BOU AVENUE
Bryce Canyon And Red Canyon
After spending the previous night at a roadside rest area, Zosia Zgolak and I got up before dawn on the morning of 15 October 2016 and drove to Rainbow Point in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park to eat breakfast and watch the sunrise.  A very strong wind was blowing through the area, but we were fortunate to find shelter behind a covered interpretive display.  After breakfast, we drove back along the main road and stopped at a couple of viewpoints before heading to Sunset Point to hike into Bryce Amphitheater.  By then, the strong winds had diminished, and we enjoyed warm and sunny weather for the rest of the day.  From Sunset Point, we descended the shorter arm of Navajo Loop Trail to a four-way junction and then hiked Peekaboo Loop Trail in a counter-clockwise direction.  Although there were plenty of other hikers in the vicinity, the trail never felt crowded here.  Upon returning to the four-way junction, we hiked Queens Garden Trail up to Sunrise Point and then returned to our car via Rim Trail.  When I first visited Bryce Canyon in 2007, I did not venture beyond the pullouts along the main road, and overcast skies diminished my impressions of the park.  This time, hiking up close among the hoodoos under sunny skies gave me a better appreciation of the wonders of this park.  After our hike, Zosia and I spent some time at the very crowded visitor's centre before leaving the park to grab a late lunch at a roadside restaurant.
Good morning, Bryce Canyon!! The sun rises in this view from Rainbow Point.
It must have gone astray from the Grand Canyon! A helicopter flies above Bryce Canyon National Park.
Looks like lotsa candy corn down there! This is the view of Bryce Amphitheater from Bryce Point.
Walking among the hoodoos is the best way to experience Bryce Canyon. Zosia descends Navajo Trail above Bryce Amphitheater.
Someday, this pinnacle will fall like the Sword of Damocles... Apache Needle is a good hoodoo to poke fun at.
Skateboarders would love this! The shorter arm of Navajo Loop grants a more direct route into Bryce Amphitheater via these switchbacks.
Where's your helmet, Zosia?? Zosia shields her head from potential falling rocks below Two Bridges.
Where's the Microsoft logo? Sonny looks up at the impressive Wall of Windows.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

You get a sticker. Whoo-hoo. Several benchmarks are located throughout Bryce Amphitheater.  Anyone who presents proof (eg. a selfie) of visiting at least three of the benchmarks can get a special reward at the visitor centre.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

The face of the Devil?? The holes in this wall resemble a face.
Zosia thinks she is wind-surfing while I think she is pushing a lawn mower! Zosia mimics Queen Victoria.
Some of the hoodoos even resemble people--Her Majesty's loyal subjects! These are some of the hoodoos near Queens Garden.
Truly between a rock and a hard place! Sonny stands between a couple of hoodoos.
That sounded kinda dirty! Zosia tries to climb up a big knob.
Later in the afternoon, Zosia and I stopped at Red Canyon in Dixie National Forest and hiked Pink Ledges Trail located behind the visitor centre.  This was like a mini version of Bryce Canyon and provided a pleasant diversion for about an hour.  We then resumed driving westward and would eventually spend the night at another roadside rest area just to the east of our next day's destination--Zion National Park.
Only YOU can prevent forest fires! Smokey the Bear stands guard in front of Red Canyon's visitor centre.
Really, we're just killing time here! Zosia hikes the Pink Ledges Trail.