10/01/2008 to 10/03/2008
School is in session and the heat has finally broken so we decided now was probably a good time to visit Bryce National Park. George had been here decades ago so I had vicariously visited there through his old slides, but the real thing is hard to beat. The rocks change color as the sun moves throughout the day so you see something different each time you look. Luckily for us the weather was good until the day we left when the rains started, temperatures dropped and snow was predicted.
- Bryce Canyon Lodge & Cabin
- Day Break at Sunrise Point
- First Hike - Queens Garden Trail
- Main Hike - Fairyland Loop Trail
- Mule Ride
- Sunset Point
- Drive To Rainbow Point
Like most of our national parks the lodging is as picturesque as the scenery and Bryce is no exception. Dinner is in the Lodge, a lovely old building of wood and stone. Our little home away from home was one of the cabins which invites you to sit on your porch and enjoy the beauty, stars and critters who stop by.
The Bryce Canyon Lodge - great front porch
Now isn't this quaint? It's so nice and peaceful
Our little cabin with our own little porch
While sitting on the porch this little guy came around the corner
That chip is as big as he is, but that's not stopping him
Just resting between bites
One of the traditions at Bryce is to watch the sunrise at Sunrise Point. Yes, even George got up for it and that's something. The brilliance of the rocks is dependant on the amount of pollution and cloud cover but I think it was well worth the early start.
The shadows are just lifting but the sun hasn't quite made it over the horizon
The formations start taking on their unique colors
Shadows across the floor
It's getting brighter
Yup, well worth the effort
This is a rather short hike down into one of the amphitheaters. It starts off from Sunset Point and decends about 300 feet. It will connect to the Navajo Loop Trail but since our mule ride tomorrow goes through that area we were just hiking down and back up before heading to our "real" hike.
You can just make out the trail way down there
Just the first of many, many fun formations
Yup, that's where we're headed, down there
This is the tunnel near the end of Queens and close to our turn around point
More formations. Thought I was kidding?
A classic Bryce shot
Queen's Trail was just a 3.5 mile warm-up for our intended hike on Fairyland Loop. This one's about 8 miles and goes from the rim, down into the canyon and back to the rim with lots of ups and downs along the way. We loved it for all it's great scenery and formations. Yes, more formations. Why else do you come to Bryce if not for these wonderful rocks!
Looking out at the trail
More trail. Good thing there were clouds or this could get pretty hot
Looks like a giant cairn
Tower Bridge. Pretty obvious why it's called that
After up there's always a down
Looking back at where we've been
These looked like some giant molars waiting for the dentist
You just have to love this place
This is classic Bryce Canyon
Hoodoos galore
This Steller's Jay stayed with us when we started munching on our Caribou Coffee bars
He just plants himself in the middle of the trail expecting a handout
I'm just in it for scale
Very cathedral looking aren't they?
These have great contrasting colors
All these years of hiking down and up these canyons hugging the walls while those slovenly riders just lazed by on their mules finally convinced us to try it. Neither of us had ever ridden a mule and we thought this would be fun. So we booked our time and met up with our guide to be introduced to our mules. Well, I still haven't gotten to ride a mule. They put me on the one horse in the entire bunch and I have no idea why. The only thing I can figure is my legs were long enough to get onto its saddle.
40 mules and 1 horse
Our fearless leader did a very good job of watching out for us and the mules
See those weird formations up there?
Well these are them!
Bottom of the ride where we dismount and rest the mules and my horse
I don't remember which overlook that is up there looking down on us but we all waved to those nice folks
I liked this because it gives you a good idea of the different features
Ya, more great formations but you're not surprised are you?
Just a bit of scale with the man in the foreground
Ha, now we get to shove those silly hikers up onto the side while we sashay past!
Great switchbacks. Now you have to understand George is riding along trying to take pictures while his mule hugs the edge of the trail
A lot of the trail was narrow like this. The unnerving thing is the mules, and my horse, don't hug the wall but traipse along the very outer edge
Heading down toward the corral and home. It was a really great ride
To keep the world in balance, if you do a Sunrise Point you must do a Sunset Point. This has a neat little switchback trail going down to the valley floor, and of course, those wonderful Bryce formations you never get tired of seeing.
Looking across the valley to the formations
Peering down into the valley. No, that's not snow
If you look closely you can see the tight switchback trail on this section
Little ants snaking their way up the trail
More little ants on the valley floor
After our Mule/Horse Ride and Sunset Point vistas, the weather started to get damp and chilly. Perfect for a drive to Rainbow Point and all the stops along the way back up to the lodge. Although we did hit them all, I'll just include a few of the highlights along the road. Heck, if we show you everything you'll never go yourself, and that would be a real shame.
Well, Rainbow wasn't very rainbowy so we went to Yovimpa Point, which is right across the parking lot.
Yovimpa Point in all it's glory
Natural Bridge, just past Black Birch Canyon
Yes, that's Natural Bridge. As opposed to fake or man-made bridge
Looking out from Natural Bridge Point
Farview Point
Farview has it's own bridge, although I guess you can only advertise one bridge on a given road
Paria View
These guys were sitting on the railing. I think they expect handouts since they get very close to people. Obviously no one heeds the "don't feed the animals" signs
Paria gives you a great view of the valley beyond
Looking down into the valley from Paria View Point
Last look across the valley at the Pink Cliffs