After our short visit at the Grand Canyon (post here) and our stay at Zion National Park (post here), the next stop on our trek through Utah was Bryce Canyon.
I can’t state in words the absolute awesomeness I felt when we walked to the edge of the canyon the afternoon we arrived. My photos can’t do justice to the beauty I saw the moment I took in the breathtaking view.
The first thing we did was starting walking along the edge. We didn’t quite know where we were going, but we just headed off to our right and ended up following the signs to Inspiration Point. Wow, at the higher elevation and heading uphill, it was a jaunt for us! In the photo below you can see the view back to the other side where we started. We walked along the edge you see to the left.
I will confess, looking down into the canyon kind of freaked me out. I have slipped on loose rocks a couple of times and realized the importance of treading carefully along the open edges.
We headed back, in awe!
Dinner that night was in the lodge restaurant. Unfortunately they were “take out” only. But the food was delicious. The service was exceptional, and we were allowed to eat at the sanitized tables if they were available there in the dining room. Sadly, they were short staffed, having difficulties hiring help. I showed my full appreciation and they did the same, grateful for all of us there visiting. We just needed to show patience.
We headed back to the rim at sunset.
The canyon is slowly crumbling at the edges, yet the trees continue to hold on and survive!
The canyon the next morning in the bright sunlight:
My husband reviewed the park maps and the next morning we headed out to Mossy Cave. The hike was beautiful, but very hot. And the cave was a very tiny area, that did indeed have moss. The hike was beautiful, the cave not so much. There was a bit of road construction going on in the area, so the drive took a bit of patience.
Unfortunately, my husband wasn’t feeling as well in the afternoon, so we took that time to rest. By staying at the lodge it allowed me to do some walking and exploring nearby without having to drive. That evening we walked and explored more around the canyon rim.
The next morning we got up before sunrise, camera and tri-pod in hand, and we walked to the canyon rim. Because we were looking into the sunrise, I found this very challenging. Below are a couple of photos that I do like. I actually did not intentionally include the person and the tree out on the point. However, I believe that is what makes that photo great. Accidental success! And it is a blessing because I can walk away not feeling like I failed 😊
And PS: It was windy and freezing out. Bless my dear husband for crawling out of bed and joining me for moral support!
Yes I did do some editing in Lightroom, which kind of amazed me.
After a simple breakfast in our room we headed out driving south to Rainbow Point. This stop was at the end of the road with breathtaking views. We walked the one mile Bristlecone Loop Trail and took in more beautiful views.
On our drive back to the lodge we stopped at every viewpoint except for Bryce Point. That is the only location where we could not find parking. We rested up for a bit in our room, then headed back to Bryce Point (located nearby). It was certainly worth the effort.
Below are a few photos of our drive, including a lunch snack at the Dawg House food truck. It’s amazing how good a hot dog tastes after a morning of exploring outdoors. 😃🌭
Below is from Bryce Point. Somewhere over on the other side, would be our lodge. A trail ran all the way around the rim. The view was simply breathtaking.
I do have one regret from our visit to Bryce Canyon. We did not hike down into the canyon. Partially due to time and energy. Partially because I’ve slipped on loose rocks, and the trek down is steep. Hiking along the edge like we did, I was slightly terrified of the canyon! 😱 The hike back up can also be very challenging from what I’ve heard. My husband was feeling better and he did offer to get up early our last morning to hike Navajo Loop Trail. However, I was fighting off a cold, and it was literally freezing overnight. I just didn’t have it in me. In hindsight we would have made that one of our first adventures. Perhaps I we can visit again in the near future. This was possibly my favorite park.
The photo below shows part of the trail leading down on the Navajo Loop Trail.
How to choose which photos to share? Bryce Canyon is amazing. If you get the chance to go, GO! If you are able to snag a room at the lodge, do it! Being on site, 5 minutes from the rim, is an unbelievable experience. When I looked into the canyon, I can not doubt God’s existence.
I kind of felt like this little guy when we had to leave…😠
peace of life today 
That is such an amazing site to see.
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Oh it was! Seriously, I want to go back!!
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Looks amazing and beautiful!
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Thank you, it was! Almost more than one can take in all at once!
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Amazing landforms and sunrises Lisa !
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Thank you! Isn’t it crazy!? …and thank you Lightroom for some editing magic on the sunrise 😊
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Such beautiful photos! I’m inspired to visit now
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Thank you! I honestly want to go back before I’m too old to hike into the canyon (and make it back out) 😁 But we’ve got to plan ahead. I think we just beat the summer crowd.
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What an amazingly beautiful creation. Can’t help worshiping the Creator of it all!
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Agreed!!
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Such an incredible landscape, Lisa! My favourite shot has to be that tree, clinging on at sunset. How beautifully precarious is that?
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Thank you Jo! I took a lot of tree photos! Although it is a tiny amount each year, as the canyon edge crumbles, those trees just keep hanging on! It would be cool to know how old the trees are.
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Truly beautiful.
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Thank you so much!!
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🙂
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Oh, this is marvellous! So many wonderful photos I can’t really pick out favourites, but the B&W sunrise shot with the person by the tree is rather special 🙂 You make me wish we’d made more time for Bryce all those years ago when we toured the region, and tried to stay at the lodge too. Maybe one day!
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Thank you Sarah! I really liked that sunrise. I admit I played around in Lightroom because so many came out dark. But I guess they were clear because of the tri-pod and I was pretty happy with the results. …a learning experience.
In hind site, rescheduling our trip from 2020 made it better. I got better reservations and was able to spend an extra day in Bryce. So now I say it was worth it!
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Fabulous captures of a stunning park. Well done, Lisa! We visited here in 2014 during our summer trek, camping at the entrance. I was blown away with this park. Did you hear the crumbling of the hoodoos during the evening hours when the sun goes down and it cools quickly? It was kind of eerie but neat. I’d love to return to this park again! Thanks for the memories!!
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Thank you Donna! …and no! Now I do need to go back and listen to the hoodoos speak! So cool. 😎
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You took a lot of great pictures there, Lisa! It’s one of my favorite places for photos. Sorry you weren’t feeling well during part of your time there.
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Thank you! It was amazing! Fortunately I felt better pretty quickly, and it didn’t hold me back much 😊
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When I went to Utah with my grandmother, she took me to Arches where I went out to the famous Granny’s Arch by myself. I was wearing leather sandals…and the path I took up had a ledge that was only wide enough for one person. Straight up on one side, straight down on the other…thank God I only met one couple on the way. I leaned against the wall, while they stepped around me. On the way back, I followed another path, which was much safer.
Awesome photos! Would love to get out there again…
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Thank you Holly! Yikes, that sounds freaky! The day we arrived at Bryce we overheard someone saying they were looking for a missing person there. And right when we returned home we saw that someone had fallen from Angel’s Landing at Zion. I saw several younger folks out on edges for photo opts. Gave me the heebie jeebies! But it was awesome! Oh, and we did go buy excellent hiking shoes, they were fantastic on smooth rocks.
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It was a little freaky…but I was also young, 19 years old at the time! So, I was old enough to know to think about what I’m doing but still young enough to take the chance. I think there may have been a couple or two ahead of me, going the same direction. If they could do it, so could I! I may have even taken my shoes off, but I can’t remember for sure.
Did make for some awesome photos, which I will have to dig out.
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Oh, do share photos please! 😊
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I will…it might be a while though.
lol
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Spectacular photos. I’m partial to the sunrise and sunset lighting so those are my favs.
But all of your photos are amazing 😍
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Thank you Teri! My photo skills were tested, and hopefully grew just a bit. Nothing beats seeing in in person, however. So I have great memories attached to my photos 😊
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I love how you said “nothing beats seeing it in person”
True for photos and writing. It’s never the same in real life but they both have the power to stir emotions ❤️🤗
So keep the photos coming 😍
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You bet I will 😊🤗🙏❤
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Exceptional photos! I especially appreciate the black and white shots.
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Thank you! It was an amazing experience! And I do like those B&W photos too 😊
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Such beautiful photos! My husband and I are going to Utah next month for our anniversary and after seeing these photos, I can’t wait. 🙂
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Oh I hope you have a great time Nicole! We beat the heat and the crowds and it was amazing! Happy Anniversary! 😊 …we had planned to go last year for our 25th anniversary and it was cancelled. But I got better reservations this year so it was worth it.
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I’m glad it worked out for you this year. We’re hoping to escape the cold for a week. I heard it should be in the 70s when we’re there.
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As someone who lived in Ireland for two decades and seen nothing but 50 shades of green throughout those years, I’ve always been fascinated by the majesty of Arizona and Utah’s canyon country and the possibility of exploring three legendary national parks—Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon and their red-rock landscapes. There’s just something alluring about thousands of delicate red, orange, and pink stone spires that have been dramatically sculpted by erosion at the Bryce Canyon National Park or the sandstone cliffs ranging in colour from cream to pink and rusty red of Zion. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thank you, Aiva! I agree, something about looking out into the vastness of it all! But, I will also say, as a long time desert rat, I do love seeing green!! When we get the opportunity to go somewhere more humid and tropical, it is such a treat!
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