Bryce Canyon National Park

One of our day trips from Zion was to Bryce Canyon National Park, established by President Harding in 1923. On a brilliant fall day, my husband and I followed highway 9 through the mile long Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel. The tunnel was blasted through rock, completed in the 1930s, and provides quick access to the high country.

The Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel.

Here, at higher elevation and away from plentiful water, the terrain and vegetation changes. Everything feels drier. Forests and plants become miniaturized. In Red Canyon in Dixieland National Forest, the rock is intensely red. We saw a dusting of snow in places. After the intense tangle of vegetation in Zion, it was refreshing to see the grand sweep of land and sky.

Intense red rock in Red Canyon in Dixie National Forest.

Sweeping views and miniature forests in the high country.

In Bryce Canyon National Park, we made a quick stop for maps and park information at the Visitor Center, then drove to the end of the road. With limited daylight, we decided to get the big picture on our way in, and note several stops to make on the way back. Our choices included Rainbow Point, Black Birch Canyon, Agua Canyon, Natural Bridge, and Farview Point. Like Zion during high tourist season, a shuttle moves visitors from stop to stop; off season you can drive.

Layered, sculpted rock and grand vistas in Bryce Canyon.

The geology was amazing. Each stop seemed to have its own fantastic shape – arches, bridges, pinnacles, hoodoos, and grand views of geological processes in the making. The air was cold and bracing, and the fall light dazzling. I enjoyed seeing the miniature manzanita, pines, and juniper. Where water was more plentiful, we saw full sized birch, pine, aspen, fir, and cottonwood. I learned about the ancient bristle cone pine.

In the foreground, a naturally pine bonsai; in the background,
the mysterious hoodoos bathed in light.

My husband and I arrived at the Thunderbird Restaurant at Mt Carmel Junction at dusk (we had heard reports of great pie). We enjoyed the warmth of the restaurant and our dinner and dessert; and reviewed the day’s events and digital photos. We drove back to Zion Lodge in the dark (one of the down sides to fall travel). The tunnel was completely empty, which was both freaky and exhilarating. Would anyone find us in the bowels of the earth if something went wrong? We arrived back at the lodge intact. It was an adventurous ending to a great adventure!