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The sky never seems so blue as when viewed through the window of a Claron sandstone pinnacle in Bryce Canyon National Park. Although it is the smallest of Utah's national parks at 35,835 acres, Bryce Canyon contains an outsized number of some of the most beautiful, unlikely rock formations on earth. This Dr. Seussian landscape of towering spires, fins, arches, and mazes is fodder for the imagination and a delight to the eyes. The hoodoos will invariably grab your attention first. These brown, red, orange, yellow, and white pinnacles of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone shoot toward the sky in fanciful formation. Closer inspection of the park reveals horseshoe-shape amphitheaters, views of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as distinct ecological zones demarcated by changes in elevation. Ponderosa pines, high-elevation meadows, and fir-spruce forests border the rim of this canyon on the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The park is smaller and more comfortable than its Utah neighbors Arches and Zion, which makes it easy to explore by foot, horseback, or car. The area is named for Ebeneezer Bryce, a Mormon pioneer and cattle farmer. Although Ebeneezer and his wife, Mary, stayed for only five years, the area retained his name and the oft-quoted description of the canyon as a heck-of-a place to lose a cow.
Where to Stay. The Canyon Livery Bed & Breakfast in nearby Tropic, UT ($65-$95 a night per room plus $15 an additional person) was a very nice family run place for lodging. We made it our base of operations for visits to Bryce and the Kodachrome Valley. Camping and other lodging is also available, TravelWest.Net has good information on the Bryce area. They also have a map showing the entire Utah Canyons area. Other lodging choices include the Stone Canyon Inn Bed & Breakfast ($99-$139 a night per room including breakfast) or the Bryce Canyon Inn and Cabins ($50-$68 a night, $5 per person breakfast package optional). Meals and any personal adventure costs not included. Childcare available at $50 a day.
Hiking Bryce Canyon. RIM TRAIL: The easiest trail is the 1/2 mile long (one way) section of the Amphitheater rim trail between Sunset and Sunrise Points. The entire rim trail is not too difficult, taking about 3 hours to hike the 5-1/2 miles (one-way) between Fairyland and Bryce Points. It has 550' of elevation change. You do need to find your way back...but if you don't feel like another hike, the park service now operates a shuttle bus. It travels from one end of the rim trail to the other with a number of stops along the way. Hike to the SECRET waterfall at Bryce (CLICK HERE)...it may be a bit out of the way, but, few people know about it. On the way you can hike up to some great hoodoos and sit in their windows. Or take pictures of the wild flowers next to the flowing stream. It's best to see Bryce close up, so try these hikes down below the rim... QUEEN'S GARDEN TRAIL: The Queen's Garden is a 1.8 mile loop with 320' of elevation change. It typically takes under 2 hours to hike even with stops to see formations in the shapes of Queen Victoria and her "garden." The Queen's Garden trail is considered the easiest below the rim. NAVAJO LOOP: The Navajo Loop is a 1.4 mile loop with 521'
of elevation change. Plan under 2 hours.
A series of switchbacks leads to Wall Street, a narrow canyon with high rock walls and Douglas fir trees stretching to reach the sun.
The northern section of trail gives you close-up views of Thor's Hammer. FAIRLYLAND LOOP will take you 8.0 miles with 900' of elevation change. Plan 5 hours to complete. This is a moderate skill level hike that takes you into an uncrowded area of the park into Fairyland and Campbell Canyons and around Boat Mesa. PEEKABOO LOOP, starting from Sunset Point, is 4.8 miles with 521' of elevation change and will take about 4 hours Sunset Point. It's a steep hike past Wall of Windows and Three Wisemen. Trail is also used by horses in the summer and fall. Pit toilets and a picnic area are available at the bottom. PEEKABOO LOOP starting from Sunrise Point, is 6.8 miles with 521' of elevation change and will take 4-5 hours. Same as above, just longer. TOWER BRIDGE is 3.0 miles with 800' of elevation change. You hike down bristlecone pines and the Chinese Wall along this beautiful stretch of the Fairyland Trail. Follow a shady side trail south 0.25 mile to the bridge. It will take a bit over 2 hours. TOP HAT is 3.8 miles with 900' of elevation change. Plan 3 hours. The trail leads to the Hat Shop, where hard gray caps balance on the top of narrow pedestals of softer rust-colored rock. MOSSY CAVE and FALLS. Years ago, settlers diverted water over the rim so they could irrigate the rich farmland below the canyon. This created a nice waterfall, that still remains. It's about a 1 mile hike, with 250' of elevation change. It takes under an hour to reach the falls. Right near the falls, you can hike up to a real nice arch and sit in the middle of its large window to see both sides of the canyon. Not many people know about Mossy Falls because it is not in the main area of the Park. You may not even bump into anyone along the hike. To get there, take Route 12 towards Tropic, Utah and look for the bridge crossing the Paria River after you drive out of Tropic Canyon. You'll see a sign for MOSSY CAVE. Park in the parking area near the bridge and hike on up. This is a great photo area - red rock, hoodoos, waterfalls, flowing streams, caves, and flowers. For
a map of the park, visit:
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