Bryce Canyon National Park

High on our bucket list of places we wanted to see when we started traveling full-time were the national parks in Utah.  Even though we don't have formal destinations in our day-to-day moves, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks were the two places we wanted to see this fall.  We finally made it to our first "destination" and Bryce Canyon National Park is stunning!
The views from the top sitting under a tree are great, but of course we would have to hike into that canyon to see those famous hoo-doo formations up close. 

We planned a figure-eight hike that started at the Navajo Loop.  Hiking down 24 switchbacks leads  down a very steep path to the canyon floor. 



There are lots of people on this introductory hike, so it is almost impossible to get a picture by yourself.  But the very tall hoo-doos made great color combinations in the sunlight as Denisa was walking toward them.



Looking from the top, it's hard to get the scale of how tall these unique formations really are.  Mark is in the bottom center of the next picture, dwarfed by the tall hoo-doos in the canyon.

This was a tough day to determine what to wear.  It was 40 degrees at the motor home this morning, so pants, long sleeves, and a coat seemed appropriate.  Denisa at least had enough sense to leave the coat at home, and she also wore hiking pants that have adjustable lengths.  It's early in the day, so she still has the long pants on for this picture of the two of us together. 

Part of our hike was crossing the canyon to reach the Peek-a-Boo trail.  There are fewer people making this loop because it is longer and harder.  It was a good respite from the national park crowds, and very beautiful as well.  This is Mark and the wall of windows, with a beautiful blue sky peeking through those windows.

 Some of the hoodoos have eroded to the strangest shapes.  The one on the right looks like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.  (That comment was referring to the hoo-doo--not Mark.)

We assume that the Peek-a-Boo trail is names because it is a winding hike, and there is fairy-tale beauty around ever twisting curve.

Or maybe it's named peek-a-boo because of the multiple tunnels that led us through canyon walls that gave us a peek to the other side.  We have been hiking for a couple hours now, and Denisa has rolled up her sleeves and adjusted those hiking pants into hiking capris now.  It was pretty warm on the bottom of the canyon!

 As you can see, there isn't much shade on this hike.  But that also means that the beautiful blue sky is stunning against the red and white sandstone.

We have found that going to our national parks is a very international experience.  Today our hiking time was slowed down considerably because of all the hikers that we had conversations with.  We met a couple from London, a couple from Australia, a couple from Barcelona, Spain, a couple from the Netherlands . . .  We also noticed that English was the least spoken language on the trails.  Most of the people we talked to were on 3-4 week holidays, and our national parks were their main destinations.

We are four hours into our hike now, finally into the Queen's Garden Loop with some good looking tall things in this picture.

We are now on the up-hill climb out of the canyon and it's officially hot.  Denisa has zipped off the legs of her adjustable hiking pants to convert them to hiking shorts.

Since Mark took a picture of the sun through the Delicate  Arch at Arches National Park, he thought a sunshine picture through a holy hoodoo at Bryce was also appropriate.

We're finally back to the top of the canyon, looking down into another of God's wonders!

We made the drive to the other view points for another look into the canyon.   One of the most famous views, this is a shot of the mystical army of stone people know as "The Silent City." We had seen so many beautiful views that we are worn out.  Or perhaps we are worn out from the 8 miles of up-and-down hiking in the 90 degree sunshine.  

 

All we know is that it is time for some air-conditioning.  Mark thinks it's time to head home before Denisa tries to adjust any more of her clothing!