Bryce Canyon NP – My Favorite

When we left the Page area, we headed north to Bryce Canyon National Park and cooler weather. If you have not been to Bryce Canyon, it is like nothing you have ever seen.  The park has the largest concentration of hoodoos on Earth.  What is a hoodoo, you ask?  A hoodoo is a totem-pole-shaped rock spire, sculpted by erosion and freezing temperatures.

This is the second time that we have been to Bryce.  The last time we were here, I didn’t get a chance to do any of the hikes down into the canyon, so that was the plan for this visit.  There is a shuttle that picks you up right at the entrance to the campground.  This made it very convenient for my activities.  

If you are not into the hiking, the views from the top of the canyons are spectacular too.  The greatest concentration of hoodoos are in an area called the amphitheatre.   In this area, there are several spots to view the canyon.  They include Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point.  

Views from Sunrise and Sunset Point

Views from Bryce Point

In this picture, if you look where the tops of the hoodoos are flat, can you see the outline of the Alligator?

 Views from Inspiration Point

Bryce Canyon also has an 18 mile scenic drive with more beautiful views.  Along this road you can see Rainbow and Yovimpa Points, Black Birch Canyon, Agua Canyon, Natural Bridge and several other spots.

Views from Rainbow & Yovimpa Points

Natural Bridge

As we were preparing for our visit to Bryce, I saw some information on the National Parks website that said you could ride a horse into the canyon.  I want to do that I said to myself!!  So I called and made my reservation for the canyon ride.

The day of the ride, I hopped on the shuttle with all of my friends!

 I was off to the corral area to meet the guides and my ride.

Here I am on the mule Happy Appy at the beginning of  the trail.

Speaking of the beginning of the trail, it was quite exciting.  The trail begins at the top of the canyon.  After you leave the corral area you cross over the rim trail and head into the canyon.  The very first turn is a hairpin turn that begins a number of switchbacks to head to the floor of the canyon.

When you take one of these trail rides, the guides (cowboys & girls) tell you that the horses and mules like to walk near the edge of the trail. The cliff edge!  Oh great, thanks for the warning.  

It was very cool to see the hoodoos from the trail and the bottom of the canyon.

I also walked into the canyon on my own two feet.  There are several trails that will take you into the canyon.  I took the Queen’s Garden trail that takes you out to a feature that looks like a queen.

From this point you can take the Navajo Loop trail to take a different route back up to the top of the canyon.  This trail leads you to what is known as the ‘decision bench’.  This is a resting spot where many trails intersect and you have to make a decision on which one to take..  Here I chose the Wall Street trail.  The views were amazing.  About a 1/4 of a mile up the trail, I realized how the trail got its name.

There are so many beautiful things to see in Bryce Canyon National Park.  It is so different than most of the other National Parks that we have seen.  That is the biggest reason why this is my favorite National Park.