We had a very comfortable stay overnight at the Quality Inn/Springdale, which is just outside the south entrance to Zion National Park. This morning our legs are almost back to normal following our strenuous hike into the Grand Canyon three days ago. After enjoying our breakfast at the hotel, we once again drove over the 12-mile scenic highway that we entered the Park on yesterday, only this time we were traveling eastbound, heading back to Mt. Carmel Jct. where we would pick up the road that will take us up to Bryce Canyon National Park. The views are just as stunning this morning! Majestic vistas around every bend in the road! We also got to go back thru the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel!
These prong-horn mountain goats didn't seem to mind the cars passing by or the tourists who were pulling over beside the road to snap a photo.
Due to the dry climate in Utah, farmers must irrigate their fields if they plan to have a good harvest. Since the temperature dropped below freezing last night, we were treated to some interesting "irrigation ice sculpures" this morning as we traveled north on Hwy.89 on our way to Bryce Canyon National Park.
We made it to Bryce Canyon National Park, stopped at the Visitors Center, watched a short film showing the changing seasons in the Park, and how the "hoodoos" and formed and how the weather is forever changing them. (A hoodoo is a pillar of rock, usually of fantastic shape, left by erosion.) We picked up a Park map and decided to drive all the way thru the park, via the 18-mile park road along the rim to the fartherest point, which is Rainbow Point. There we parked and went to take some photos, and oh my goodness it was so cold, it did not take us long at all! Rainbow Point is at 9,115 ft. elevation!
We then retraced our route, back toward the Visitors Center, stopping at each viewpoint to get out and gaze at the awesome scenery that Bryce Canyon offers and take lots of photos.
When we made it to Sunset Point, that is where we planned to do an afternoon hike of about 6-7 miles. It is such a gorgeous sunny day today, and the temperature has warmed up a little, and we know that to really appreciate the beauty of this Park, we must walk down into the Canyon to experience all that Bryce Canyon majestic scenery. We walked on the Queen's Garden Trail/Navajo Trail, and the views along the way are truly spectacular!
We passed by an incredible "rock cairn garden"! Hikers will be hikers; BooBoo and I picked up and added a couple of our own pebbles to this work of art on the Trail. Too cool!
This has been such an awesome day to be in the great outdoors and to admire incredible view after view here in Bryce Canyon National Park.
There are also horseback riding trails here in the Park. While we were hiking, we looked up to the top of the Canyon, and there way up on the rim were some horseback riders! (Not sure if you can see them, since we are a long way down in the bottom, and they are on the top.)
Tomorrow we will head east to Capital Reef National Park and Natural Bridges National Park.
One last photo of the day!
O.K. Two photos! I couldn't help myself!
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