Going North or South on Rt. 89 you have to turn East on Rt. 12. This takes you right thru Red Canyon. Be prepared to take a lot of photographs here. This is another one of Utah's unique scenery stops. They're all different, and equally amazing. Utah is a great place to spend time in the desert. Bryce Canyon is a photogrpher's paradise!
Continuing up Rt. 12 a little way you'll come to this tunnel that was cut for the road. It's large enough even for a big rig! This is a well maintained road, BUT you should go slow to enjoy the surrounding scenery. There are a lot of Hotels and Motels in the Bryce Canyon area.
Here's two hoodoos that are probably photographed a million times a year. If you see this in person you'll realize why so many have wanted to preserve the memory. The surrounding area is exceptionally green which lends a great contrast effect to the Navajo red sandstone.
There are more than enough red sandstone buttes, spires, and hoodoos here to feast the eye on. These were all photographed near noon so we didn't have the best light and they came out nice. Your only a short distance from Bryce here so if your covering both places in one day then spend some time here as well. There's more to see than what we've provided here, and also a lot of hiking trails!
First part of the day trip is Red Canyon - see below for Bryce Canyon and a Satellite Map.
Bryce Canyon National Park
This is an active Maps.google Satellite Map. You can zoom / out and change the formats from Satellite to Map or Terrain; drag the map to scroll. Try it!
Shown here is Bryce Canyon.
Here's Bryce Canyon National Park. Everyone should see this at least once. We've been here twice now and we'd go back if the opportunity presents itself again. There are a lot of motels as you enter the park, but most times of the year these require advance reservations. Staying outside the park maybe your only option, so plan ahead. Anybody for a hike?
A look at the main section with hundreds of hoodoos. This is what you'll probably see at your first overlook. Lots of parking and nice bathrooms, and most of all this! Very diverse -- your standing in large conifers looking into a canyon of spires.
Just past the walls of sandstone and spires and even surrounding them are stands of conifers. Even if you don't hike, you could just stand here for a long time and look at the diversity of the surrounding Canyon.
This is what happens when it's near noon -- washed out and flat looking photographs. Also taken toward the sun. Early morning or late afternoon is alwasy better, but not always achieveable.
Another view. Pretty dense forests lay just beyond the main group of spires. It's amazing how they were created. Wind, rain, and snow carved them. Yes we've seen snow here in the canyon.
Color variations in the sandstone here makes this a view you'll never forget. You'll see different layers all though the spires and hoodoos here in the canyon.
Hiking! There are lots of hiking trails in Bryce and they are maintained by the Park Service. This certainly could be a great way to get some really unique photos of the spires and walls in the canyon.
One of the balanced rocks (hoodoo) from the overlook. You can see some snow in this shot. You could spend hours just standing here taking in the scenery.
You can see one of the many long hiking trails here in the canyon. Don't forget there are other overlooks along the rim. There's also a lot of wildlife here too, keep your eyes open!
Vist the Park, you'll never regret it. Utah is another place in the desert that should not be overlooked, and Bryce is one of the best examples! Have fun ------
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