Though a bit too crowded on many of the trails, this is a wonderful destination, and especially popular with Europeans.  The whole park is a fantasyland of strange and wonderful geologic formations.  Stone pinnacles, called hoodoos, have eroded from a thick layer of soft sedimentary rock, deposited in Utah some 60 million years ago.  The colors are caused primarily by iron and manganese impurity in the rock that oxidize into colorful hues of red, pink, orange, yellow, and purple.  Frommer's recommends, "If you could visit only one national park in your lifetime, we'd send you to Bryce Canyon."  

We would describe most trails as "moderate/moderately strenuous" -- except that you are forever stopping to take photos, hence don't feel the strain.  Most of our trip's photos are from Bryce; and if you think we've posted a lot (to view, follow the link at the bottom of this page), come see the stack of prints from our conventional cameras!  

The trails are exceptionally well-maintained, the rangers knowledgeable and helpful.  There is also a full park program.  We were lucky enough to catch the once-a-month astronomy talk and star party, given by a very enthusiastic astronomer who comes down from the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City.

One caution, the park newspaper apologizes for the noise from commercial aircraft offering "overflights" and over which it has no control.  It is disruptive and unnecessary as this isn't even a good way to see the views.  If you don't want to hike, the scenic drive offers much better vantage points.  The papers says there is draft legislation that, if passed, will provide legal protection from such flights to the national parks.  Sounds worth supporting!

Hat Shop
This delightful and less-hiked, 3.8-mile (round-trip) trail has a 900-foot elevation change.  The name alludes to a remarkable grouping of hard gray "hats" perched on narrow reddish-brown pedestals ... and is a more acceptable than other names that may come to mind when viewing this site.  Andy's watch records the elevation (in meters).  Below you can find our progress mapped against the time.

Fairyland Loop
This 8.6-mile hike is the first one we did when visiting the park 10 years ago, and it remains one of our favorites. It is less hiked than Queens Garden or Peekaboo; though on a summer weekend, you won't be alone.  It weaves among the varied rock formations under the park rim, with an altitude change of 950 feet.  Andy's watch records the elevation (in meters).  Below you can find our progress mapped against the time, and follow the "photographs" link at the bottom of this page to see the views.

Bristlecone Loop
An 18-mile (one-way) scenic drive runs the length of the park.  At the most southern point is  the trailhead for this and our last hike. This loop is short, 1-mile walk through the spruce-fir forests to the exposed cliffs where bristlecone pines survive.  It is a pleasant change of pace and offers some exceptional views.

Queens Garden Trail + Peekaboo Loop Trail + Navajo Loop Trail
This 6.6-mile loop with a 600 foot altitude change combines the most popular trails in the park.  It's crowded, and you often have to wait for people to pass to get your photographs.  On the Navajo Loop section, we just gave up trying to take pictures, but instead were amazed by the inappropriate footwear of many of the day-trippers (you try walking down/up steep sandy trails in wedged-sandals!)   But just the same, don't miss this one if you get the chance (but try to start early or go off-season).  Andy's watch records the elevation (in meters).  Below you can find our progress mapped against the time, and follow the "photographs" link at the bottom of this page to see the views.

Briggs Spring Trail
For our last hike, we intended to do a portion of the 8.8-mile Riggs Spring Loop.  It offers splendid views of the pink cliffs in the southern portion of the park; and though it shares a trailhead with the very popular Bristlecone trail, it is little-hiked.  However, the weather did not cooperate.  We were just over 1/2 hour into the hike when we heard loud claps of thunder and saw very dark clouds coming towards us.  After a short debate as to whether we should keep going or try to race back to our car, we turned around ... making it back to the top in only 15 minutes!  As it turned out, the storm passed a little to our north.  So we could have kept going; but with plenty of evidence of lightening hits among the trees, this seemed the more prudent choice.  Andy's watch records the elevation (in meters).  Below you can find our progress mapped against the time.

Photographs