Bryce is Nice

If you ever get the chance to spend some time in southern Utah ... go for it.  There is so much to see and do.  National Parks offer scenic driving tours from the comfort of your car or get out of the car and take a hike for even more awesome landscape views and photo opportunities.  Among these spectacular parks is Bryce Canyon National Park.  

Bryce Canyon is not really a canyon but a collection of amphitheaters.  So, what’s the difference?  

I discovered that, by definition, a “canyon” was carved top-down by streams eroding into the rock.  The Bryce amphitheaters were scoured from the bottom-up as low waters eroded away at the plateau above.

During our trip, we are driving Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 from east to west.  So, our visit to Bryce Canyon comes toward the end of our scenic drive.  A link to my blog post on Highway 12 is located at the end of this post.   

On UT-12, we cross the National Park boundary line.  We see a trail head for Mossy Cave.  It is a .8 mile (round trip) hike to the cave with a 200' elevation change.  Along the trail, we see arches and rock spires.  We cross a pedestrian foot bridge.  The trail climbs slightly to a “T” intersection.  To the right is a trail to the waterfall (trail was closed during our visit).  To the left is the trail to the cave.  We turn left and soon arrive at the shallow cave.  A metal fence prevents us from going any further.  This easy hike takes less than an hour to do.  

Arch along Mossy Cave Trail

Pedestrian Bridge along Mossy Cave Trail

Mossy Cave

We get back on the road and drive to Highway 63 where we turn south toward the iconic section of the park.  We spend some time at Sunset Point (elevation 8,000').  We learn that water, ice and snow continue to carve the formations at Bryce Canyon. 

Sunset Point

Thor's Hammer at Sunset Point

We walk the half mile trail along the rim from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point for a different view of the colorful hoodoos.

Sunrise Point

There are several trails that can be accessed from the Sunset/Sunrise Point parking lot.  They include the Rim Trail, the Queen’s Garden Trail, and the Navajo Loop Trail.  Before you begin any hike, please consider your physical hiking ability, weather and temperature forecast, bring plenty of water to drink, and don’t forget your camera! 

The entire Rim Trail (5.5 miles) extends from Fairyland to Bryce Point with several steep elevation changes.  However, the section of the Rim Trail between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point is considered an easy walk. 

Rim Trail from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point

From Sunrise Point, the Queen’s Garden Trail is a .8 mile (round trip) trail with a 320' descent.  Use your imagination to discover hoodoos that resemble garden-like features. 

The Queen’s Garden Trail can be combined with part of the Navajo Loop Trail to create a 2.9 mile loop hike (580’ elevation change).  It is recommended you begin your hike at Sunrise Point because it is considered the least difficult trail entering the canyon from the rim.  We did this loop hike in 1991 and I recall it being a good workout.

The popular 1.3 mile Navajo Loop Trail (550’ elevation change) is accessed from Sunset Point.  A safety concern regarding this trail is the loose rocks that may be under your feet or falling from above you.  Please exercise caution and be alert when hiking this trail.  The trail descends and passes through the narrow corridors of Wall Street and past the Silent City (a metropolis of spires and hoodoos).

Navajo Loop Trail from Sunset Point

I like to hike because it offers me the opportunity to get a closer look at nature and my environment.  But this trip, we don’t have a lot of time to spend at Bryce.  Instead, we are driving the 18 mile scenic road.  The parking areas for the overlooks are along the east side of the road.  Because of this, we decide to drive to the end of the road and start our scenic drive at Rainbow Point (elevation 9,115' – the highest part of the park) and work our way back to Sunset Point. 

At Rainbow Point, the exhibit signs explain that the colors in the limestone are "caused by small amounts of iron deposited in the limestone that has oxidized (or rusted) to produce the yellows, oranges, reds, and browns.  Water is the main force shaping the landscape here.  A hoodoo is a rock pinnacle left standing by the combined forces of weathering and erosion."

 Rainbow Point

It is 52 degrees F in late October but it feels so much colder at this elevation.  I wish I had gloves for my hands. We get in our vehicle and turn on our heater while we drive to our next overlook - Black Birch Canyon (elevation 8,750'). Here we find a small arch in the tall red rock.

Arch - Black Birch Canyon

We continue our drive to other lookouts - Ponderosa Point (elevation 8,904'), Agua Canyon Overlook (elevation 8,800), Natural Bridge (which is actually an arch at 8,627' elevation), and Farview Point (elevation 8,819').  It is at this overlook – the Farview - that we can see a storm in the distance. 

Ponderosa Point

Agua Canyon Overlook

Natural Bridge

Farview Point

It is almost 6 p.m. and the sun will set soon.  We go to Inspiration Point (elevation 8,100').  Here, we see several interesting things are occurring simultaneously. The sunset is coloring the eastern clouds in rosy hues.  A full moon is rising over the distant mountain ridge.  We can see a rainstorm with flashes of lightening and hear the rumbles of thunder.  It is a pictorial potpourri of a picturesque point playing out a performance to patient photographers who are poised and prepared to capture this popular place at this particular point in time. 

Moon over Inspiration Point

We drive to Bryce Point for a slightly different view of the landscape.  Soon, the daylight fades into the night. 

Storm - Bryce Point

LOCATION & CONTACT INFORMATION:  Bryce Canyon National Park (35,835 acres) is located in Garfield County in southern Utah (USA).   It is about 13 miles east of the US-89/UT-12 intersection or about 15 miles west of the town of Tropic.  From UT-12, you would turn south on Hwy 63 to access the heart of Bryce Canyon.

GENERAL INFORMATION:  It was designated as a National Park in 1928 to protect its natural geological features like the hoodoos.  Wind, water and time have created these eerily-shaped natural wonders giving Bryce Canyon its distinctive appearance. 

Just outside the Park is a small town called Bryce City.  We get a room at the Best Western Plus (formerly Ruby's Inn).  The hotel does have an on-site restaurant.  However, there is a long line of people waiting to be seated.  We opt to buy a few food items from the General Store and have a casual dinner in our room.

Limited food and lodging options are also available in Tropic (15 miles) and Panguitch (20 miles).  Some of these establishments may operate on a seasonal basis.  Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews.

For information and photos on places we visited in southern Utah, I invite you to view my other blog posts by clicking on the following links:

The Burr Trail

Capitol Reef NP

Goblin Valley State Park

Grafton - A BOO-tiful Spot for a Ghost Town

Arches National Park
Visiting Canyonlands NP
High On Zion NP

An All-American Road - UT 12

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories.  To start planning your memorable trip to Bryce Canyon National Park click on the “Plan Your Visit” link below:

Plan Your Visit - Bryce Canyon NP