Bryce Canyon And Red Canyon

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.

	The sun rises in this view from Rainbow Point.
	A helicopter flies above Bryce Canyon National Park.
	This is the view of Bryce Amphitheater from Bryce Point.
	Zosia descends Navajo Trail above Bryce Amphitheater.
	Apache Needle is a good hoodoo to poke fun at.
	The shorter arm of Navajo Loop grants a more direct route into Bryce Amphitheater via these switchbacks.
	Zosia shields her head from potential falling rocks below Two Bridges.
	Sonny looks up at the impressive Wall of Windows. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	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 holes in this wall resemble a face.
	Zosia mimics Queen Victoria.
	These are some of the hoodoos near Queens Garden.
	Sonny stands between a couple of hoodoos.
	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.

	Smokey the Bear stands guard in front of Red Canyon's visitor centre.
	Zosia hikes the Pink Ledges Trail.