Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

Sunrise Point to Sunset Point

I arrived early, sat on a bench, and caught the sunrise. It was cold with the temperature in the 20s and a light breeze. But the beautiful event and view was worth it.

About Ten Minutes before Sunrise

The White Stripes Stand Out in the Pre-Dawn Light

The Sun Peeks over the Horizon

The Sun Highlights the Red Rock

Later in the morning, I walked along the ridgeline later between the Sunrise Point and Sunset Point while completing a hike (covered in the next section).

As Seen from Sunrise Point

Closer View

Hoodoos Emerge from the Trees

The Rock Almost Seems to Have a Soft Glow

Tall, Thin Rectangular Hollow Cube

White-Topped Hoodoos

As If Mother Nature Stopped Midway through Her Carving

The Section Known as Wall Street

Navajo Loop and Queens Garden

I began the hike from Sunset Point and before going very far into the canyon, I was struck by how the sunshine played on the rock formations.

Sun Glow

Natural Solar Panels

Sun Portal

From the very beginning, I found quite intriguing the many shapes and colors of the rock walls, cliffs, and hoodoos.

Thor's Hammer

Array of Hoodoos

The trail descended rapidly through a funnel-like area. I wonder how long it took for Mother Nature to create it and how different it will look after another one hundred or even one thousand years.

Rapid Descent

Tree Maintains Precarious Perch

As much as I appreciated viewing everything from the canyon rim above, I thoroughly enjoyed the different perspective of walking the canyon floor. My imagination was alive as I passed amongst the hoodoos.

Dwarves

Monastery

Flaming Torches

The layers of colors, especially the white against the red, provided an extra special effect.

White Frosting

White Columned in the Wall

Having to walk through doorways cut into the rock was a nice touch. It made for an extra level of immersion.

Portal to Where?

Short Passage through Thick Rock
(I had to bend down to walk through)

I never got tired of the scenery as it seemed that something new and unique would be just around the next corner.

Trail through the Towers

Blue Window High Up on the Castle Wall

As I began to climb up and out of the canyon to Sunrise Point, I was able to view the landscape towards the west, or the opposite direction as when I started the hike.

My Starting Point was at the Notch in the Canyon Wall
(just left of the highest trees)

Queen's Garden

Broad View of the Canyon

Another Section of the Canyon

Fairyland Canyon

This 8-mile hike went through parts of Bryce Canyon National Park and Bryce Canyon Wilderness, wound its way through low areas and over hills, and followed along the canyon rim.

From the trailhead atop the canyon, I gradually made me way downward. The hoodoos to my right stood up straight as if reaching for the rays of the rising sun.

The Edge of Fantasy Canyon

Down at Hoodoo Level

It was early enough in the morning that the moon had not set yet. It provided a nice ambiance over the canyon and the desert landscape.

Moon over Fantasy Canyon

Moon Slowly Fades

The rock that dominated the scenery ranged from light pink to a solid red.

Cathedral

Base of the Rock Looks Engraved

Sprinkled amidst or on top of the red was a white rock that provided character to the surroundings.

White Tips

White Palace

The bottom of the canyon was certainly not flat. Multiple times I climbed atop hills, over rises, and eventually back to the top of the canyon where I followed along its rim. These high points provided excellent panoramic views of what I was hiking through.