Bryce Canyon: Bristlecone Trail

Date: July 9thish, 2011
Distance: 1 mile
Elevation Gain: None worth mentioning
Time: Less than one hour
General Impression:  This was a super-easy, well maintained trail near the rim of Bryce Canyon.  It leads you through a shady forest with a beautiful view of the canyon at the end.  I did it in flip flops with no problem.






We were trying to catch the sunset over the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, but unfortunately there was a bit too much cloud coverage and we missed it.  Steve had a real hankering to do this Bristlecone Pine Trail that he had read about.  I think it liked saying the words "Bristlecone Pine."  Can you blame him?  We set out in the early evening on this short and easy hike.  I would even call it more of a walk, actually.

It was lovely!  We walked along the dirt path through a pretty thick forest.  There were lots of fallen trees and dead logs littering the ground, and we read an information post about forest fires.  I can't remember now what it said.  The above picture is of the oldest Bristlecone Pine Tree in Bryce Canyon.  It is apparently more than 1600 years old!

It was a very pretty trail and we had a lot of fun hiking along without anyone else in sight.  I would definitely recommend you check it out, especially just after a light rain shower in the early summer evening!

Bryce Canyon: Queen's Garden Trail

Date: July 9thish, 2011
Distance: 3.6 Miles
Elevation Gain:  Not so sure, though we first went down into the canyon, obviously, before coming back up.
Time: Probably about two hours or so
General Impression:  SO BEAUTIFUL.  This was quite easy, although at the end we did have to climb up some steep switchbacks.  Mostly I'd say that anyone who is pretty healthy and mobile could do this one.

This was our very, very first hike in Utah.  We were driving our car across America, from our old home in Toronto, Canada, to our new home in Salt Lake City.  Along the way we stopped in many interesting and beautiful places, but I think it's safe to say that Bryce Canyon and Southern Utah was our favorite.  Not to mention that we were excited to have arrived in our new state!


We met some newlywed Danes (or were they Swedes?) just as we got off the shuttle bus and ended up hiking the whole way with them.  They were really friendly and we had quite a bit in common, so the hike went by in a flash of beauty and rock formations and chatting.  Bryce Canyon is amazing.  I suggest you visit it yourself someday!

We can't wait to come back to Bryce!