I was thinking recently of our camping trip through Utah and realized I never shared any photos of Bryce Canyon in a proper post. Bryce was particularly memorable because we camped here in ten degree weather. Ten degrees! Icicles on the inside of our trailer! It is this very cold and icy weather, plus erosion, that helps form the interesting geology in the National Park. The red, orange, and white hoodoo views were spectacular and the hikes warmed us up. There are too many vistas to share so I just picked some of my favorites to show you.
The park skirts along the Colorado Plateau and the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is higher in elevation than Zion, @ 8-9000 feet, which makes it cooler. (Not cool like a 16 year old but cool like a snowman.) The park is humongous covering 35,835 acres. There is an 18 mile loop drive that can take you around a good representation of the park providing drivers some spectacular vistas. But, those who have the time and the legs for it should definitely choose a few of the hikes, short or long, so they can experience the canyon from below.
If you are lucky enough to stay nearby or camp in the park do yourself a favor and be up for sunrise and around for sunset. The shadows play on the rocks in glorious fashion.
We didn’t have enough time to visit Zion sadly! Has anyone been there? Do you have a preference over Bryce? Or are they both beautiful and you don’t choose one over the other?
To visit other locations in Utah like Arches National Park click here!
Love this place! Amazing landforms carved by nature!
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You definitely don’t choose one over the other. Each is unique in their own right and vastly different. Where did you camp at Bryce? It’s been over 25 years since I last visited that part of Utah. Thanks for the reminder that I MUST revisit. Wonderful photos of a stunning place.
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Sadly, I don’t remember the name of the campsite. When I looked back at their website I see there are only a few campsites inside of the park. And, if memory serves, only one of them was open due to the weather. It was a really great campsite though which a nice heated bathroom (Normally unnecessary but this trip it was handy), space between sites, and tall pine trees. There was a store nearby if one needed to resupply.
Good point about not choosing between them. I am sorry I missed Zion but it leaves another great park to conquer one of these days.
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I went to both Bryce and Zion in 1995 as part of a National Parks tour. I still tell people that these two were my favourites. Or was it Arches?
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I haven’t been to Zion yet but I can tell you, hands down, that Arches is my favorite National Park. And, I have been to a good number of them. I suppose we don’t have to choose between them. They are all special in their own way.
Good on you for doing a National Park tour. What a great idea. We have so many wonderful parks.
Did you make it to Yellowstone and Yosemite by any chance? I am curious your opinion of both of them if you did make it.
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We started in North Dakota Black Hills and Mount Rushmore then Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Great Salt Lake, Arches, Mese Verde, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon, Zion and finally Grand Canyon. All in 3 weeks. I liked them all but I especially liked Monument Valley because I love those John Ford movies.
I wrote about it here a long time ago – here is the link to the index page – https://apetcher.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/usa-national-parks-2/
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We didn’t make it to Monument Valley. In fact my husband didn’t even know what it was. So I had to point out all of those Westerns. I would love to visit there some day. 🙂 Sounds like you hit a lot of good ones! Did you drive the entire way? Yosemite would have been quite a bit out of your way! Sounds like an amazing trip.
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It was a coach trip but we took a flight from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon. It was a good trip. I plan to do it again one day but drive myself. On a coach trip you are left frustrated sometimes.
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I imagine so. It would be better and worse in some ways. It is a LOT of driving. Some of these parks are very far from each other. It took me two days to drive to Arches. And another day or two to get to Bryce. And another day home from there. (Drove through Area 51 which was fun!)
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That would be good. we went close to the Nevada nuclear test test which was also fun.
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Oh cool. That would be a great and unusual post huh?
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I did one earlier…https://aipetcher.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/age-of-innocence-1954-part-three-the-nuclear-arms-race-and-news-readers/
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https://bulldogtravels.com/2014/09/10/are-we-alone/
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Greats posts Andrew! Love the detail and having all of the trips together on one post you can click on individually. Thanks for sharing.
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It is a trip that I will never forget!
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We do a lot of things wrong in this country. But, our National Parks are an example of something I think we do very right! We are blessed to have some AMAZING displays of mother nature.
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I agree!
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So happy someone(s) had the idea to protect them. And always happy whenever they protect and make a new one.
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I used to live in the boundaries of the first NP in England – The Peak District in Derbyshire.
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I am so spoiled living near 5 National Parks in Utah. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, you sure are! Do you get to visit very often?
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My parents live an hour away. I have visited only a dozen times.
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“Only” a dozen times! 😉
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Isn’t Bryce something of a photographer’s paradise? You captured it well. I’ve been to both Bryce and Zion several times over the years and each is unique. Bryce has the light and fun character of the hoodoos, Zion is massive. They have very different personalities. I once backpacked out of Zion, climbing several thousand feet up. It was quite the trip! –Curt
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Bryce was a great place to take photos. It would have been nice to have a little bit more time there when the weather was warmer. Perhaps we will go back some day. We did some hiking there but not enough. Only one days worth. Thanks for your perspective.
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Last year (2015) we drove up to Zion 4 weekends in a row looking for autumn colors. And this year, so far, we’ve been up there once looking for snow. We were unsuccessful all 5 times but never disappointed in the beauty of Zion. As for Bryce, I’ve only been there once, several years ago. I agree with other comments that you need not choose one over the other. They are both beautiful and both have so much to offer. We’ve also been to Yosemite, Arches, and Monument Valley. I’d love to take a National Parks tour like Andrew suggests. I’m off to read his post now.
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I know. I am jealous of his trip! I think it would be great to do something like that in conjunction with a trip around the country. Take something like three months. Maybe after I retire some day!
5 times huh? That is terrible. Glad you enjoyed it despite your purpose not working out.
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That is our plan exactly. We want to travel cross country visiting all the places on our bucket list. We had considered a mobile home but have decided against one.
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We have always thought it would be fun to tow our little trailer.
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Have you? Our thinking is that the cost of gas and the reduced power of your vehicle (either towing or a caravan) would be just as much, or more, as a motel at night with your own hot shower!
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You are of course correct. But part of the fun for us is camping in some of the national parks and being able to cook our own food around a campfire. Who knows. Probably both have advantages and drawbacks. Slower driving. Gas. Campsites ad cheaper than hotels. Save on food. Lose out on interesting cafes. Sounds like I need a spreadsheet to help make the decision. Ha ha.
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You know, you’re right. No reason you can’t partake of an occasional motel or local diner. And being forced to a more leisurely pace might be enjoyable. And nothing like waking up to sunrise in a national park!
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Oh, how beautiful! Great pictures.
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Thanks very much!
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Such beautiful and breathtaking images. I’m not sure I’m hardy enough to camp in such cold weather. The rock formations are astounding.
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I know I am not hardy enough to camp in that kind of weather but we didn’t have much choice! 🙂 Thank goodness for a portable heater that took the edge off. Thanks for the compliment! Very kind as always. 🙂
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Hi Jenny. And you got such colours with 10 degrees light?
Wow. Good shots.
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It was 10 degrees at night. It was probably about 30 degrees during the day which was still cold but tolerable enough. 🙂
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10 at night is low. Even with the best sleeping bag, the difficult part is to leave your nose outside the bag.
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Bryce has long been on our list. Your photos are so gorgeous. I will hope for warmer weather for our travels I think. 🙂
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Yes please! Do research and go in good weather. I suppose one nice thing about being there in the cold is that there weren’t many other people there. Camp sites were slow and hiking was easy and pleasant. And the roads weren’t crowded.
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Absoluteiy stunning photos. Wow!!!
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Thank you for always being so complimentary!
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Most welcome. I do enjoy your blog and know it’s lovely to receive compliments as our posts take time to prepare. But I am just being honest about your blog. It’s always great.
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Thanks again. Happy to keep people interested. Take care.
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Camping in 10F (I assume F and not C) sounds pretty cold! But what a beautiful area:) I have seen many photos of Bryce Canyon and I am equally amazed every time. The shapes, and the colours. Amazing!
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Yes. It was cold either way you swing it. 🙂
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That place is so impressive! You won’t see such rocks in Belgium! Waw!! Cool views too! 🙂
Fab photos! 🙂
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Thanks very much! The whole of Southern Utah has some amazing rock formations and colors in its rocks. Its one of the things that makes it so special.
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Stunning! Great photos. We visited Utah arches national park a few years ago, but haven’t seen Bryce canyon. 🙂
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Arches is my favorite NP. But, Bryce was pretty cool! It’s hard though when you are trying to compare these amazing places. They are all so awesome in there own way. Kind of like picking a favorite child I guess. Ha ha.
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🙂 Agree with you!
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WOW!!
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What a wonderful place!
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You took some stunning photos here! Bryce is certainly worth seeing at sunrise and at sunset. I’ve not spent enough time at Bryce to be able to compare the two parks, but I am in love with Zion. I spent several days camping at Zion once, and had the chance to do some hikes which makes an impression, and I’ve passed through a couple more times. I think Utah has the best parks of all. I saw Arches for the first time a couple years ago and loved it. https://crystaltrulove.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/arches/
I also did a National Park trip way back in 2007, but Andrew saw more places and I am off to read about his adventures now.
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Glad you love them as much as I do!
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I don’t know that I can pick a favorite place in Utah since all the parks are so different. I have such great memories of hiking up the river in the canyons of Zion as a kid. But, years later, cross-country skiing on the rim of Bryce Canyon was spectacular in it’s awe inspiring beauty.
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These are simply lovely photos of Bryce!! Marvelous colors and light. I was there decades ago, and all my photos are still in 35mm slides! Thanks for the memories of the place.
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I’m glad I could bring you back.
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truly!
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With yellowstone, this is definitively one of my favourite np in the US !
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Wow, your photos are stunning! What an amazing natural spectacle! Your national parks in the US are real treasures… I’ve been lucky enough to visit a couple, but I’ll definitely have to put Bryce Canyon on my to-see list now.
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Which ones were you able to see. I love them too. We are so lucky to have and protect them.
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I spent a couple of days in Yellowstone on a family visit when I was a kid… I took the mandatory 10 million photos of bison, and was really excited when we saw a young bull moose too! We were near Grand Teton on the same trip, but I don’t remember if we actually went in. Then on my last trip we drove through Yosemite and Death Valley, and visited the Grand Canyon. I’d love to have spent more time in the parks… Waaay more interesting than Las Vegas!
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Wow. You hit the big ones! That’s great.
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Yes indeedy! You just don’t get huge areas of wilderness like that in Ireland!
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I once camped at Bryce in the winter and it snowed so heavily that it put our my campfire!
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Thank goodness it wasn’t snowing on us but boy was it cold! What a difference a thousand feat of elevation can make.
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