We’ll be taking a look at the views along Bryce Canyon National Park’s Rim Trail. Although the trail is about 5.5 miles long, we’ll only be exploring the 3 miles that goes around Bryce Amphitheater. There are four major overlooks and we’ll see each one starting with Bryce Point, the highest overlook at the south end of the Amphitheater. Welcome to Bryce!
This is the broadest view of Bryce Amphitheater. It is massively awesome, but looking closer at the many unique formations is what wins the day. We’ll be checking out highlights at each of the overlooks by zooming in closer.
Bryce Canyon is NOT a canyon. It is a series of amphitheaters and Bryce Amphitheater is the largest. The rock towers, pillars, and spires are hoodoos. Bryce Canyon has the largest collection of hoodoos in the world.
Bryce Point consists of a number of overlooks, lots of walking to get very different perspectives. Looking north, we have a unique view of the Amphitheater itself. The white rock at left is the Wall of Windows. Let’s look closer.
Windows are eroded openings. Ultimately the top of each window will erode away creating the hoodoos. That is the final step in turning windows into hoodoos, but much comes before.
Hoodoos are sculpted by two forces: weathering and erosion. Weathering is the breaking down of the rock, erosion is the transporting of that broken rock. The main forces of weathering and erosion that create hoodoos is ice and rain. Surprised? Me too. I’ll let the Park Service explain:
The elevation in which Bryce Canyon is located receives both above freezing temperatures
and below freezing temperatures over 170 nights out of the year. That is more than half of the
days of the year in which Bryce Canyon reaches above/below freezing temperatures in the
same night! This is crucial to creating the Hoodoos.
When water (from either rain or snow that has melted) seeps its way into the cracks in the rock,
it resides there. Hours later, when Bryce Canyon is met with freezing temperatures, the water trapped
inside the rock begins to freeze into ice. When water freezes into ice, it expands by 9%! This expansion
into ice causes tremendous pressure on the surrounding rock, and thus causes it to break apart.
This process is known as “ice wedging”, because the ice is literally wedging apart the rocks.
What begins as a rock plateau is eventually broken down into walls, windows, and then individual hoodoos.
Up we go. See the observation area at top?
Inspiration Point is one of the favorite overlooks of the Amphitheater. Even with such a big, wide view of the area, it feels a bit more intimate. I have to admit, it is my fave too.
Down below us to the east (right) it looks like a castle, or does to me. Do you see something else? See the darker rock on top of some of the hoodoos? It is harder rock, taking longer to erode. It protects the hoodoos from eroding away too fast.
Bryce Point may give us a more complete view of the Wall of Windows, but I like this view better. The variety of formations and colors is stunning. What do you think?
Ah, Inspiration Point.
Entrance to Navajo Loop Trail at Sunset Point overlook. All the walks within the Amphitheater are seriously down walks. Walking down is easy, but the real challenge is having to walk up over 500 feet when tired and a bit worn out. Kudos to those who tackle it. I’m wimping out. Actually I have really good excuses. Well, to me anyway.
See the highest point on the white rock across the way?
Inspiration Point . . .
The clouds are getting blacker and I just heard thunder. Outta here! Got back to the SUV in the very busy Sunset Point parking lot. The ranger watching over traffic offered me an unofficial parking spot when I arrive which was so nice. I spoke to him again as leaving saying I heard thunder and never mess with possible thunder storms. He said it’s a good idea to leave. He just got word lightening is now within park borders. It’s a narrow park! Back to the hotel where I watched it POUR rain with lightening–safely inside!
Returning to our Rim Walk the next day . . .
The walk from Sunset to Sunrise Point is about half a mile and relatively flat. Being paved it is accommodating to folks with physical limitations and wheelchairs. There are two entrances to the lower trails, one at each end. All those features ensures this section of the Rim Trail is heavily traveled most all day. But oh the views!
Sunrise Point at sunrise is a well-attended happening. The lovely subtly of colors and contrasts as the sun peaks over the horizon.
Keep snapping, the rising sun makes more harsh light happen fast.
Access to Queen’s Garden Trail is at Sunrise Point. Early in the day the trail seems to glow. Wait, something is moving on the trail’s far side.
There are some horses and some mules. They are heading down the dedicated horse loop trail which goes deeper into the Amphitheater than any hiking trail. Might be fun.
See the hikers at right trudging walking up the trail? Even the smaller rocks make the hikers look tiny. Perspective is everything!
This is the beginning of the Queen’s Garden Trail, the least elevation loss/gain of all Amphitheater trails. The elevation drop is 450 feet. That’s “only” like climbing the stairs of a 42-story building. Seeing the overview of the landscape and the trails, it would be quite a beautiful adventure. One of the trails is an 8-mile hike with a 1900 foot elevation decent/ascent! They mention it is a quiet hike. Ya think?
You may want to come out and explore the Ampitheater hikes for yourself. Let me know.
Until next time my friend . . .
Anonymous,
Forgot to say I’m 76 now.
I didn’t say, but me too 😉
Anonymous,
When I was 14, my mother, father and I drove from Cleveland, OH to San Diego, CA. We saw most of the major parks and I remember that my mother’s favorite was Bryce. Viewing your pictures, I now understand why. One of the things I was disappointed with was the Petrified forest. I expected full grown trees that were petrified and they turned out to be reduced to rocks.
I had that same disappointment with petrified trees. Didn’t know what to expect first time frankly. Now don’t visit dedicated petrified tree parks, but do like seeing them all over the West. They do pop up in unexpected places.
I’d need two oxygen cans, lots of water, lots of high protein snacks and two full days to complete some of these hikes.
Oh come on. We are the same age and I needed lots of water, a couple protein bars, only one can of oxygen–BUT a drive between trailhead–but only sometimes. The getting older is not of sissies my friend!
Love your HOO DOO adventures. Bryce seems other-worldly. Thanks for your educating, storytelling and photo sharing.