Home of the Hoodoos

Bryce Canyon is a colorful wonderland.

This continues the story of our Yellowstone trip, as per my post of June 29. 

Our destination along US 89 was Bryce Canyon National Park. Adorned with strange rock formations, Bryce is truly a treasure. Its constantly changing colors of coral, pink, orange, yellow, white, and light green are a feast for the eyes. A Rim Trail follows the edge of the canyon and its horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters for unbelievable views of the water-, wind-, and frost-carved limestone spires, fins, windows, and slot canyons.  The spire-shaped formations, which look like fat fingers reaching toward the sky, are called hoodoos. Several have fanciful names including Fairyland, Queens Garden, and Hat Shop.   From the Rim Trail, hikers can easily find routes taking them down into the canyon to see Mossy Cave, Slot Canyon, and China Wall. Alternatively, a visitor can choose to ride down and back up on a mule. Either way, the park's beauty will enchant the soul.

Ponderosa and bristlecone pine, manzanita, Douglas fir, blue spruce, and quaking aspen comprise the high altitude forest around Bryce.  The park also contains meadows, seeps, and springs and abounds with wildlife, including the endangered Utah prairie dog.  When we visited in late May, wildflowers were just beginning to open.