Bryce Canyon NP, Utah
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Queens Garden Bryce Canyon NP, Utah |
April 22, 2019
It's Earth Day once again! Time to do something special, and I just happen to be in the neighborhood of Bryce Canyon on my way over to Escalante, as part of what seems to have become an annual springtime foray into southern Utah.
Heading directly for Sunset Point, I find the Navajo Loop Trail closed for some
reason — probably water damage. I can see many hikers below, though;
so I drive back half a mile to the Sunrise Point Trailhead. The planned loop will
not be possible, but this will be okay.
Plenty of activity down there
View from Sunrise Point
It takes a while for winter to end up here at 8000-9000 feet elevation. I have unfinished business over at nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument, but that road hasn't even been plowed yet.
This incomparable scene makes a fine Earth Day tribute
I won't be lonely here
Such delicate colors
First window of the day
Second window
The trail is visible below
I continue past the turnoff to the garden, just for some more photo-ops.
Is that a face up there?
Looking across the amphitheater
Starting back, I discover a previously unnoticed arch:
Another window
This spur sports three tunnels altogether
Somewhere in here I kick down a little cairn — my first such action since resolving to do so last fall after an email from a reader implored me to stop publishing photos of them.
The Queen's Garden
This doesn't seem as impressive as when my sweetie and I visited here in 2001. Perhaps the trail has been cut somewhat short.
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Most of these hikers would be on the Navajo Loop if they could be
I am compelled to stop and rest three times on the uphill return. Getting old.
Storm activity to the east
§: Well, this bucket-list outing was much busier than expected, yet it
needed to be done. One more attraction remains unvisited in this wonderland maze,
awaiting another time.
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