Southwest Fall 2016-1: Southwest, Here We Come, Again: Zion NP, Cedar Breaks NM, & Bryce Canyon NP
Fall 2016
It was once again time to get our trusty Traverse (Ford conversion van with a poptop) on the road. This time we wanted to comfortably visit the areas in the Southwest that snow and rather low temperatures limited last spring. Add, we had reservations in New Mexico to do the Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape Tour at Ghost Ranch, followed up with an AirBnB in Santa Fe for two days. We penciled in a three-week journey, stocked the Traverse, and headed out.
The first day we elected to just take the freeway and hopefully get into Nevada. We were amazed that we not only got through Las Vegas but ended up in Mesquite, 80 miles beyond Las Vegas on the Nevada-Utah border, in an amazing room for $27. As much as I enjoy camping, the thought of a room with all the amenities for the price of some campsites, after a long day of driving, made that decision easy.
After a filling breakfast in Mesquite the next morning, it was time to enjoy the two-lane roads, stop often, spend time enjoying each area (not driving daily just to get there), and experience as many hikes as possible. Marilyn was a trooper. Though still suffering from back pain, she was more than happy to seek out new hikes and experiences while also putting up with my changes in our itinerary.
We thought we would spend a day or two in Zion National Park, but upon entering the park and seeing the full parking lots, lines at the bus stops, and full campsites, we quickly reevaluated our decision.
After a quick consult of the map, we headed east out of the park and then north to Cedar Breaks.
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Cedar Breaks National Monument is at 10,500 feet, substantially higher than 4,000-foot Zion. As we got close, we realized the weather had cooled. Soon we were seeing patches of snow.
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We were also treated to the beautiful and fiery aspen, yet realized that if at 3:00 PM it was near freezing, it would be truly cold later, so we were off to Plan C—Bryce Canyon National Park, a little lower than Cedar Breaks at 8,000 to 9,000 feet.
Not far down the road, we encountered a flock of sheep who seemed to think the road was theirs.
Slowly moving through hundreds of these white critters, we came upon two sheep dogs just lying on the side of the road—break time?
Bryce was great. We found a large, quiet campsite, met our Traverse’s double, and set out to enjoy the park.
We took the park road out to the end where we did the 1-mile Bristlecone Loop Trail.
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Driving back to the campground from Bristolcone Loop Trail, we stopped at the Natural Bridge Overlook.
The next day we did a 3-mile hike below the rim of the canyon and through the Amphitheater on the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trail. As we have often experienced in our recent travels, the majority of folks we encountered enjoying the vistas, hikes, and beauty were from Europe.
We hiked down into the Amphitheater at Sunrise Point and hiked back up to the top at Sunset Point.
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The steep uphill at the end up to Sunset Point was rather strenuous.
After two days and many steps in Bryce Canyon, it was time to head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
It was once again time to get our trusty Traverse (Ford conversion van with a poptop) on the road. This time we wanted to comfortably visit the areas in the Southwest that snow and rather low temperatures limited last spring. Add, we had reservations in New Mexico to do the Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape Tour at Ghost Ranch, followed up with an AirBnB in Santa Fe for two days. We penciled in a three-week journey, stocked the Traverse, and headed out.
Zion National Park.
The first day we elected to just take the freeway and hopefully get into Nevada. We were amazed that we not only got through Las Vegas but ended up in Mesquite, 80 miles beyond Las Vegas on the Nevada-Utah border, in an amazing room for $27. As much as I enjoy camping, the thought of a room with all the amenities for the price of some campsites, after a long day of driving, made that decision easy.
After a filling breakfast in Mesquite the next morning, it was time to enjoy the two-lane roads, stop often, spend time enjoying each area (not driving daily just to get there), and experience as many hikes as possible. Marilyn was a trooper. Though still suffering from back pain, she was more than happy to seek out new hikes and experiences while also putting up with my changes in our itinerary.
We thought we would spend a day or two in Zion National Park, but upon entering the park and seeing the full parking lots, lines at the bus stops, and full campsites, we quickly reevaluated our decision.
Leaving Zion.
After a quick consult of the map, we headed east out of the park and then north to Cedar Breaks.
.heic)
Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Cedar Breaks National Monument is at 10,500 feet, substantially higher than 4,000-foot Zion. As we got close, we realized the weather had cooled. Soon we were seeing patches of snow.
This picture shot upon arrival at Cedar Breaks says it all.
.heic)
Snowman at Cedar Breaks Amphitheater.
We were also treated to the beautiful and fiery aspen, yet realized that if at 3:00 PM it was near freezing, it would be truly cold later, so we were off to Plan C—Bryce Canyon National Park, a little lower than Cedar Breaks at 8,000 to 9,000 feet.
On our spring trip to the Southwest, the aspen were just leafing out; now they were changing colors.
Not far down the road, we encountered a flock of sheep who seemed to think the road was theirs.
Free range sheep near Cedar Breaks National Monument.
Slowly moving through hundreds of these white critters, we came upon two sheep dogs just lying on the side of the road—break time?
Very chill sheep dog.
Bryce was great. We found a large, quiet campsite, met our Traverse’s double, and set out to enjoy the park.
Our Traverse (later in the trip in New Mexico) & its twin in the same campground as us at Bryce Canyon NP.
We took the park road out to the end where we did the 1-mile Bristlecone Loop Trail.
Bristol Cone Loop Trail.
Doug on Bristlecone Loop Trail.
.heic)
Bristolcone Loop Trail.
Driving back to the campground from Bristolcone Loop Trail, we stopped at the Natural Bridge Overlook.
Natural Bridge is technically an arch. Erosion created a gully that is now 125 feet below the arch.
The next day we did a 3-mile hike below the rim of the canyon and through the Amphitheater on the Queens Garden/Navajo Loop Trail. As we have often experienced in our recent travels, the majority of folks we encountered enjoying the vistas, hikes, and beauty were from Europe.
The "Amphitheater," Bryce Canyon NP.
We hiked down into the Amphitheater at Sunrise Point and hiked back up to the top at Sunset Point.
Limber Pine.
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View into amphitheater from Sunrise Point.
The hoodoos, formed by erosion, were so amazing.
Doug on Trail.
Doug taking a break in the shade.
Another natural bridge.
Marilyn at beginning of climb to top of Amphitheater. The weather could not have been more perfect.
Hoodoos.
Marilyn on the climb to Sunset Point.
We also encountered many different hiking styles, like this puppy pack.
Marilyn getting near the top.
After two days and many steps in Bryce Canyon, it was time to head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
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