We travelled north on Rte 89 from Wahweap to Bryce Canyon. The 145 odd miles took us along the edge of the Grand Staircase Escalante with red rock cliffs.
We drove for miles through a very fertile valley (probably 7,000 feet elevation) with a crooked stream running through pasture land. I could only imagine settlers arriving and feeling a sense of wonder and contentment with pines to build cabins, pasture land for cattle, and fresh water.
Turning off Rte 89 toward Bryce we passed through Red Canyon which was just a precursor to what was to come!
The main road runs about 18 miles along the rim at 9,000 plus or minus feet with hiking trails running through canyons and pull ins for magnificent and breathtaking views of the rock formations and the hugely expansive vistas beyond.
We started at “Inspiration Point:” where we had a full view of the “Bryce Amphitheater”. The statuesque rocks are called “hoodoos”. These formations are not caused by flowing water, but rather by snow and ice melt as water seeps into fractures, re-freezes and expands causing fractures. These cracks eventually create holes or “windows” in the rock wall. Over time, and with the help of rain further dissolving and sculpting the limestone, the pillars form bulbous spires called hoodoos.
Other viewpoints we stopped at were Swamp Point and Fairview Point
Natural Bridge
Rainbow Point
If I had to choose between Bryce and the Grand Canyon, Bryce would get my vote! I’m surprised at the lack of snow … when Mum, Margaret & I went there, we could not go beyond the entrance – it didn’t open to the public until memorial weekend. We were there the second week of May! And it was Margaret’s first time in snow!