Bryce Canyon National Park

After a month in Europe and almost a week on the Smith River, why not head to Bryce Canyon National Park?  We are on summer vacation!

Bryce is basically the half way point between Idaho and home, it is just an hour or so detour.

The park is fairly small, two nights in a hotel and one whole day in the park is plenty of time, especially since we were visiting on a weekday so it was a little less crowded.  

Bryce is like no other National Park.  Pictures just don't do it justice.

Hoodoos are limestone pillars, shaped by rain and snow.

You can find hoodoos in other locations, but not in the same quantity you find in Bryce.

We parked at Sunset Point and then walked into the canyon, on Navajo Loop Trail.

I love this picture.

This was probably a magnificent hoodoo at one time, and has since retired.

From there we hiked to Queen Garden's trail, including a short walk to Queen Victoria.

Love this picture too!

Our loop ended at Sunrise Point, connected to where we parked at Sunset Point by the Rim Trail.

Here comes the rain again... ♫

We walked the Rim Trail in the rain, surrounded by rolling thunder and lightening strikes. 

We are so happy/lucky we took a chance to find parking and drove in, instead of relying on the shuttle.  Some of these people waited in the rain for thirty minutes!  All of the shuttles were almost full by the time they arrived (since this is fairly close to the visitor center).  Parking was almost non-existent but people are constantly moving on to the next viewpoint, so it is not impossible.  The trick is to not be fazed by the parking volunteers who are constantly yelling at drivers not to stop to wait for a parking a spot.  They are angry, like a once magnificent eroding hoodoo.

Bryce Amphitheater.  

Natural Bridge.

Inspiration Point.

So beautiful.