Panguitch, Utah
Wow! And double WOW! We visited Bryce Canyon yesterday. It is simply amazing!
First stop? Sunrise Point at 8015′ elevation. Highest place we visited in the park? Rainbow Point at 9115′.
A little Bryce Canyon information from the park brochure, and then I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves…
Weathering and erosion shape these statuesque rock features, but unlike many places, flowing water only plays a minor role in this story. As snow and ice melt, water seeps into fractures. As it re-freezes, it expands and cracks the rock around it. This common process of frost-wedging happens with uncommon frequency at Bryce Canyon.
About 180 days a year temperatures swing widely between freezing nights and warm afternoons. The combination of gravity and meltwater causes soil creep, moving the stone fragments downhill. Rain from summer thunderstorms further dissolves the limestone into a clay ooze and generates just enough flowing water to help remove the debris.
These caverns are all on the same horizontal plane because the rock is the same at that level. Notice there are no caverns below that level where the rock is the same color. 
The cliffs and bulbous columns are called hoodoos. Legend has it that the hoodoos are ancient people who took too much from the land who were cursed and turned to stone.
Notice the small arch in the middle of the rock.
It’s big country…
This arch is called the Natural Bridge.
I like the contrast of the pine and fir trees against the canyon backdrop.
I don’t think I would have found the canyons nearly as stunning without the white contrast from the snow.
Look really closely in the middle of this picture. You’ll see a trail that goes up through a crevice in the rocks. Just before that crevice, you can see four teeny-tiny hikers!
And we finished off the visit with a view of about a dozen mule deer does! Doesn’t get any better than that…
A few more random shots from our visit…
There should be LOTS more snow here…
And this signage reflects much of what’s happening across the west–not enough water!
Gorgeous and good one Rich. And alas, so true…..
Bryce is on my bucket list too!
I’ll stay in Panguitch, Utah, again if we come to this area again, Carol. It’s a great little town, and there’s so much to do around here… 🙂
As spectactular as I remembered! I definitely need to return. Rich was right….
Joanne, There’s so much to do here, I’d definitely come back… 🙂
Stunning.
I think I’m going to need a bigger bucket!
Giggles, good one, Sharon!