What are hoodoos? The science behind these surreal formations

Catie Leary

Hoodoos are a common sight in the western United States. This particular cluster is found in southern Utah’s Arches National Park (Photo: Zack Frank/Shutterstock)

Hoodoos. Fairy chimneys. Earth pyramids. Tent rocks. They have many different names, but these strange badland rock formations are one and the same, and they can be found in various iterations across the planet.

One of the best places to see hoodoos is in southern Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park (pictured below), which boasts a vibrant collection of natural “amphitheaters” filled with craggy columns composed of sedimentary rocks like sandstone and shale. Read more.