Monday, April 28, 2014, Peek-a-boo Trail With Kate, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

After studying the maps and quizzing several of the Rangers, we (Joani, Kate and I) had a plan to explore the bottom of Bryce Canyon National Park, UT. Of course, we were only going to see a small part of it, but it was going to be a challenge just the same. The plan started at Sunset Point and headed down the Navajo trail (1.3 miles).

It was very steep and included a lot of switchbacks. I was very happy our plan climbed back up a different way.

Bryce takes on quite a different look from below.

We headed up the Wall Street trail from below. The trail was closed at the top due to some unsafe conditions. Eventually, every trail through every canyon will meet the same fate. It will just happen on a geologic time scale. Obviously, the Douglas Fir below has been growing in close quarters for quite some time.

This was as far as we could go on the Wall Street trail (1 mile), so we headed back to the Peek-a-boo trail.

I would have been more worried about Kate posing near the rock below if she had told me she could feel it vibrating. Maybe I should have felt it myself.

The Peek-a-boo trail (5.5 miles) was very challenging, but we had all day.

A few times the Peek-a-boo trail passed through a fin. Each time it did the window concentrated the wind until it felt like it was blowing at 100 mph and it never stopped!

We stepped aside several times to let the horses pass. We also had to step aside to avoid the steaming piles the horses left behind.

The wind was so strong in this tunnel, we could hardly stay on our feet.

The Queen's Garden trail (1.8 miles) is a short spur trail. Can you spot Queen Victoria? We never would have without the placard telling us where she was (upper right corner).

The climb back up to Sunrise Point was daunting but worth the effort.

We were told by a Ranger that Sunrise Point and Sunset Point were named arbitrarily and are not the best place to see Bryce at sunrise or sunset. Bryce Point is better for sunrise and Inspiration Point or Paria View are better for sunset (1 ½ hours before sunset for the best lighting).