Bryce Canyon, Queens Garden and Navajo Loop, UT

After finishing our Buckskin Gulch hike, we jumped back in the jeep and headed north.  Our goal today was to get to Bryce Canyon Nation Park before the visitors center closed.  We have learned to take advantage of the knowledge that park rangers can provide about the park.  

We took time to stop for lunch in the town of Kenab, UT at a little place called Wild Thyme Cafe.  They had very nice space indoors and outdoors, and offered some really fun, healthy options.

Steve had pistachio crusted chicken with poblano cream sauce, and I had fenugreek falafels with coconut rice and yellow curry.  Both were exceptionally good. I highly recommend this restaurant!

We arrived at the Bryce Canyon Visitor's Center in plenty of time.  The website said it closed at 4:30, but they were actually open until 8:00.  Probably the difference between summer and winter hours.  Our first attempt with a ranger, we asked our basic questions and got very basic answers, so we went back outside to do more research and then went back in.  This time we got a ranger named Nici, and she was amazing!  We told her what hike we wanted to do, and asked her what time we would need to be at the Sunrise Point parking lot in order to get parking.  And this is when we knew we had found the right ranger!!!  She told us exactly how to navigate the park without hitting any stumbling blocks.  She said...be at Sunrise point by 8:00 a.m. and find a shady parking spot.  Do the Queen's Garden Trail to the Navajo Trail as we had planned.  Then either catch the shuttle or follow the rim trail back to the Sunrise Point parking lot.  From there, catch the shuttle back to the visitors center, cross the street, and catch the next shuttle going back into the park.  Take it all the way to the end of the route...Bryce Point.  Get off the shuttle at Bryce Point.  Enjoy the views at Bryce Point, and then either catch the shuttle or hike the Rim Trail to Inspiration Point.  These are two overlooks that you don't want to miss!  Then catch the shuttle back to Sunrise Point, get in your car, and drive all the way up to the Rainbow Point overlook.  You will be tempted to stop at overlooks along the way, but don't do it.  Keep driving until you are at the end.  Then stop at all of the overlooks on your way down.  We also told her that we were looking for nearby disbursed camping and she said...leave the park, and right after you pass the park sign, take a left.  Drive about a minute, and you will be in Dixie National Forest.  There are disbursed campsites there, and you will be within 5 minutes of the park entrance.  When we left the visitor's center, we sat outside for several minutes and turned our chicken scratch into actual notes that we would be able to follow the next day.  What a treasure this ranger was!

We arrived at sunrise point at about 7:50 the next morning, and there was plenty of parking.  We found a nice shady spot to leave the Jeep for the morning. 

As we entered the canyon on the Queens Garden trail, the hoodoos began to glow as the sun rose higher into the sky.

Hiking among the hoodoos made us feel very insignificant in the scheme of things. 

I had to leave Steve behind so he could hold up this rock for all eternity.

As we reached the sunset point side of the trail, we went through some fun narrow canyons, and then the steep climb back out.

And then completely different views from Sunset Point, looking down on what they call Wall Street.

After exiting our hike at Sunset Point, we walked the Rim Trail about a half mile back to the Jeep and enjoyed the views along the way. 

We did the Queens Garden to the Navajo Loop Trail, which was about 2.5 miles.  Then we took the rim trail back to where we started, which was about another half mile. There is quite a bit of elevation change on this hike, which is especially noticeable as you are coming up the switchbacks at Sunset Point.  I highly encourage one of the hoodoo hikes if you are ever in Bryce Canyon!