt roads that approach the park boundary from the east or south.