This place TOTALLY ripped off Cars Land.
The four-mile stretch of vermillion-colored rock and pink soil is stunning. It's basically Sedona with ponderosa pines without all the ugly jewelry.
Red Canyon wasn't a destination for me; rather it was a surprise, underused bonus on the way to Bryce Canyon, about 10 miles away, so consider the 20 minute drive for a few photos ops, the most popular being the two rock tunnels. At first they look like something Wile E. Coyote painted to trick the Road Runner, but they're real.
The rock is a weathered conglomerate of limestone, sandstone, siltstone, and shale, which sounds like the expensive lawyer firm Wilma used to get custody of Pebbles. It's red because of the iron and manganese, but you can tell your kids that it didn't wear sunscreen because fear tactics.
If I had planned to stay in the 41K recreation area, I would rent bikes and use the brand new, paved Red Canyon Bicycle Trail for a 1.5 mile round trip, fenced away from the highway it often follows. Five of the fourteen trails stem from the Trailhead Kiosk, just a short drive east of the visitor center (open Memorial to Labor Day), which has a photo op with Smokey the Bear. A statue, not the real Smokey the Bear. Don't be stupid.
Most recommended: Pink Ledges (who I think won a Best Actor Oscar for Dark Knight- I could be wrong) connects with the Hoodoo Loop. The mile long loop is short, not too steep, and full of photo ops.
Do your research for more options: Birdeye Trail is a .8 mile moderate for close-up views of the orange and scarlet hoodoos overlooking the highway. This connects to Hoodoo trail and Photo Trail, a longer formation-heavy path around slopes. Losee Canyon Trail (3 miles to the "crown jewels" of the park if you have the balls). Arches Trail is a .7 mile gives to access to 15 arches. If you're feeling adventurous, OHVs are allowed on the Barney Cove trail and the Casto Canyon trail, a 5.5 mile trail short drive east that is especially pretty and peaceful aside from the occasional BRAAAAAAAP. Excuse me.
Thunder Mountain trailhead (open to biking and horses) makes me wonder if the Disneyland coaster was named after the mountain or vice versa. In any event, watch out for goats eating dynamite. read more