Bryce Canyon National Park, Part 1

On Wednesday, we made the short drive over to Bryce Canyon National Park -- only about 12 miles from where we are camping. We had heard from more than one person that Bryce was their favorite of the Utah National Parks, and it did not disappoint!

Carl's daughter, Joan, had recommended the Queen's Gardens trail and we had read that it could be combined with the Navajo trail to make a loop -- Queen's Gardens goes down from the rim at Sunrise Point and Navajo returns to the rim at Sunset Point, and we could walk the Rim trail between Sunrise and Sunset Points. We decided to park at Sunset Point (a little farther into the park) in hopes that (1) we would find parking, and (2) we'd be at the car and not have to hike on the rim any farther when we finished the hike. We got the last available spot (that we saw) at Sunset Point and headed to the rim.

Having seen the Grand Canyon and Zion, we thought we had seen "beautiful"...

Bryce is made up of "hoo-doos"

This is called the "Bryce Amphitheater"

So many colors

So many shapes

We were looking toward the east, so it was hazy in the distance.

We had decided to wear our hiking boots as there were cautions about the trails being steep and needing good footwear - and I needed to adjust my sock...

Beautiful view even for sock-adjusting!

You just can't imagine what it was like...

It looked like there were castle turrets and draperies and columns...

A few trees growing in there...

I guess they might be Limber Pines

Different light brought out different aspects

We could see the trail we were going to take from the viewpoint at Sunrise Point.

Someone offered to take our picture at Sunrise Point

We were heading down on Queens Garden Trail

Cautions about loose rock, steep trails, boots recommended

We were glad that we had put on our boots

It almost looks like the formations are miniatures in this picture, but they aren't!

The boots kept us from slipping and helped support our ankles.

Magnificent shapes

Looking out toward the east

Queen's Garden trail intersects with the Horse Trail - it seems that you can pay to take 2-4 hour horseback rides. We had talked to a fellow a few days ago who said that they went and that he would recommend taking the shortest trip possible, that his backside was done *long* before the ride was over!

There were doorways cut through in some places along the trail.

And hoodoos towering over us at every turn.

When we got to the Queen's Garden, there is supposed to be a side view of Queen Victoria -- do you see it? it is the leftmost of those hoodoos...

Maybe this will help?

Other hoodoos at the end of the trail.

Official marker so we wouldn't think we should keep on going!

Pictures of the rest of our hike and travels in Bryce later!