Bryce Up Close

Stacy, Ruth Ann, Duane and I were packed up and ready to hike down into Bryce Canyon just as the sun was throwing interesting light on the canyon.

The hike we chose—Queen’s Garden Trail—is the most popular for several reasons:  it is short (3 miles), has only 600’ elevation change, and has many beautiful rock formations and surprising twists in the path.

We wandered along the rim for about an hour, watching the sunlight making the rock tips translucent and the path glow.

Finally we pried Stacy and Ruth Ann away from the top and started down into the canyon.

Almost right away I found one of my favorite illusions—that square arch window in the middle of the picture.

A closer look showed no arch at all—just one rock wall (with talus at the bottom)  behind another.

Down we went gradually snaking our way to the bottom.

Three favorites—family, a tiny peephole window, and beautifully clear blue sky.

A little walk through tunnel to keep things interesting

Another illusion—the path doesn’t go straight, it turns left at the tree,

and through a short slot.

Duane was the only one in our group not shooting pictures.  In these next two Stacy perfects her sunburst effect.  The tree draws the eye to the sun.

Ruth Ann’s focus is the twisted tree balanced on the scree, and my focus is Ruth Ann intent on her shot.

Just around the corner—Creepy Guy!!!

The path wandered among the rock pinnacles for a while then through a pine and juniper forest. 

A treat for the eye—red rocks, green trees, the perfect shade of blue in the sky.

The trail had one more surprise for us.  The way back up to the rim was up through a long slot.

Duane, me, Stacy, Ruth Ann ready to tackle the last leg.

The end of our trail was the beginning for others.  People were toiling up and down the path like foraging ants bringing food to the nest.

Halfway there we could see people at the top (left in front of the cloud).

We enjoyed our picnic lunch at the trailhead, then drove to the end of the park and started back down stopping at viewpoints as Duane and I did on our bike ride of the park (see Bryce In A Minute blog).  This time we visited a couple of vista views that we skipped before.

Duane’s favorite hoodoo—a guy with a hat and an eagle sitting on top. ( Don’t think about it too long.)

We had backtracked our way back to Inspiration Point, but instead of turning left for the Point, we turned right for Bryce Point and found a fairyland of turreted pinnacles.  Unfortunately we also found a storm brewing.  We were there only a few minutes when a bright flash of lightening and a loud clap of thunder sent us hurrying for the car.

On the way out we stopped for a short tour of the historic lodge, then exited the park, picked one of the many restaurants for supper, and finally arrived home tired but very satisfied with our day.

Next, sunrise in the park.

Louise and Duane (and Stacy and Ruth Ann)