We got up and got going early this morning to drive the 2 1/2 hours from Zion to Bryce. And boy what a difference experience this will be compared to Zion.
First, the weather is much cooler here as we are at almost 9,000 foot elevation. According to the rangers it is still winter in Bryce until mid-May, it could still snow! John checked the weather channel app and we will get really cold in a couple of nights!
Second, because it is still ‘winter’ not many services are open or available. Only one of the two campgrounds is open and then they are using only 2 of the 5 loops. We are certainly glad we got here early in the day because all the campsites were full by late afternoon! The shuttle buses won’t start running until Memorial weekend, the lodge is still closed, several places in the nearby town are still closed and the dump station is closed.
Third, we are on top of the mesa and plateaus where we are camped in the pine trees while the drives and walks will look down on the eroded and sculpted canyon walls rather than up the sheer, steep walls as in Zion.
But the scenery is wide-open and amazing! The canyon is made up mostly of hoodoos. These are pillars of rock, usually of fantastic shapes, left by erosion. Hoodoo also means ‘to cast a spell’. Our first view over the canyon rim had us mesmerized. We took one of the most popular hikes which starts at the top edge, goes to the bottom, and then back up a zig-zag trail all the while meandering among the many hoodoos. Our pictures will show it much better than I can describe this wonder of nature.
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