We are staying in the small town of Panguitch, in a large valley to the west of Bryce. Panguitch is at an elevation of 6600 feet. Bryce Canyon National Park is higher. A single park road follows the rim of Bryce Canyon for 18 miles, rising to over 9000 feet. From the viewpoints on this road, the visitor looks out over the canyon, and down upon the intricate rock formations all along the ridge. We started at the end, and worked our way backwards. As we worked our way back, the formations became more numerous and intricate, until we arrived at Bryce Point. Bryce Point was like a grand exclamation point!
The photos can speak for themselves:
We looked out over broad landscapes as well:
At one overlook is a natural bridge:
More photos:
As you have probably guessed, these unusual formations have been created by the erosive powers of wind, rain snow and ice. The formations are constantly changing. They change as the sun moves across the sky as well.
I mentioned that Bryce Point was the exclamation point:
Wow! The columns are called "Hoodoos". The native Americans thought of the hoodoos as ancient people hardened into stone. I can believe this - from some view points they look like legions of soldiers marching to some unheard cadence.
To me, the hoodoos are like clouds - they can be different things to the viewer, limited only by one's imagination. There are church spires and castles and animals of all kinds. Below are closeups of hoodoos from the very crowded region shown in the photo above. There are several overlooks around the rim of this area:
There are other hoodoo formations in the world, but none match the brilliant colors of those in Bryce Canyon:
Here is one of my favorite photos. The colors and formations are so delicate and sublime:
Ebenezer Bryce, whose back yard was the canyon, once said "It's a hell of a place to lose a cow!"
The Navajo Loop Trail starts at the Sunset Overlook and winds its way down between the hoodoos. We hope to hike the trail today.
Doesn't this look like Candy Land? What amazing colors!
We were fortunate to arrive at the Sunset Overlook at sunset, and saw a most beautiful sight. From a certain perspective, the rocks in one area of the canyon glowed, as if they were so thin the sun's light could pass right through them. I finally decided that the light on the west face of the rocks bounced and reflected off the east side of the next column of rocks over. The effect was amazing.
I tried to capture it on camera, but not necessarily successfully. It resulted, however, in some interesting photos:
I highly recommend Bryce Canyon. If you haven't seen it, put it on your bucket list.
By the way, if you approach Bryce Canyon from the west, you will pass through Red Canyon. It is relatively small, but a beauty. It is characterized by red sand and rocks, and more hoodoos:
