Explore the epic geological story behind Bryce Canyon's iconic hoodoos, from ancient seas to modern-day erosion.
Listen — all 6 episodes free
0
Not a Canyon but Something Stranger
This is The Hoodoo Chronicles, a series exploring the geology, history, and hidden stories of Bryce Canyon National Park.
0:00
1
An Ancient Lake Built These Rocks
The rocks you see throughout Bryce started as mud and sediment at the bottom of a vast lake system that existed here thirty to fifty million years ago.
0:00
2
Tectonic Forces Raised an Ancient Lakebed
The rocks here sat near sea level for millions of years, doing nothing particularly dramatic.
0:00
3
Ice Cracks Rock Two Hundred Days Yearly
Bryce Canyon experiences over two hundred freeze-thaw cycles in a typical year — more than any other factor, this relentless process is what carves the hoodoos.
0:00
4
Iron Rust Paints the Hoodoos
Every color you see across these rock formations is essentially rust.
0:00
5
Bryce's Hoodoos Are Slowly Disappearing
Every hoodoo you see here is temporary. Erosion carves them into existence and then, given enough time, destroys them completely.
0:00