Ebenezer
Bryce, so-called discoverer of the canyon that bears his name,
is reported as classifying it as "a hell of a place to lose
a cow." There are a couple of things that don't strike me
right about the above. One is that the area that Bryce
"discovered" certainly was seen and known by other
human beings long before Ebenezer, and the other is that for
hordes of people who have visited, the scenic oddity and beauty
of Bryce Canyon National Park have engendered thoughts more
profound than those attributed to Mr. Bryce.
Bryce is truly a
wonderland of nature's erosive handiwork, a vast array of
fingers, spires and pinnacles, all of rosy hue, carved into
fantastic shapes, some extremely delicate, others massive and
sturdy, such as the well-named "Thor's Hammer."
Of
the many overlooks, Sunrise and Sunset are the two most sought
out. Trails from them lead to such features as the above
mentioned Hammer, Queens Gardens, where a natural rock
likeness of Queen Victoria holds sway, and the soldier-like
figure, the Sentinel, and Tower Bridge. The Navajo Trail, with
"Wall Street" at the bottom, looks and is easy going
down, but the return climb is another matter. At an altitude
of about 8,000 feet, visitors used to lower places, such as
sea level, find that just breathing becomes a great effort.
A notable feature
of the Bryce Canyon National Park scenery is the change of
colors with the time of day and angle of the view.
Cross-lighting, as the sun drops lower in the sky, can cause the
rosy rock to glow.
Nature's
tools for forming the odd scenery at Bryce are rain, snow, wind
and temperature changes. When ice forms in the cracks and
crevices of the relatively young and friable rock formations of
Bryce, it expands with terrific force and breaks the rock. A
good example of Bryce's fast erosion is the Wall of Windows, in
which old openings are crumbling, and new ones forming unusually
rapidly.
Away from
the scenic glory of the canyon edge in Bryce Canyon National
Park, are forests and meadows, rife with wildlife, both flora
and fauna. There are Bristle cone Pines, as old as 1700 years,
and many wild blossoms in their season. As for animal life,
there are mule deer, prairie dogs, and chipmunks that seem
always to be hungry. The last time I was there, we saw a wild
turkey right on the road.
The National Park has lodging and campgrounds. Horseback trips
can be arranged at the lodge. One thing Bryce doesn't have is
sufficient parking area for the constantly growing stream of
visitor's vehicles. In June of 2000 the Park implemented a
shuttle system in an effort to eliminate congestion, minimize
damage to fragile resources, and restore serenity and natural
quiet which are integral to the Bryce Canyon experience. The
Shuttle is a convenient, user-friendly way to see the park, and
best of all, it's FREE with the purchase of a park entrance
pass!! The shuttle is optional and few people realize it
is cheaper to ride the shuttle than to drive into the park. A
7-day park entrance pass including unlimited use of the shuttle
unlimited use of the shuttle Driving your own car into the park
costs $20. The shuttle operates May 15 through September
30, and makes stops at the various viewpoints approximately once
every 10-15 minutes.
To reach Bryce Canyon from Kanab, go north on Hwy 89 for 65
miles and turn right on Hwy 12 into the park. Note: if it's your
first visit, don't be fooled by Red Canyon, which you will pass
first. Red Canyon is very scenic in its own right, but it's an opening
act, not the main feature.
Ebenezer
Bryce, so-called discoverer of the canyon that bears his name,
is reported as classifying it as "a hell of a place to lose
a cow." There are a couple of things that don't strike me
right about the above. One is that the area that Bryce
"discovered" certainly was seen and known by other
human beings long before Ebenezer, and the other is that for
hordes of people who have visited, the scenic oddity and beauty
of Bryce Canyon National Park have engendered thoughts more
profound than those attributed to Mr. Bryce.
Of
the many overlooks, Sunrise and Sunset are the two most sought
out. Trails from them lead to such features as the above
mentioned Hammer, Queens Gardens, where a natural rock
likeness of Queen Victoria holds sway, and the soldier-like
figure, the Sentinel, and Tower Bridge. The Navajo Trail, with
"Wall Street" at the bottom, looks and is easy going
down, but the return climb is another matter. At an altitude
of about 8,000 feet, visitors used to lower places, such as
sea level, find that just breathing becomes a great effort.
Nature's
tools for forming the odd scenery at Bryce are rain, snow, wind
and temperature changes. When ice forms in the cracks and
crevices of the relatively young and friable rock formations of
Bryce, it expands with terrific force and breaks the rock. A
good example of Bryce's fast erosion is the Wall of Windows, in
which old openings are crumbling, and new ones forming unusually
rapidly.