Date of trip: June 2007

Bryce Canyon is famous for its hoodoos or strange shaped rock formations. Although Bryce gets little rain, the hoodoos are created by water! The high altitude causes cold temperatures at night, frost forms and seeps into the rocks and the rapid freezing and melting makes cracks and fissures. Over time, large pieces break off and fantastic sculptures are carved. I had been told by many people that Bryce looks unlike any other place and I found that to be 100% true.

Highlights:

-The Bryce Lodge is the only place to stay inside the park unless you want to camp. We reserved our cabin a year in advance and it was worth it as it was just steps away from the canyon rim. The Lodge is also the only place to eat for dinner so reservations are a must. Snacks can be purchased at the General Store by Sunrise Point. The pizza there is homemade and great!

-The easiest and fastest way to see Bryce from many angles is to drive the main park road. It’s an 18 mile paved Scenic Road with 13 lookouts along the way offering beautiful views of the canyon. At the start, you can stop at the Visitor Center for information about the park and to watch a 22 minute film about its history. If you hope to see some wildlife, you’re likely to spot mule deer and pronghorns at dawn or dusk.

-Sunrise and sunset are particularly beautiful at Bryce as the sun bounces off the towering hoodoos and sends shadows over the canyon. You might assume Sunrise and Sunset Points would be the best places to watch, but that’s not so. The absolute best views of the sun in the canyon are at Bryce Point and Inspiration Point. Check with the Visitor Center or the Lodge front desk for sunrise and sunset times.

-Anyone visiting Bryce for more than a day would be cheating themselves if they didn’t go down into the canyon. Seeing the hoodoos from above is beautiful, but being surrounded by them is even more spectacular. We hiked the Queen’s Garden Trail down and the Navajo Trail back up to make a loop. I recommend starting early and doing it in this order as Queen’s offers less shade and should be completed before the sun gets too hot. This is definitely a moderate hike and proper gripping footwear should be worn and ample food and water carried along. NEVER try to climb on the hoodoos! They are extremely unstable and likely to break beneath you. If you are not the hiking type, horseback rides into the canyon are very popular and can be booked at the Lodge.

-Another great way to see the park is from the air! Right outside the park is Ruby’s Inn, a compound which offers food, lodging and a big supermarket. They also have a flight desk where you can book a helicopter tour. We did the 30 minute ride and it was great. Only from above could we see just how massive Bryce is and the pilot pointed out all the famous rock formations and two waterfalls!

-There are few places in the world darker than Bryce Canyon because it is so far from city lights. This offers an unparalleled opportunity to star gaze while visiting the park. It is a world renowned viewing spot for astronomers and you can sign up for a Night Sky Program during the spring through fall months to gaze with the park’s telescopes. Or you can just step outside after dark and look up!

Bryce Canyon is a unique mix of desert and forest. While some areas are dry and covered in sand and rock, others are full of trees and a large concentration of wildlife. It’s remote location allows visitors to experience true peace and tranquility which is so rare in modern times. Sitting on the rim of the canyon, gazing at the hoodoos below, you can’t help but feel grateful to the people in history who preserved such a beautiful place for future generations. The United States has such an amazing and wonderful national park system and Bryce is a sanctuary just waiting to be experienced.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Bryce Links:
Bryce Canyon Official Site
Bryce Canyon Lodge and Dining Reservations
Horse and Mule Canyon Trail Rides
Ruby’s Inn Helicopter Rides