Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Trip to Bryce Canyon

And much like the Trip to Bountiful we spent most of the day traveling. The country seemed to stretch forever in front of us. At one point we needed gas and exited where gas was advertised. Once off the highway, the sign said, "gas 25 miles". The landscape around Bryce is forested with pinyon pines and less desert. We are staying on the edge of the Park in Bryce Canyon City, which was incorporated in 2007. The entire town is nothing but a few hotels, one restaurant, and a gift shop owned by Ruby's family. Ruby had the foresight to settle here and open a "tourist rest" in 1916.



Canyonlands

Canyonlands National Park is almost adjacent to Arches but a very different geological area. Atop the mesa areas were small pygmy forests. There was much more snow here. The mesas would suddenly end and vast canyon areas would spread across the horizon. The weather was a bit colder and cloudier. The crowds remain sparse. We counted 3 other couples today.

We also visited Dead Horse Point State Park which was on the route to Canyonlands. It is 6000' above sea level. From the point one can see the big bend of the Colorado River some 2000' down.