- Yovimpa is the highest point of Bryce Canyon National Park at 9,100 feet
- Overnight travel requires a special pass, available from the Visitor Center
- Yovimpa Point offers spectacular views of the Grand Staircase
- Rainbow Point marks the end of the scenic drive along the rim of Bryce Canyon
Overview
Just a few hundreds yards from Rainbow Point yet facing in the opposite direction, Yovimpa Point has splendid views of the rock layers known as the Grand Staircase from the top of the Pink Cliffs. The distant tree-covered hills on the horizon are on the Kaibab Plateau, part of the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Location and Information
Yovimpa Point in Bryce Canyon is located just a short distance before Rainbow Point, at the end of the 18-mile paved highway along the canyon rim. Open all year round weather permitting. Visit the national park website at http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/rainbowyovimpa.htm
Activities
Hiking
- Riggs Spring Loop Trail – a strenuous backcountry trail which runs for 7.5 miles and ends at Rainbow Point.
- Bristlecone Loop – 0.8 mile loop through ancient Bristlecone Pines
- Under the Rim Trail - runs for 23 miles to Bryce Point.
Nature Spotting
At this high point (9,100 feet) in Bryce Canyon Rainbow Point the forest is mainly Blue Spruce, Douglas and White Fir which are favored by chipmunks and squirrels. Birdspotters may hear or see grouse, jays, ravens, woodpeckers and owls.
Fun Facts
The Grand Staircase is so large that from any single viewpoint, the majority of it is hidden by the curvature of the earth!
The Bristlecone Pines are 1,800 years old.
