Bryce Canyon NP

We had Bryce Canyon National Park on our list of things to do while here in Glendale, Utah, but were resigned to the fact that the Shingle Fire burning just north of us would prohibit us from getting there to see it.  But, yesterday morning we said - let's do it - worst is we get turned away, or if the smoke is too bad, we turn around.  We headed up Route 89 north, past the road closures into the fire, stopped long enough at Long Valley Junction's gas station where the road closures are, saw people sitting around the small store talking - I am sure about the fire status - and still were able to continue north towards Hatch where the turn off to go east, driving towards Bryce.  The air was smoky all along and I was worried that the canyon would also be smoky.  Our trip turned out to be the best decision - the sky was partially cloudy, the wind had shifted to where the smoke was more west and north so the canyon was clear, and it was a cool 72 degrees.  Didn't stop us from getting sun burnt!



Stopped at the visitor's center, left the truck there and got on the shuttle and headed to Bryce Point, 8300 feet up, and walked the rim of the canyon back towards the Lodge, about a 2 1/2 mile hike.  Easy hike, saw spectacular views of hoodoos, red sandstone, slot canyons, objects that looked like windows, castles, amphitheater, saw faces in the great monoliths, watched hikers/horseback riders below, had a nice day.

At Sunset Point, near the Lodge, we viewed the Navajo Loop trail - and when we looked down into the canyon where the trail was to see if it was something we wanted to do - holy smokes!  Looked like little bugs moving around.  It was a couple busloads of people, Asian background, walking the 1 mile loop.  Ah - no, we won't go that trail.  The picture on the right - if you blow it up - you can see all the 'bug's.  And they were noisy! Really spoiled the whole effect of being there.

We experienced Bryce the right way - we feel.  We started at the south of the rim walk, highest elevation, and hiked down in elevation and for the most part were going down and not up.  And had a place to grab something to eat and relax at the Lodge, whereas going the other direction - would have been so much more pooped and no facilities.  One impression we got, there were many Indian/Pakistani/whatever families.  Typical attendance at Bryce is about 1.3 million people a year, we saw more people here but not as many as Zion and the South Rim - which was mobbed.  And more Far Eastern people than we saw in Zion or the North Rim.  I have seen people with 'High Five' t-shirts on - the five national parks in the area that they have been to: Zion, Arches, Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Capitol Reef - logos of each park on the back of the t-shirt.  After seeing Bryce Canyon - we are definitely red rocked out.  Done, no more, won't go see Arches again (saw it about 25 years ago) and won't see Capitol Reef.  We leave this Sunday for Provo, stopping to get supplies, etc., then move on towards Teton National Park and Yellowstone by next Thursday.