September 21, 2013

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

I wasted half the morning researching places to stay near Arches and finally decided on a private RV park that accepts Passport America.  It is 40 miles from Arches.  I was reluctant to make a reservation (for a few reasons-plans change and I don’t like the idea of being STUCK at a rundown place).  But the nice lady who answered the phone when I called about availability said I could reserve a site without commitment if I promised to call if we change our plans.

So by the time we got to the Welcome sign for Bryce Canyon it was already noon. 

There is a free shuttle available that can be boarded at a station outside of the park and there are several places the shuttle stops within the park.  But we opted to drive my car because it was very overcast and didn’t want to be STUCK waiting in the rain for a shuttle to pick us up.

Our first stop was the Visitor Center. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I stamped my passport and asked a Ranger which hike we should do.  (We only planned on one hike and wanted advice on the best one)  She suggested the Queens Garden Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

The next film was not starting for another 15 minutes so we browsed the gift shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After watching the film we found a picnic area to eat lunch. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we drove to Rainbow Point, the farthest viewing area in the park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was quite cold making me sorry I wore shorts.  But wearing my ski cap helped keep me a little warmer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The point offers spectacular expansive views.

We didn’t stay at Rainbow Point long because of the cold, to avoid the crowds from a tour bus that pulled into the parking lot and because we felt a few raindrops.

By the time we arrived at Black Birch Canyon the rain had stopped.

 

 

Natural Bridge was next. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It should be called an arch as it was carved by rain and frost erosion from the top of the rock and not formed by a stream like true natural bridges.  But, in any case, it is still an awesome example of Mother Nature at her best.

 

 

 

The views of the plateaus and mountains offered at Farview Point were quite impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paria View looks over hoodoos (pronounced hoo’doo,-A pinnacle or odd-shaped rock left standing by the forces of erosion.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One section looked like a castle from a distance.

 

 

 

After a quick stop at Inspiration Point

we continued on to the General Store parking lot, the closest place to park near the Queens Garden Trailhead.

As we were changing into our hiking shoes and preparing our back backs it began to drizzle.  We went into the General Store to browse for a while to kill time waiting to see if it was going to continue raining.  It actually poured for 5 minutes.  But then the sun came out and we began walking towards the trailhead.

According to the sign at the trailhead, the Queens Garden Trail is only 1.8 miles round trip and is rated as Easy to Moderate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUT the elevation gain on the return trip is 357 feet and very steep in some of the switchbacks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kept saying to Monte on the way down that I was already dreading the climb back out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the views were spectacular and it was worth getting a little out of breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little energy for the return walk up-up-up

 

 

 

 

 

Just past the exit to the park is one more viewpoint-Fairyland. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking at all the spires and hoodoos it is easy to see why the viewpoint was named Fairyland. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could almost imagine little gnomes and pixies poking their faces out from between the spires looking at the humans invading their home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monte took these pictures by placing the camera against his binoculars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before starting the 10 mile drive back to the campground, we stopped in a Ruby’s General Store. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monte really liked the Stetson hats and would have bought one if he hadn’t just treated himself to a new mountain bike. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think he makes a good cowboy.

We stopped in at the diner next door to pick up a couple of hamburgers to take home with us.

The road was so dark we missed our turnoff and had to drive another 2 miles before we found a place to turn around. 

It was a little scary driving down the dark, gravel road leading to the campground because there is a large herd of pronghorns in the area and I kept expecting one of them to run across the road.

BUT we made it home safely, tired but happy little campers from our awesome day.