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Category: Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Before leaving the Page area we really wanted to see the Wave. It is a red and white sandstone canyon which is shaped like a wave. The images from there looks very cool, if you google it you will see. But since we had not done enough research before the trip and found that you have to reserve a spot more than 4 months ahead of time we had to leave this for another trip. Too bad but since they have started to regulate many sites you can not just pass by and think you can see it all.

So instead we decided to take a drive through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and visit Bryce Canyon National Park again. Last year on our holiday we did a two day hike through the park but did not do all the short hikes closer to the visitor center.

The shorter hikes in Bryce Canyon are actually the best ones also. The two day tour we did last year went through a lot of forest where you do not see any hoodoos which is what you come there for. So if you don’t have time of feel like a longer hike, don’t worry, you are not missing anything.

As we were coming closer to Bryce it became cooler because of higher altitude and it was actually quite cold during night. When the sun came out though it was nice and warm.

This time we did half Navajo Loop, Peekaboo Loop and Queen Mary Loop. It goes a bit up and down which means it is not an easy walk but they are not very long so most people can make it if it is not too hot. It took us a few hours to complete the hike and afterwards we cooked some food before driving towards Las Vegas.

Overnight hike in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

In Bryce Canyon we decided to do an overnight hike. We caught a lift with the tour bus to the south end of the park and hiked back to the more popular area closer to the entrance of the park. As we came to our final stop the bus driver told the other passengers, mostly overweight older americans, that he wanted to say goodbye to the two hikers and wish us a nice hike back. As we were leaving the bus the other passengers expressed their admiration and best wishes, it was obvious it is not very common to do a longer hike in this park.

At the starting point.

Before heading out you need to get a backcountry permit and reserve a spot at one of the few campgrounds along the way. We chose a camp about half ways after we added a loop of about 14 km in the south part of the park. Afterwards we realized that the loop had not been necessary to do since it was mainly in the forest without any view. It mainly just added time and effort. What we did see though were a lot of cute horned lizards, actually 19 of them. We had seen one in Arizona earlier this year and got the feeling they are rare to see but here they were everywhere.

Horned lizard

As we got our permit they also gave us a bear vault. This is a box with a lid that is bear proof in case one happened to find us and decide to try and steal our food. In the box we had to keep all food and scented items, like tooth paste. We also got very clear instructions on how and were to cook, sleep and go to the bathroom. We believe we followed the directions which should ensure that the park is kept clean and bears away from the tourists. They have had to put down two bears because they were stalking tourists looking for food. This is what happens when people leave food at campsites. Luckily we were not stalked, we only saw the foot prints of a mountain lion in the morning. We were ok with that.

Cooking dinner. Bear vault to the right.

Most of the hike was down in the valley underneath the rim which Bryce Canyon is so famous for. The very first part going down from Rainbow Point and the very last part coming up to Bryce Point were the nicest ones. On the way the trail went up and down a number of hills which turned out to be quite strenuous. The hike was in total about 50 km so we did about 25 km per day which is probably about what I can take with a heavy backpack and elevation change. We made it though and looked forward to shorter day hikes for the rest of the holiday.

Coming down from Rainbow point