Bryce Canyon

2025-09-10
Bryce Canyon, UT

Today I hiked Bryce Canyon. I walked down among the hoodoos for 4 miles, then completed the loop along the rim trail for another 3 miles totaling 7.2 miles. In the park guide sheet, the trip from Bryce Point to Sunrise Point is listed as one of the hardest, and that assumes you ride the shuttle back from Sunrise to Bryce Point.

Heading into the basin
Heading into the basin

The first couple miles were mostly downhill, and very peaceful with nobody in sight after I left the parking lot. Then I saw the first fellow coming towards me. It wasn't long until the floodgates were open, and the second half of the basin was downright crowded. It's a busy park and I was not surprised even though it was still before 8:30. I think going the direction they did would be more challenging since it's a longer climb at Bryce, but then it would be mostly downhill if they walked the rim trail back to Sunrise. And the rim trail is definitely worth a walk during a visit.

Hoodoos from the bottom
Hoodoos from the bottom
A ledge full of hoodos
A ledge full of hoodos
Funnily, this is looking in the opposite direction of Sunrise Point
Funnily, this is looking in the opposite direction of Sunrise Point

The hike from the floor up to Sunrise Point was tiring, but with a few rest breaks I was able to get to the top. I probably should have taken the shuttle at this point. The wind had picked up quite a bit and I was thankful that my new hat has a chin strap. You can only imagine how cool it makes me look...

What you see as you climb
What you see as you climb
A forest of trees and a forest of rock
A forest of trees and a forest of rock

I will note that they (whoever "they" might be) have named a lot of the hoodoos or sometimes groups of hoodoos. I didn't really pay any attention to the names so please feel free to name them yourself.

Name that Hoodoo
Name that Hoodoo
The spindles?
The spindles?
Manny, Moe, and Jack?
Manny, Moe, and Jack?
Still pretty even when climbing the hill and trying to catch your breath
Still pretty even when climbing the hill and trying to catch your breath

I, of course, stubbornly decided that I would walk back via the Rim Trail (although I had outs; if the hike became too difficult I could take the shuttle from Sunrise, Sunset, or Inspiration points). The wind kept me cool and provided sporadic cloud cover to keep the sun from baking me as I doggedly marched up the hill. The last half mile was an even stronger, colder wind but I kept telling myself that I didn't need to put on a long sleeve shirt because I was almost there. The total climb was 1590 feet, about 500 in the basin, 500 to get out of the basin, and the remaining on the Rim.

Someplace on the rim
Someplace on the rim
Clouds also make interesting light
Clouds also make interesting light
Similar picture, but the clouds moved
Similar picture, but the clouds moved
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the rim...
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the rim...
Even further up the rim
Even further up the rim

In the afternoon I spent some time getting places to sleep for the next week. I have been in camp grounds with no cell signal for the past six days so once I arrived here I had nothing more booked. It's a tradeoff that not booking ahead gives me flexibility but it made it a lot harder to find a hotel for later this week since the first four were booked. I don't think I have such a long stint off the grid for a while.

If you recall I have generally said that National Parks are busiest from 10:00 to 4:00. I decided to go back into the park around 5:30 to see some of the points that are beyond the basin. The road continues for another 20 miles or so with a number of viewpoints to stop at. I picked a few and got to see a less-traveled section of the park.

They have a natural bridge here too!
They have a natural bridge here too!
Out at Rainbow Point - the highest point in the park at 9115 feet
Out at Rainbow Point - the highest point in the park at 9115 feet
From Rainbow point the other direction
From Rainbow point the other direction
This is what elk look like when they are
This is what elk look like when they are "over yonder"

Afterwards I was going to work on my blog, but of course the internet went out. At least it waited until after I booked some nights.

Hiking distance: 7.2 miles

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