Trips of Utah: It's OK to feel delighted!

Day Four: Bryce Canyon - Best 3 mile hike in the world!

As we had covered couple of viewpoints of Bryce Canyon already, our only agenda remaining for this day was the hike around the hoodoos. I know I have used the word ‘hoodoo’ couple of times already, without explaining what it is.  The closely packed pillar-like structures that form the Bryce canyon are – Hoodoos.  We like that word; it sounds like a nickname, and hence personifies the objects in front of us.  As the hike being our morning's agenda, and with most of the websites (including the park pamphlet) suggesting ‘the Sunset to Sunrise’ hike as the best one the park had to offer, we chose this 3 mile hike. This hike (as per the map) is a combination of Queen’s garden loop  and Navajo trail loop, and apparently ‘the best 3 mile hike in the world’.  In fact, some of the websites even refer the trail with this name.

Along the Queen's Garden Trail at Bryce Canyon

As we started from Panguich, our first stop was again at the Red Canyons (Highway 12). We passed through the twin Red canyon tunnels (carved out of Red canyon walls, supposed to be the gateway of scenic route 12), and reached Bryce with couple of stops on the way.

Navajo loop trail

We started the hike from the Sunrise point on the Queen’s garden trail(The parking is supposed to be crowded, as per the park website, they recommend us taking the park shuttle, but we saw there was still ample space remaining at 10 AM) . The math of 3 mile hike goes like this -  0.8 miles from Sunrise Point to Queen’s garden(downhill)  + 0.8 miles from Queens garden to Navajo loop trail (level) + 0.7 miles on Navajo trail  to Sunset point (uphill) + 0.7 miles from Sunset to Sunrise point on the rim(level, graded). The maps recommended clockwise hike on both the trails and we followed as per that.

Switch-backs along Navajo Loop trail

The rains of previous day and temperature in 70’s made it a perfect day for hiking. The hike was a relaxing one and a special one because you walk right in the middle of the hoodoos! The real mass of these giant structures came into our realization only when we started with the hike. After stopping at multiple places along the trails, under the shades of the hoodoos, we reached Queen’s garden  ( I didn't see any resemblance of the hoodoo with Queen Victoria, as claimed by the park boards). The next stretch was to reach the Navajo loop. This trail of reaching Navajo loop looks similar to any other park trail, with trees, streams around, and the presence of hoodoos in a distant background.  Once we reached the Navajo loop, then next 0.7 mile stretch was uphill. But the path in midst the hoodoos is kept zigzag, so there is not much stress experienced while climbing. We liked this stretch the most. The trail passes through a narrow slot in between the towering hoodoos (I think this part of the hoodoos is named Wall-Street), and then followed by the up-hill switch-backs , passing through the Thor’s hammer ( this hoodoo is the icon of Bryce Canyon, as is the Delicate Arch at Arches NP) , culminating at the Sunset point.  From Sunrise to Sunset point is again a short walk along the rim and this completed the ‘Best 3 mile hike’.

Hiking up the Navajo Loop Trail

It was just past noon , so we drove to Bryce Point ( the last one and the highest one of the points overlooking the Bryce Amphitheater). On the left at the Bryce point, there were window-like formations which, some of the park boards pointed out, are the initial stages of the Hoodoo formation. On both sides, you will see hoodoos, with a variety in size and color as well.

Thor's Hammer- as viewer from Sunrise point

We headed to visitor center, and unpacked our lunch boxes. We planned to reach Capitol Reef National Park by the sunset. As we had ample time left for the day , and as per the suggestion of the ranger at the visitor center, we decided to take Highway 12 road,  even though it is a little longer route.