We woke up pretty early the next morning and made our way to the national park from our Airbnb. The drive from Alton was scenic in itself, driving through Red Canyon and under the Red Canyon Arch. Utah is such a beautiful state, I have no doubt that the drive to Bryce Canyon from any direction would be aesthetically pleasing.
Bryce Canyon is open 24/7 with the Visitor Center opening at 8:00 a.m. 7 days as week except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Bryce Canyon is surprisingly located at an elevation of 8,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level (Denver is around 5,000 feet). It makes hiking in the summer enjoyable with highs in the 70’s and 80’s but the high altitude really does take your breath away (literally).
Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos are created by erosion and weathering, and the main forces responsible are ice and rain. What started off as plateaus are now unique, beautiful hoodoos.
THE RUNDOWN:
Navajo Loop Trail
Bryce Canyon National Park
Highway 63
Bryce, Utah 84764
Start/Ends: Sunset Point
Distance: 1.3 miles
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Entrance fee is $35.00 per private vehicle (up to 15 people) or $20.00 per person if you decide to hike or bike there.
Parking was fairly easy for us. We park at Inspiration Point in the morning and at Sunrise Point in the afternoon.
Wall Street and parts of the Rim Trail routinely closes during winter months, so check out the Current Conditions page on their website if you plan on going between December and February. There are other great trails to hike if Wall Street is closed.
Hiking down into the amphitheater is great, hiking back up is a workout. Take lots of breaks, drink lots of water. I had to stop a lot and I wasn’t the only one. In the corners of all the switchbacks, you will find other people trying to catch their breath.
Bryce Canyon National Park definitely didn’t disappoint, and I can’t wait to head back one day!
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