March 15, 2018 Utah

Day 7: Thursday March 15, 2018:

This morning after our last breakfast in our room, we begrudgingly left our Zion cabin.  

Our cabin the morning we were leaving. :-(

Since we’d bypassed the main visitor center on our way in, we drove back down that way to get the passbooks stamped with the official Zion stamp.  Then we drove out the Mt. Carmel Hwy route and it was breath taking.  It’s what I vividly remembered as a kid and it was a little unfortunate that we didn’t enter the park in that fashion because that’s where the canyon seems to unfold right before your eyes.  We drove through the mile long tunnel then saw a mountain goat up on the rocks just on the side of the road, right before stopping for pictures in front of the park sign. 

There's no good place to put this - just wanted to remember the shuttle system in case it changes.

Then it was onward and upward to Bryce.   We arrived around noon in a snow storm, which had its plusses and minuses.  We got our picture in front of the sign and this marks NUMBER 30!  We are past the half way point because there’s only 29 more to go!  

At the Visitor Center we picked up a little bit more swag and enjoyed the snow. 

Then we drove to Sunset Point and took a 2.9 mi hike through the amphitheater – the main attraction at Bryce.  Even though it was snowing, we had good visibility.  We hiked counter clockwise starting at the Navajo Trail that merged into the Queen’s Garden trail, about 2.5 miles total.  At the bottom of the canyon we heard woodpeckers around us and stood very quietly and watched a few of them.  The Queen’s Garden trail ended at Sunrise Point so we walked the .5 mi Rim Trail to get back to our car.  

Overlooking the Ampitheater.

Panorama of the Ampitheater!

The snow was picking up and it was now about 26 degrees outside so we continued down the main road of the park to the very end but at this point, there was no view at all.  It was a complete white-out. 

So we had to turn around and head back toward the exit, stopping once at Natural Bridge – very beautiful. 

Natural Bridge from the side of the road.

On our way out we drove through the campground that Nick stayed in about 20 years ago when he went on his trip.

At this point it was around 4pm so we checked into the Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel and it’s super nice, which is good because the kids were going at each other and both broke down into tears once we got to the room.  They are very different and spending so much time together I think is just starting to wear on them.  But besides a few rough mornings and a few squabbles, they’ve been wonderful and so fun to be with.  We settled in for a bit but because of the weather conditions, decided to head to dinner early.  We ate at a great restaurant just a few miles away, Bryce Canyon Pines, but didn’t stay long because Grant got all cramped up again and couldn’t/wouldn’t eat.

Around 7pm we decided to make one more run into the park to try to catch the sunset so we went back out to Sunset Point but it was just us and a dozen or so people from China.  We all got a chuckle out of hearing a dad yell at his kids to “be careful because it’s vewy swippewy out here.”  Translation – very slippery. 

Seeing as how we were standing in a raging snow storm, the sun never revealed itself so we called it quits around 7:20 and hit the Ruby’s Inn gift shop, across the street from where we’re staying.  Ruby’s Inn has been around for over 100 years.  Crazy!! 

"Sunset" at Sunset Point in Bryce

Now we’re back, lounging in the room and planning our day tomorrow.  It’ll be another great one and this has been the greatest family trip we’ve ever been on, although I’ve probably already said that. In one trip, rain, hail, sleet (freezing rain this morning) and snow - in that order!

I really can’t believe that in seven short years, we’ve made it to 30 national parks.  I SO LOVE THIS! 

 Who’d go back to Bryce:

Ryan: YES, YES, YES

Grant: Yes, only because I’m going back to all five in Utah.
Nick: Absolutely
Barb: Yes