Today we took the auto rim tour. This tour goes 18 miles into the park with 14 overlooks into the canyons. What I found fascinating is that on the west side is the Paunsaugunt Plateau and on the east side is the canyons.
The ranger recommended that we drive to the last lookout and then come north since all the lookouts were on the east side. So that is what we did.
Bryce Canyon is technically not a canyon because canyons are carved by flowing water - stream or river. Rainwater dissolves limestone, making the rounded edges of hoodoos but the freezing and thawing of water does most of the sculpting here.
Each of the overlooks offered different views of the different valleys/canyons below. All were incredible.
So here we go on the tour:
Rainbow Point area:
We decided to take the Bristlecone Pine Hike which took us through spruce, fir, and bristlecone pine forests:
There were a few overlooks along the trail:
One of the programs they have in the park is “I Hiked the Hoodoos”. There are nine special benchmarks along trails in these information tables. We must hike at least 3 miles or more collecting these benchmarks. We could either take a pencil rubbing or a photo of ourselves by the benchmark. We decided to do photos:
This was at the top (9000’ in elevation) of the trail and it was VERY WINDY:
I am not sure if it was dead or not?
There were many dead trees throughout the forest - I just love their designs:
More views:
The hike was easy and short - 1 mile - but hiking at 9000’ is different than 3000’ or less. Andy did good but I had to stop a few times because of my breathing. I am hoping it is only the allergies.
This was the road:
Views from Black Birch Canyon area:
Views from Ponderosa Point:
Views from Aqua Canyon Area:
Love the colors:
Natural Bridge area:
This is leaving the Natural Bridge Parking Lot. Notices the pines - they actually go right to the edge of the canyon:
Part two is next.
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