Advertisement
Published: October 8th 2007
Bryce Canyon #10
View from Bryce Point.This was my favorite of the National Parks I visited in Utah. I'm not counting the Grand Canyon because that's in a category all by itself. This is definitely a park that I want to come back and spend more time exploring in the future.
Bryce Canyon National Park is stunning. Who knew it was possible for nature to make such amazing and colorful features all on its own? The formations look like they are ready to fall over yet are made of stone. According to Utah.com: "Millions of years of wind, water and geologic mayhem have shaped and etched the pink cliffs at Bryce, which isn't actually a canyon but the eastern slope of the Paunsaguant Plateau...Bryce Canyon National Park is named after Ebenezer Bryce, an early rancher who described it as "a helluva place to lose a cow."" The Park was designated in 1928 and actually isn't a Canyon but a natural amphitheatre.
The Canyon is so pretty with its whites, beiges, pinks and reds surrounding by dark green trees. I spent several hours at Bryce and while I was there a nasty storm was passing through near the Canyon resulting in dark clouds in most of
Bryce Canyon #18
View from the Natural Bridge Overlook (elevation 8,627 feet) my pictures. I got a little wet a couple of times when the storm passed near but no serious downpours. Luckily, lots of trees to hide under to wait out the rain. The pictures don't seem to do the Park justice.
Bryce Canyon has very similar features and colors to Cedar Breaks National Monument which I also enjoyed seeing on this trip although Cedar is on a much smaller scale. Bryce would be a wonderful place to view in the winter with the white snow adding to the vivid colors.
Bryce has a 37 mile loop drive with several overlooks. At the overlooks, you can also do some hikes up to additional observation areas or around the rim or down into the Canyon and the hoo doos (the natural formations Bryce is known for). Bryce also has some incredible naturally formed grottos which look like they had to have been carved out by humans but have not. It also has a very large natural bridge which is easily viewed at an observation point. There are also points to get the best views at Sunrise and Sunset (called Sunrise Point and Sunset Point). The observation areas are all above
Bryce Canyon #5
Storm in background. 8,000 feet. There are also some lodges located inside the Park which would be very cool to stay at someday. Talk about a view.
Next up...tomorrow at Capitol Reef National Park then vacation is over!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.188s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 21; qc: 102; dbt: 0.1395s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.3mb
Joan
non-member comment
Wow!
Fantastic place, fantastic photos... We will be visiting there next week and your photos are very encouraging! thanks