Bryce Canyon National Park - Part 2

After visiting the Queen's Garden, 

We took the connector trail (about 0.8 miles) to the Navajo Loop trail...

Sign at the base of the Navajo Loop -- that 0.6 miles to Sunset Point seemed to be essentially straight up.

We took the "Two Bridges" part of the Navajo Loop -- this is the valley with the two bridges, but they are very hard to distinguish - the upper one is orange/reddish like all the background, and the lower one is black/dark and looks like a fallen tree more than rock.

Heading up...

Did I mention it was pretty much straight up?

Lots of switchbacks

And more switchbacks

We were kind of hiking with two other couples going at about the same rate up the hill -- one of the ladies offered to take our picture while we are all stopped to catch our breath and let our heartrates slow down.

More switchbacks!

At least it was pretty when we stopped to look back where we'd come...

And in places where we could look out at the Bryce Amphitheater...

We started hearing what sounded like some kind of construction vehicle, and were convinced that the top of the trail was just around the next bend, but... when we got around the bend...

We found that they were doing trail maintenance! Bummer!!! Not at the top! Still more switchbacks!

We think that the formation at the top of the picture to the left is "Thor's Hammer"

And the trail keeps going!

Doesn't that rock formation look like a curtain?

"Windows"

Even exhausted, we appreciated the views.

The other side of the Navajo Loop is called "Wall Street" - but it was closed. We heard that either the trail still has ice on it (as it is protected from direct sunlight) or that there had been a rock fall that needed to be cleared.

As we neared the top, we were near where we had first seen the canyon in the morning.

Now with the sun on different angles.

It took us about 45 minutes to hike the 0.6 miles up the Navajo Loop on the Two Bridges side.

We got our lunch out of the Jeep and found a picnic table at Sunset Point and enjoyed lunch. One of the couples who had been on the trail at the same time we were joined us at the table -- they had flown to Las Vegas from Michigan and were visiting the 5 big national parks in Utah during their couple of week stay.

We then drove the Jeep to the far end of the park -- about 16 miles from Sunset Point...

A little different view from the Amphitheater --

This was at Rainbow Point.

We stopped at several of the overlooks on the drive back...

But only one of us would get out (alternating each time)...

Because we were so tired from our hike!

At this stop, we both got out, as there was a crow (I think) posing for pictures.

Carl took a selfie with him (or her).

We both got out at Natural Bridge too (which is misnamed as a "bridge" would be formed by rushing streams, and this would have been formed by other erosion and is, therefore, an Arch.

How an arch is formed

"Natural bridge"

Last view...

We thoroughly enjoyed our day, although, in 20/20 hindsight, we should have headed back to the rig after lunch instead of driving to the end of the road -- we could have gone back another day and probably have enjoyed that more. We thought we had enough energy, but we would have had more after resting up!