Do you believe in Hoodoo? Stick a pin.....
Written: Oct 07 '02 (Updated May 17 '05)
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Pros: Glorious views, great hikes, fun in the surrounding area
Cons: Very crowded mid-day, must plan ahead for particular accommodations
The Bottom Line: People know of the Grand Canyon and other imposing wonders of our National Parks. This one is smaller, but a gem!! I believe it's the most beautiful of them all.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Bryce Canyon National Park |
Yup, stick a pin on your map into Southern Utah directly onto Bryce Canyon National Park. This is the home of Hoodoos, natural formations of spires, columns, and pinnacles. These limestone geological formations are shaded in ever changing colours of red, orange, and pinks. The colour comes from iron deposits oxidizing after being eroded away by wind and rain. Collectively these shapes are viewed as amphitheaters, miles and miles of curious, unusual, colourful, and whimsical formations that are truly magical!!
DRIVING TO THREE PARKS
As part of a family trip to Las Vegas we took a side trip of one week going to three national parks. I rented a mini van in Vegas. We went first to the North Rim of Grand Canyon. That was awesome! We then continued on a two hour trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, stayed a few days and headed back to Las Vegas via Zion National Park. This was a wonderful side trip of one week. We saw so much. I wanted to start the first of three reviews of the national parks we visited with Bryce Canyon because of it's beauty.
MUCH TO SEE ON THE WAY AND NEARBY
Driving to the canyon from the south we enjoyed the views of the mountains, plateaus, and stops at old movie and tv western sets. This area has been the backdrop of many western movies. It was also an area where many of the "bad guys" hid out. Nearby is Red Canyon one of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid's haunts. This area is like the well known "Hole in the Wall" of Wyoming where Butch and crew spent time resting and planning new "jobs". It's much the same in that it is quite remote and an easy place to hide in. There are horse back rides that can take you on the trail these guys took. The family enjoyed their first half day horseback ride here. There are a few places you can ride including in the canyon itself. The area also has cattle drives if you are interested in a very different kind of vacation.
ABOUT THE PARK
The National Park itself is best viewed by driving into the park and then go all the way through it. It's an eighteen mile drive overlooking the amphitheaters. Then after getting to the end turn around and return making your stops on the way back. This is suggested because the park is so heavily visited in the summer and this will keep you from having to make left turns into oncoming traffic. It does get busy there.
I recommend getting up early, seeing a sunrise, and then taking a hike. You will never see a sunrise like one over the hoodoos. It is spectacular!! There are a few places to do this from. Bryce Point is the most popular but at that time of the morning you will have just a handful of people out there with you. Have yourself some breakfast that you carried in and then go on a hike in the cooler part of the day.
ONLY ON DAY?
If you have only one day do try to see a sunrise and take at least one hike into the canyon. This is a must!!! If you are around during a moonlit night take a walk then. It is unbelievably gorgeous. The park is open twenty four hours a day. Rainbow point is another great stop.
VISITORS CENTER
We always start our tours with a stop in the visitors center. First you go through the gates where you pay your $20.00 fee that gives you access for a seven day visit. If you are going to visit any of the other National Parks consider getting the National Parks Pass. It is Fifty dollars and good for one year access to most National Parks. For seniors there is the Golden Pass that is ten dollars and just a one time fee. What a bargain! With these passes you also get half off on the ten dollar overnight camping fee in the park. You can't beat that.
Camping reservations along with the lodge reservations must be made months in advance! These are ideal places to be, right inside the park. we were late on planning and stayed outside, more on that later.
The visitors center has a ten minute slide show that gives a good overview of the geographical, historical, and beauty of the park. Bryce is named after a gentleman named Ebenzener Bryce. He and his family came to the area by request of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints as a carpenter who's skills would be needed in this wooded area. Ponderosa pines, and in the higher elevation on top of the plateau, blue spruce and Douglas fir forested areas can be found. He lived in the valley with his wife Mary and homesteaded in 1875. It seems he never had any real impact historically, he worked with wood, grazed cattle, moved on a few years later, and left his name if not his mark on the area.
There are many scheduled interpretive walks and hikes that the rangers, and naturalists guide you on. These people are so knowledgeable and eager to tell you so much. Catch one if you can. Arrangements can be made at the desk.
If you are with children twelve and under please consider the Junior Ranger program. You can get more detailed information at the desk but I can tell you a bit. The kids get a booklet that they will fill out during your day of sightseeing. They also must go on one Ranger guided activity. At the end of the day they show there work and get a certificate saying the are a "Junior Ranger" The can also get a patch at a nominal one dollar fee.
Another wonderful way of learning about our National Parks and Historic sites for young and old is Collecting parks by using the National Parks Passport. This is a program where you have a passport, available at all parks for about seven dollars, and have it stamped every time you go to a new site. I have been doing this for years and is a great way to build enthusiasm and understanding of our great American heritage. You can get more info at the desk or because I am so enthusiastic about it, find the link below to a review I did of the program.
HEY BUDDY, TAKE A HIKE!
We took a great hike that was a little strenuous. Eight of us took this hike. It is called the Navajo Trail, it's about one and a half miles long. We walked down a pretty steep area of switchbacks. You look down and see others walking back and forth. It's pretty cool looking and a good distance down. After going down we then walked through a long narrow gorge with towering walls. This was very cool. They call it Wall Street. In the cliffs, if you read the trail guide you picked up at the visitors center, you will see a couple of 700 year old fir trees. Hey, they have been around even longer than me!
We continued the walk that then becomes level. We crossed over some streams and enjoyed the solitude. Even though many people take these hikes you do have moments of total serenity. Some horseback trails also go through this area. We saw a group go by.
You can end the trail by going back up but if you look at the map you will see in joins with the Queens Garden Trail. We did this adding just a little less than a mile to our hike. I do suggest it. There were some very interesting formations in this area as you start your climb up. Once at the top you have a half a mile walk back to your car along a path called the rim trail. That happens to be the easiest hike in the park. It is all flat and not that long with beautiful sites below. Though it wasn't a long walk back to the car my daughter and I were volunteered to get the car and pick everybody up. The whole trail top and bottom is wonderful!!
PICTURES,PICTURES, PICTURES!
You must take your camera with a lot of film and an extra battery. No stores down on the trail!! I suggest the walk early in the day. The lighting was great and the air is comfortable due to the the cool nights. Average summer temperatures are Eighty degree days and forty degree nights!
FREE SHOW
Another thing we do at National Parks at night is go to the campground and join in on the nighttime activities. They are fun, educational and free. There is usually some kind of campfire talks or slide shows. These are listed and can be found at the visitors center.
WHAT WE DID
We didn't camp, there are two campgrounds inside the park, on this trip and being we were late in making arrangements we had to stay outside the park. There are a good amount of places to stay. You will find many motels, campgrounds and B&Bs in the area. We stayed at the Canyon Pines Motel It was good and clean with plenty of room for eight of us in two rooms. They charged seventy dollars a night. Next door is a good family restaurant. Just down the road a piece you will find a saddle ranch too. This is all off route 12 and near the small local airport where you can get sightseeing tours. That's not our thing though.
Everyday as we drove to the park entrance we passed a small local tourist rodeo. Every night they have a show. Hey it may not be the biggest or the best rodeo you ever saw but the broncs and the tough cowboys and clowns put on a fun and exciting show. Hey how many of you have even seen a real rodeo? Do it!
I mentioned earlier about having to book early for accommodations at the lodge in the park. The same is true if you would like to eat there. I really suggest this place to eat. It is a great western experience and menu. A place with not nearly the same feel but still fun and highly recommended is Ruby's It is near the park entrance and has good steaks, fresh trout, and western cooking.
The park is great for a picnic too. Get yourself a lunch and when driving along find one of the many picnic areas and enjoy while looking at the most interesting formations you ever saw.
Don't pass up Fairyland Point. This is actually before the entrance to the park. It's a great place to view the hoodoos and other formations close by. Very interesting names for these natural wonders abound. Look for the Alligator, the Sinking Ship, Aquarius Plateau, Natural Bridge, Fairyland Point, Rainbow Point,Farview Point,Pink Cliffs and other imaginative names.
TAKE THE SHUTTLE
While we were there it was said that a new shuttle system would be in affect for this last year. You would park your car in lots near the entrance and then be shuttled where you can get on and off all day. This was in affect at Zion park and did seem to help in "crowd control". In Bryce you could still option to take your car if you like.
However you travel in the park you will enjoy it and be amazed at the hoodoos!! Like I said stick a pin in your map for this place. I should not be missed.
This parks viewpoints are all wheelchair accessible. Part of the trail between Sunset and Sunrise point is also doable. The visitor center is mostly accessible.
Bryce Canyon,
Utah 84717
(435)834-5322
www.nps.gov/brca
Other reviews of National Parks by popsrocks
.Acadia National Park My favorite National Park !!
Badlands National Park A Black Hills wonder
.Biscayne National Park Great snorkeling
.Bryce Canyon National Park Home of the Hoo Doo
.Death Valley National Park Not so Hot
.Dry Tortugas National Park A unique Island Fort with snorkeling
.Everglades National Park A safari in Florida
Grand Canyon National Park The North Rim
Shenandoah National Park Sky Line Drive
Virgin Islands National Park WOW !!!! But don't tell anyone about it.
Wind Cave National Park an underground wonder!
Zion National Park Amazing diversity!
A couple of helpful books
National Parks for Dummies A great book for planning a trip
National Geographic Guide to National Parks A good reference book
National Parks PassPort
.Collect National Parks
National Parks System
Our National Parks
Frommer's Las Vegas Guide
Mirage Hotel
LAS VEGAS!!!
Flamingo Hotel
MY favorite Map.
2005 American Map Road Atlas: Large Scale - Large Type
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Review Topic: Overview
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