Bryce

From Wikipedia – Bryce Canyon is a geological amphitheater on the Paunsaugunt Plateau with hundreds of tall, multicolored sandstone hoodoos formed by erosion. The region was originally settled by Native Americans and later by Mormon pioneers.

• Established: 2/25/1928
• Annual Visitors: 2,679,478
• Size: 35,835 acres

Bryce – September 18

Today was part one of a two-day tour of Bryce Canyon National Park. We drove in and out of Dixie National Forest and over a high point of 9,600 feet on our way. We saw the topography change yet again. This time, in addition to and sometime instead of, seeing multitudes of colorful layered rock, we saw the white trunks of Aspens as their leaves are turning yellow (picture), evergreens towering up to the sky, streams flowing in the low lands and free-range cattle, literally in the road (See picture).

We found a wonderful hike, called Calf Creek Falls, in Grand Stair Case – Escalante National Monument in Escalante, UT. The entire trail is 6 miles round trip to a 126-foot water fall. It is set up as an educational trail with 14 informational stops. There were families taking advantage of the interpretive stops. As we passed one family, the three kids were on a large boulder looking up at the Graneries (food storage caves placed there starting in 700AD), while Dad read the details and history of the location to them. What a fabulous way to learn geology, history, physical exercise during quality family time. Doing and seeing rather than sitting in a classroom or in front of a computer! Unfortunately, Rangeley was getting pretty hot at about the halfway in, so after a 1.5-mile walk, we turned around. But as soon as he was able to play and swim in the water of Calf Creek he suddenly gained all his energy back! See pictures.

We entered the park in the late afternoon and decided to preview what we would like to do in the morning. We have an annual National Parks pass so we can go in and out as many times as we wish without purchasing entrance passes. After the Calf Creek walk and natural water park play early in the day we decided to go to the visitor center and get our pin, post card and maps. Unfortunately, as we knew ahead of time, there are not many places dogs can go in Bryce Canyon. The Ranger suggested the same location outside the park that Gary had researched previously where we planned to do a hike the next day, at Red Mountain Trailhead, only 8 miles from our hotel. We’re staying at Bryce View Lodge two nights. The ranger’s info station was outside the visitor center as well as an outdoor market, of sorts, of gifts and souvenirs. The store was open but the sidewalk Junior Ranger table and fore mentioned stations was fun and inviting. Different than other parks so far. We headed to the hotel and planned to return for sunrise tomorrow morning. We will hike the acceptable walking paths for dogs inside the park. The parks refer to where dogs can go as “Paws on Pavement”. If it’s paved, the pups can go there. But no trails down into the canyon. Gary and I would hike a lot more if we did not have Rangeley but talked about the limitations while planning this trip so no disappointments there.

The driving has been more pleasurable to both Gary and I, then we first anticipated. Rangeley sleeps in his kennel and Gary does all the driving. The scenery, towns we go through, searching for streams and hikes on the way in and out of the parks has been an incredible adventure!

Bryce part two, Sept 19

Breakfast logistics are different at each hotel due to COVID. It can sometimes be mandated by the chain hotels, the town, the county or state requirements. This town, Bryce Canyon City which became a town in 2007, has a masks “suggested” policy indoors. We see about 90% of the people wearing them inside but several employees, including hotel clerks in some locations we have been to lately are not wearing masks. I still do, every time I am inside, due to the fact that we are going to be in 100’s of hotels, restaurants and public bathrooms during our 2+ mo. tour and I feel it’s better safe than sorry. Today the Bryce View Lodge sent us over to the Best Western across the street with a voucher for breakfast. They offered a burrito to-go with a food bar, apple and your choice of drink (juice, milk, coffee, tea) or you could go into the restaurant, sit down and have a hot egg, bacon and hash browns meal at a table. We can’t go inside with Rangeley so we did the “Grab-N’Go” at 6:30AM when they opened.

Sunrise Point inside the park was our next destination. The sun rose at 7:15AM-ish and we loved the quite small crowd that took in the vast view of the incredible rock formations and gorges Bryce is known for (see pics). We walked the paved Sunrise Point to Sunset Point roughly one-mile round trip trail. Then got into the car and headed to Paria View. It’s about 4 miles past the visitor center and is a great place for dogs on lead and anyone wanting a quieter Bryce Canyon experience. It is limited to regular cars only, i.e. no trailers or campers allowed. We had the overlook to ourselves for a bit at about 8:30-9AM and then shared it with only one other retired couple.

Bryce Canyon City is a new town (2007 as mentioned above). Its tourist based old west themed with a general store, ice cream shop, ATV tours, horseback rides, several hotels, a few restaurants, car care center, gas station and a lot of trailer/camping parking. Not our type of place to stay too long as we love older or more updated towns with local breweries, natural food store options, coffee houses and the like but it’s been home for a couple of days and great access to the park just a 5-minute drive away.

The last thing we did before heading back to the hotel early afternoon was to hike the Cassidy Wash Trail at Red Canyon Trailhead in Dixie National Forest close by. Rangeley loved being off lead to run and play. I literally and figuratively let go of the leash! He stayed right with us and played with sticks. We hiked for an hour or so and only saw people close to the parking lot the whole time! (See pictures).

We had a fabulous Gary cooked steak linner (lunch/dinner) See pic.  All of us rested and we will go out for a short hike behind the hotel into the woods for a pre-crash evening stroll.

Tomorrow we drive to Zion. We will again find dog friendly hikes outside the park as Zion is not dog friendly at all but it will be another great G and E (and R!) Adventure, I am sure!