Bryce Canyon National Park

The last of the national parks that we visited on the trip home from California was Bryce Canyon National Park. The park is another amazing example of the rugged beauty of the western United States.

We decided to drive through the park again this time even though there is a shuttle service because we actually had limited time to see everything. We drove all the way to the end of the park road and started our tour from there.

Our first stop was Rainbow Point and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The views from each vista along the road are some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen. It is like nothing you can see anywhere else other than the Grand Canyon. This also was the first time I had seen a hoodoo in person or even realized what a hoodoo was actually called. Hoodoos are the tall spires of rock in the canyons. You will see plenty of them in my photo album below.

Each stop along the scenic route in the park hides something new and interesting to see, from natural bridges to interesting caves carved out of the rock to vast expanses of beautifully carved scenery. Each view had me wanting to go beyond the fence and get a closer look and at sunset point there actually was trails out into the canyons that allowed people to walk along the rim of some of the carved out stone. When I go back I plan to find my way out onto those trails. I just didn’t have time this trip.

Another vista point along the way was Farview Point aptly named because on most days you can see 160 miles to the Black Mesas of Arizona and 90 miles to Navajo Mountain on the border of Utah and Arizona. The day we were there was no exception. We could see for miles and the beauty was unparalleled by anything I have ever seen. Off the left of the point is Piracy Point. There is a really well done trail with a solid dirt surface that is easy to navigate. The trail takes you all the way to the edge of the point with no fence. Of course I had to get as close as possible to look down and see what I could see and scared Sandy a bit. I finally was able to get beyond that fence even for just a few minutes.

All in all the park does a really great job of making everything very accessible and even putting viewing spots in the fences to look through for people who can’t see over the top of them. This truly is one of those otherworldly rugged places that everyone must see for themselves. I have been very impressed with our national park service and the job they do in making these extraordinary places accessible to everyone.