We left Zion National Park on August 8th and headed to Bryce Canyon National Park – home to the world’s largest concentration of hoodoos.
We drove to the Visitor’s Center to better plan our next two days exploring Bryce Canyon National Park. We find National Park Visitor Centers to be worth the time to stop and check out. We get updated advice and tips on exploring that specific park, as well as interesting historical and geological information pertinent to that park.
A brief and very basic geologic history of Bryce Canyon and its famous hoodoos.
Native American tribes of the Bryce Canyon region come together to share dances, songs, food, stories, and traditions. The tribes support each other’s events. Here are a few:
Interesting facts about pronghorns:
I knew prairie dogs have quite a complex tunnel system within their prairie town colony with multiple entrances and exits, and that some prairie dogs served as lookouts, but I learned more about their complex colonies. The many openings help keep fresh air flowing throughout the burrow.
Additional facts about these little guys:
Also safe below ground is a LISTENING CHAMBER where a prairie dog can hear an approaching predator!
We headed out in Sadie. We checked out Fairyland Canyon.
When I saw the hoodoos and especially those in the picture below, I immediately thought they looked like people. Later we came across an information plaque about a sacred oral tradition of the Paiutes Indians that refers to the hoodoos as “Legend People” who were turned into stone for bad deeds. The “Legend People” inhabited this region for hundreds of years before arrival of European Americans.
We checked in at Ruby’s Inn RV Park & Campground in Bryce Canyon City, Utah located right on the road leading in and out of the National Park. The location was ideal! We had reservation for 3 nights. Ruby’s Inn is quite the icon for this area.
Ruby (Rueben) & Minnie Syrett played a key role for Bryce Canyon National Park. It started in the spring of 1916 when Ruby decide to leave his life as a flour mill worker in Panguitch to become a cowboy. He knew when he arrived that he had found the perfect place to call home. It was spectacular! He purchased a 160 acres homestead. Syrett wanted to share this beauty with everyone they knew. He and his wife began inviting friends and family to share this sanctuary. They continued their hospitality as more and more people came to experience Bryce Canyon. The Syretts pitched tents and served meals for visitors. Realizing tourism was a lot better business than ranching. They had a gift for this so they build a lodge that eventually became know as Ruby’s Inn.
Ruby’s Historic photo gallery – black and white photos.
Unfortunately, after acquiring the land and building the lodge, Ruby Syrett learned that the lodge was built within the boundaries of what was Bryce Canyon National Park. Ruby turned this major bump in the road into an opportunity for the government and the National Park. He offered the government part of HIS land to build a road into the park to the north. This enabled tourists access to the park and Ruby’s lodge (Inn).
Ruby’s Inn became Garfield County’s largest employer employing about 600 people during its peak season. As revenue and population grew around the lodge, this 2300-acre area became its own town, Bryce Canyon City. Many family members are still involved with Ruby’s Inn and the Ruby’s Inn & RV Park & Campground. We did not take any time to explore the eclectic collection of shops and eateries in Old Bryce Town. We don’t need knick-knacks and we were set with food.
After dinner, we headed back into the park for the early evening sunlight views.
We hiked the Navajo Loop Trail where we went down ground level amongst the hoodoos! Fairly steep and a long ways down, but so worth it.
There were several areas of switchbacks. Definitely need to watch your footing. While there were some walking in flip-flops, I would not recommend it!
We got to the “bottom”.
What went down must go up…the rest of the loop trail back to the top.
Made it!
Thor’s Hammer -an iconic formation
It was pretty cool how thin many of these hoodoos and walls were. Time and erosion will continue.
Windows within the formations were always fun to see.
Video clip to experience some of the hoodoos “Live”.
The moon with it pink reflective glow from the sun as it sets in the west.
Only moments later the moon is bright.
More about Ebenezer and Mary Bryce – The namesake of Bryce National Park.
Ebenezer Bryce was a master craftsman. He built the home above and the church below. Hard to believe they were built by the same person! But Ebenezer knew the cabin was only a temporary home as they moved to build new communities as serial homesteaders.
On August 9th we explored Bryce Canyon via our bikes. What a beautiful day. We took off from the RV park, crossed the street to the pave bike trail into the Bryce NP. From Dixie National Forest …
…into Bryce Canyon National Park sign that had a “selfie rock”.
The selfie rock stand even had a really cool rock that held our phone!
The roof on the lodge and other buildings caught our attention. At first we thought age and weather was causing a warping, but the roof wasn’t in bad shape or falling apart anywhere. The wavy, rippling roof doesn’t show up near as much as seeing it in person.
Then we saw this:
How cool! The waves were intentional artistic effects.
We completed our ride up to Sunset Point where we parked our bikes. We walked to the shuttle bus to take us up to Bryce Point.
Views were great.
The bus driver told us about looking for the white alligator. We found it.
We hiked the Rim Trail back to Sunset Point. It was a great hike with great views!
We grabbed our bikes and began our descent back “home” via Bryce Canyon Lodge area for lunch. Pizza was OK.
The downhill trail to the RV park was awesome. The curves were especially fun at a faster pace. After biking up the path this morning, we were looking forward to the downhill ride “home”, and it did not disappoint!
August 10 – This morning we drove the 18 mile scenic drive. The BEST stop was the Natural Bridge. We wanted to capture it in the morning sunlight.
Other stops on the drive:
Black Birch Canyon
Agua Canyon
We drove to Sunrise Point, but it was too hot to hike then, so when we saw that there was a coin laundry at the back of the General Store bordering the parking lot, we decided to make use of it. So nice to just chill in Sadie while we got our laundry done! This was an unexpected, but welcomed surprise.
About 6pm we left Sadie to check out Sunrise Point. The lighting was perfect, and the temperature much better.
We hiked the Queen’s Garden Trail. So glad we did this trail! I recognized the Queen Victoria Hoodoo! It was pretty cool.
Queen Victoria Hoodoo!!! The beautiful blue sky and sunlight on her helped me spot her immediately! Loved this!!
We hiked onward (and upward) toward Sunset Point via Two Bridges trail. OMG. We walked right by them two night ago. LOL
We were within all those trees way, way down there (in the background)! And we still have to go UP to get to Sunset Point.
Now that we were at Sunset Point, we walked back to Sunrise Point via the Rim Trail so we could enjoy the sunset at Sunrise Point.
What a full, but wonderful day! We thoroughly enjoy our entire time in Bryce Canyon National Park. Very glad we made it here!
August 11 – Leaving Bryce on our way to St George, UT, where we will spend one night, but it will be too hot for pickleball. I managed to capture our drive through the arch and even got a picture of it from the other side.
Our next adventure will be The SPHERE in Las Vegas!