Bryce Canyon National Park
The drive from Zion to Bryce is not very long in time or distance. But, Bryce Canyon is huge! We got to most all the vantage points in one day, the day that we arrived. The main park road is 18-miles long and there is a difference in elevation of 1,200 feet. Rainbow Point, at the southern end of the main road is at an elevation of 9,115 feet. A Park ranger recommended that we drive to the end and turn around there and stop at the other view points on the way back. Sounded good to us.
Our first stop then was Rainbow Point and that is where the first photos below were taken. I didn't have the fore thought at that time to take photos of the sign naming the location. So you will just have to take my word that the start is at Rainbow Point.
The pillars of rock in their fantastic shapes are “Hoodoo” — to cast a spell. They are the remains of years of erosion. Geologists say that 10 million years ago forces within the Earth created and then moved the massive blocks known as the Table Cliff and Paunsaugunt plateaus. The latter is a huge area to the west of the Canyon with the Table Cliff Plateau to the northeast. The Table Cliff Platueau rises 2,000 feet above the Paunsaugunt. Ancient rivers carved the present day formations.
First stop on our return is Black Birch Canyon. Far in the background is the Dixie National Forest.
Next stop was Ponderosa Canyon. Here are many multicolored hoodoos framed by pine-covered foothills and the Table Cliff Plateau in the distance.
Agua Canyon has contrasts of light and color with small trees atop a hoodoo known as The Hunter. It can be seen behind the left end of the sign. In the distance can be seen the rims of the southern plateaus and canyons.
This bridge was not formed by water and neither does it span a stream or river. More accurately an arch, it was carved by rain and frost erosion acting from the top of the rock.
Farview Point offers views of plateaus and mountains and, to the southeast (toward the right), the Kaibab Plateau of the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
Bryce Point, together with Inspiration Point, Sunset and Sunrise Points, encircle the Bryce Amphitheater, the biggest natural amphitheater in the park. The formations here were fascinating. It is from this location where photographs are taken promoting the natural beauty of this park. Like the Grand Canyon and the lava flows on the big island of Hawaii, words cannot adquately discribe what is seen.
Sunset Point was our last stop. It too had a remarkable display of formations. For those with the energy and the time, there is a trail into the depths of these features and can be seen in some of the photos. For the hikers, there are trails throughout the park with camping sites spaced out along the trail. All total, there are about 50 miles of hiking trails.
In a quick sort of way, we had seen Bryce Canyon — at least from above and amongst many other tourist. We were off to find our campsite, dinner and sleep. Tomorrow we had a much longer drive.
