Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah has some of the most unique landscape appearance on this earth.  It looks so alien in origin but it’s completely Terran in nature.  One of the top questions people ask is “Why is Bryce Canyon red?”  Similar variations include “Why are the rocks of Bryce Canyon red?”  Today, that’s what we’re talking about.

Now, I must start out by saying that I’m no geologist.  I’m a landscape photographer.  However, I have pondered this question myself as I click away at my camera shutter taking beautiful landscape photos of the area.  So, I did a little research to find the answer.

You’ll find Bryce Canyon situated in an area of many layers of geologic layers.  Bryce itself sits about on top of this stack of layers.  When the layers of mud and dirt were laid down, there was a great deal of iron present.  Scientists further specify that the iron source is hematite.  When iron rusts (thanks to exposure to oxygen and water), it turns the color of red-orange which the national park is so famous for.

That’s the quick and simple answer to why Bryce Canyon is red.  The rocks and soil there are simply full of iron which has rusted.