What I Loved About Bryce Canyon & Why It’s Worth Visiting If You’re On The Fence
Bryce Canyon is one of those not so widely known places (such as the Grand Canyon or Zion), but is highly underrated for a quick day trip if you’re in the area. Today I want to touch on a few of the reasons why I’d go back, and what I’d bring with me to better prepare! Here we go! Yay! 🕺
Bonus Tip! Don’t forget to stop and take in the Bristlecone Pines. These guys are the oldest living organisms on EARTH friends, and although we didn’t have a chance to take them in like we would have liked to, someday we will definitely be back to embrace their majestic and ancient beauty. 💜
If you do a quick Google search, you’ll see that it has epic spires called “hoodoos” that create such an incredible scenery you’re unlikely to see anywhere else. Unless you take a deeper dive though, you’ll likely miss all of what it has to offer.
Did you know? The word “hoodoo” means to “bewitch.” Something that a lot of us travel-junkies would definitely agree with when entering the Bryce Canyon amphitheater. This area is comprised of tons of individual hoodoos, which were carved over the course of millions of years from the elements such as rain, snow and ice. (Yes! There is ice and snow here during parts of the year, and I’ve read that it’s even more beautiful to see during this time). Have you gone during that time? Let me know in the comment section! 👇
Starting the descent!
Canyon Shuttle Tips and Where to Park
You’re able to park in the lot near the main part of the park which is what we did, (which is called Sunrise Point) but you’re welcome to get a shuttle as well, which you can learn more about by clicking here. This will take you on a giant loop that will stop at several points of interest including the Amphitheater and some of the trailheads. Be sure to read up on where you’d like to go beforehand so you know where you’ll want to be spending the most time!
Early Morning Arrival at Bryce Canyon National Park
We chose to start our day super early, getting up when it was dark to drive the roughly 2.5 hours from Saint George, Utah where we were staying, out to Bryce Canyon National Park. One thing we didn’t consider though, was packing beanies, gloves, and colder weather clothing. 🤦♀️
Since the park is at a significantly higher elevation than where we were coming from, we experienced a drop in temperature by around 15-25 degrees! It was super unexpected and bad planning on our part. Because of this, we stopped at local shop along the way to pick up some new cold weather gear before we got to the park. (Read on to the end of the post to find out the 100+ year old Inn that I’m talking about!)
Early morning drives. <3
Once we got to the parking lot, we made our way to Sunset Point, which is where the Navajo Loop Trail starts and ends. We decided to combine this with the Queen’s Garden Trail, that descends down into the canyon and allows you to view the hoodoos from the bottom up. It was a unique experience that I’m so grateful we embarked on. We were sore and tired from the previous hikes during this trip, but these short ones were still manageable especially given the sights we were able to take in.
When we started planning our day trip to this park, we discussed skipping it altogether since it was pretty far out of the way. But, kind of like The Painted Desert (where the Petrified Forest National Park is), it was 110% worth the extra miles and effort to go a little further in getting there. I mean, just look at these freaking pictures, guys. I can’t with the awesomeness.
Hoodoos be hoodoo-ing. 😎
Psst! We hiked through the Painted Desert last year when we visited the Grand Canyon, so stay tuned for a future post discussing in more detail why we fell in love with it and can’t wait to go back, DESPITE it being way out of the way.
The view from the top of the trail before descending down (or after ascending if you went the other way!)
Stocking Up Before Bryce Canyon: What We Forgot and What We Found
As previously mentioned, we desperately needed colder weather gear and a few more snacks, which we were able to purchase here at Ruby’s. It was such a cute little stop where we could get everything we needed, and grab some souvenirs at the same time. Would highly recommend stopping here even just to check it out!
Here’s a map of the surrounding area, to give you an idea of how far everything is that I’ve already mentioned, and some other stops that I haven’t! Capitol Reef (shown in the pic below) is somewhere that’s also on our bucket list, so I’ll make sure to drop some hints when we’re headed back to visit it in the trips to come! 💛 😉
Courtesy of rubysinn.com <3
Driving the Scenic Route: Rainbow and Yovimpa Points
When we were finished exploring the main section of Bryce Canyon, we decided to spend some time dilly-dallying our way up the slow and windy 19-mile road nearby (Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive) to head up to the southern side to see Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point.
These were both so beautiful and offered a different perspective on the park, showing a more forest-y type landscape with views far off in the distance of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (post also coming soon!). Rainbow Point is also one of the highest points of the entire park, so make sure you have some windbreakers and tie down your sun hats peeps! 👒
From the southern side, check out the staircase, top left! How massive, right?!
It was such a beautiful day that we were so grateful to have spent here. Travel is a funny thing. You feel compelled to relax and recharge by doing something chill and mundane, but then you have weirdos like us that think recharging and relaxing is exploring and traversing awesome areas. Are you one in the same?
It’s hard to think we would have done any of this trip differently. We left a lot up to chance during this week-long venture and although we had some maybes on our list, I’m glad we made the effort to cross a lot of them off. Each and every stop was entirely worth the extra miles we put down on the road and by foot, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you’re thinking about heading to Bryce Canyon or anywhere nearby, please make sure to add this to your list! It’s a feat that you can’t unsee and worth exploring into if you have (or make) the time to.
Catcha later friend. ✌️🥾 (Scroll down for a few bonus pics!)
Just a really, really badass tree that deserved its own shot.Near the roadside on a pull off while driving on the scenic road.On the trail! Epic.Pure, natural beauty. What more could you ask for?
What I Loved About Bryce Canyon & Why It’s Worth Visiting If You’re On The Fence
What I Loved About Bryce Canyon & Why It’s Worth Visiting If You’re On The Fence
Bryce Canyon is one of those not so widely known places (such as the Grand Canyon or Zion), but is highly underrated for a quick day trip if you’re in the area. Today I want to touch on a few of the reasons why I’d go back, and what I’d bring with me to better prepare! Here we go! Yay! 🕺
Bonus Tip! Don’t forget to stop and take in the Bristlecone Pines. These guys are the oldest living organisms on EARTH friends, and although we didn’t have a chance to take them in like we would have liked to, someday we will definitely be back to embrace their majestic and ancient beauty. 💜
If you do a quick Google search, you’ll see that it has epic spires called “hoodoos” that create such an incredible scenery you’re unlikely to see anywhere else. Unless you take a deeper dive though, you’ll likely miss all of what it has to offer.
Did you know? The word “hoodoo” means to “bewitch.” Something that a lot of us travel-junkies would definitely agree with when entering the Bryce Canyon amphitheater. This area is comprised of tons of individual hoodoos, which were carved over the course of millions of years from the elements such as rain, snow and ice. (Yes! There is ice and snow here during parts of the year, and I’ve read that it’s even more beautiful to see during this time). Have you gone during that time? Let me know in the comment section! 👇
Starting the descent!
Canyon Shuttle Tips and Where to Park
You’re able to park in the lot near the main part of the park which is what we did, (which is called Sunrise Point) but you’re welcome to get a shuttle as well, which you can learn more about by clicking here. This will take you on a giant loop that will stop at several points of interest including the Amphitheater and some of the trailheads. Be sure to read up on where you’d like to go beforehand so you know where you’ll want to be spending the most time!
Early Morning Arrival at Bryce Canyon National Park
We chose to start our day super early, getting up when it was dark to drive the roughly 2.5 hours from Saint George, Utah where we were staying, out to Bryce Canyon National Park. One thing we didn’t consider though, was packing beanies, gloves, and colder weather clothing. 🤦♀️
Since the park is at a significantly higher elevation than where we were coming from, we experienced a drop in temperature by around 15-25 degrees! It was super unexpected and bad planning on our part. Because of this, we stopped at local shop along the way to pick up some new cold weather gear before we got to the park. (Read on to the end of the post to find out the 100+ year old Inn that I’m talking about!)
Early morning drives. <3
Once we got to the parking lot, we made our way to Sunset Point, which is where the Navajo Loop Trail starts and ends. We decided to combine this with the Queen’s Garden Trail, that descends down into the canyon and allows you to view the hoodoos from the bottom up. It was a unique experience that I’m so grateful we embarked on. We were sore and tired from the previous hikes during this trip, but these short ones were still manageable especially given the sights we were able to take in.
When we started planning our day trip to this park, we discussed skipping it altogether since it was pretty far out of the way. But, kind of like The Painted Desert (where the Petrified Forest National Park is), it was 110% worth the extra miles and effort to go a little further in getting there. I mean, just look at these freaking pictures, guys. I can’t with the awesomeness.
Hoodoos be hoodoo-ing. 😎
Psst! We hiked through the Painted Desert last year when we visited the Grand Canyon, so stay tuned for a future post discussing in more detail why we fell in love with it and can’t wait to go back, DESPITE it being way out of the way.
The view from the top of the trail before descending down (or after ascending if you went the other way!)
Stocking Up Before Bryce Canyon: What We Forgot and What We Found
As previously mentioned, we desperately needed colder weather gear and a few more snacks, which we were able to purchase here at Ruby’s. It was such a cute little stop where we could get everything we needed, and grab some souvenirs at the same time. Would highly recommend stopping here even just to check it out!
Here’s a map of the surrounding area, to give you an idea of how far everything is that I’ve already mentioned, and some other stops that I haven’t! Capitol Reef (shown in the pic below) is somewhere that’s also on our bucket list, so I’ll make sure to drop some hints when we’re headed back to visit it in the trips to come! 💛 😉
Courtesy of rubysinn.com <3
Driving the Scenic Route: Rainbow and Yovimpa Points
When we were finished exploring the main section of Bryce Canyon, we decided to spend some time dilly-dallying our way up the slow and windy 19-mile road nearby (Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive) to head up to the southern side to see Rainbow Point and Yovimpa Point.
These were both so beautiful and offered a different perspective on the park, showing a more forest-y type landscape with views far off in the distance of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (post also coming soon!). Rainbow Point is also one of the highest points of the entire park, so make sure you have some windbreakers and tie down your sun hats peeps! 👒
From the southern side, check out the staircase, top left! How massive, right?!
It was such a beautiful day that we were so grateful to have spent here. Travel is a funny thing. You feel compelled to relax and recharge by doing something chill and mundane, but then you have weirdos like us that think recharging and relaxing is exploring and traversing awesome areas. Are you one in the same?
It’s hard to think we would have done any of this trip differently. We left a lot up to chance during this week-long venture and although we had some maybes on our list, I’m glad we made the effort to cross a lot of them off. Each and every stop was entirely worth the extra miles we put down on the road and by foot, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you’re thinking about heading to Bryce Canyon or anywhere nearby, please make sure to add this to your list! It’s a feat that you can’t unsee and worth exploring into if you have (or make) the time to.
Catcha later friend. ✌️🥾 (Scroll down for a few bonus pics!)
Just a really, really badass tree that deserved its own shot.Near the roadside on a pull off while driving on the scenic road.On the trail! Epic.Pure, natural beauty. What more could you ask for?
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