We were really looking forward to visiting Bryce and Zion, they were both at the top of our national park lists! It was a long drive from Capitol Reef to Zion, so we decided to leave really early and split it up by spending ~6 hours in Bryce national park along the way. Really, really glad that we did. It looks so different from the rest of the Utah national parks!
Bryce is filled with pink and white ‘hoodoos’ (or ‘needles’ in Canyonlands) which are a relatively frequent natural occurrence. They can be found in many different climates around the world from China to America.
There’s a beautiful loop down into the Bryce amphitheater. It’s very popular and sometimes crowded with school children but it’s worth it. The gorgeous white and pink sandstone is everywhere and the trail loops through some of the best points in Bryce. We also really enjoyed the bike path from the visitor center which let us get out of the car for a bit.
Also, the oldest living organisms can be found here… Bristlecone Pines! These things can live to be 4000+ years old, which means the oldest of them alive today were seedlings when stonehenge was completed and wooly mamoths were still a thing. They can take 700 years to grow the height of a person. Here’s Priscilla looking up at a couple Bristlecones that have been alive longer than Europeans have been in the Americas.
We finally made it to Zion pretty exhausted. We did manage to spend a day in the park, but also took a rest day to avoid crowds and do whatever we felt like. Apparently, what we feel like is laundry and a bike ride.
We found Zion to be a bit like an amusement park. Everything was paved (even a large portion of the hikes!) and you have to take a shuttle everywhere in the park. It’s a dramatic landscape everywhere you look and there’s a ton to do, so as long as you’re not expecting solitude it’s still a great time!
On recommendation from Kate we avoided Angel’s Landing and hiked up to Observation Point instead. It overlooks Angel’s Landing and the rest of the valley and doesn’t have lines to hike it (what? waiting in a queue to hike?!). It was amazing! You get a little taste of everything: steep switchbacks, narrow slot canyons, beautiful sandstone cliffs, and valley views.
Bryce and Zion are both amazing parks but the size of Bryce (small) and the popularity of Zion (big) lead to some crowds. We’re glad we went in the October so it wasn’t especially crazy.
Highlights of Bryce and Zion National Parks
- Bryce Amphitheater and Bristlecone pine trails
- Zion Observation Overlook trail
- Slot canyons!
You’ve always been a rebel, Andy. I see you looking over that edge..