Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon, but rather an eroding, retreating plateau, and subsequently a series of amphitheaters. This wider view shows the large 12 mi long, 3 mi wide Bryce Amphitheater, which contains a broad gently-sloped syncline — a downward fold in the rock strata made over millions of years — in this case by compression of the thick layers of the Claron Formation. And our friendly Alligator gets into the picture again too.

Far in the background on the horizon to the northeast is the Table Cliff Plateau which I think they also call Aquarius which we will be driving near in a couple hours.