Greetings from southern Utah! We slept in a little later today with plans on taking it easy and easing our way down to Cedar City. However, once we looked at the map, I saw that we would be traveling within 14 miles of Bryce Canyon National Park. We decided to go ahead and visit there before moving on.
The 14 mile drive from US 89 to BCNP was some of the most interesting and beautiful country we have traveled yet. The road is Utah State Route 12 and it runs through portions of the Dixie National Forest. This arch is one of two located in "Red Canyon" in the Dixie National Forest.
We reached Bryce Canyon National Park and drove to the first of many overlooks. This shot is of Bryce Amphitheatre from the Sunset Point overlook. This large canyon is filled with "hoodoos". A hoodoo is a column of rock, usually of some wild or fantastic shape, left by erosion.
This is yet another interesting rock formation. Wind and water can do amazing things to stone over time.
We headed out of Bryce Canyon National Park and headed over toward Cedar City. Traveling along Utah SR 12 from US 89 to Cedar City is a spectacular drive. Driving through the Dixie National Forest we saw shepherds on horseback using Border Collie's to herd free range sheep. This drive also has very impressive sheer rock towering overhead as you descend down into Cedar City.
The picture at right is of the park's most popular hoodoo, and the main reason I wanted to visit this park, Thors Hammer. We hiked down from Sunset Point along the Rim Trail to get this shot. The trail is very steep and the footing is poor. Plus, 100 degree temps with no shade in sight made us turn back before descending all the way to the bottom of the canyon.
This is yet another interesting rock formation. Wind and water can do amazing things to stone over time.
We headed out of Bryce Canyon National Park and headed over toward Cedar City. Traveling along Utah SR 12 from US 89 to Cedar City is a spectacular drive. Driving through the Dixie National Forest we saw shepherds on horseback using Border Collie's to herd free range sheep. This drive also has very impressive sheer rock towering overhead as you descend down into Cedar City.
We just ate a great supper at the Pizza Factory and are resting up for an early start in the morning. Zion National Park is on the agenda.
So far we have traveled 3,075 miles and we're still going strong.
-Matthew
I love the pictures Uncle Kary said it looks like his westerns be very careful and have fun.
ReplyDeleteRiley said to let you know the Bobcats still have the cowbell