Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Rim Trail and Navajo Loop

Cannonville/Bryce Canyon KOA
Cannonville, UT
September 9, 2016

We decided to deal with the crowds and visit Bryce one last time to do the short, cardio-workout known as Navajo Loop. We arrived early in the morning and did the loop counter clockwise.  


The hike starts at Sunset Point, but we parked at Sunrise point to enjoy the sunrise as we walked along the rim.








The descent (540 ft) is a series of short, tight switchbacks that go straight down to the canyon floor.  It was cool looking up as we went down...











My favorite highlight of the trail is Wall Street...a section of narrows at the base of the canyon.




If my info is correct, the Douglas Firs that live in these narrows  are 400+ years old. 










When the trail opened up, shades of reds, oranges, and greens fanned out in all directions...    
 ...and oh how beautiful the shades of blue were !

It wasn't long until we came to Two Bridges.  

And last, the climb back to the rim where we passed Thor's Hammer. 
It was a very nice morning.  I just can't say enough about the weather we have enjoyed the past couple of weeks.  Definitely a great time to visit.  

So until next time, I am going to try to get this crick out of my neck...
...always looking up !





 HAPPY TRAILS !    

19 comments:

  1. Beautiful pics and looks like great weather for your adventure below the rim. If weather permits will you have time for the Bristlecone Pines above the rim?

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    1. Hi Jeff, we opted not to do Bristlecone this trip. It's a beautiful hike a d was originally on our list, but the crowds have been thick. We expected people, but thought the bus loads of tour groups would be over. Anyway, our last few hikes have been in Red Canyon and we have had the trails all to ourselves. What a difference a few miles makes!

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  2. Bryce is such a beautiful place. We've been there several times and trying to decide whether to make one more stop next month.

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    1. I bet October will be beautiful Jeri...and less crowded!

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  3. A place I can rest eyes on every year...
    Box Canyon

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    1. Nowhere else quite like it Mark...that's for sure!

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  4. I love Bryce, husband not so much due to the crowds. Gorgeous photos!

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    1. Thanks Jana. The crowds haven't been as bad this trip as they were in May 2013. Thank goodness we are early birds!

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  5. What a beautiful hike. The trees just add to it. How long & difficult is the Rim Trail & Navaho Loop?

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    1. Thanks Gayle. If you park at Sunset Point where the trailhead for Navajo Loop is located, the loop is 1.3 miles. It's not technical at all. The climb out of the canyon ( 540 ft) gives the hike a moderate rating. Joe and I stop often for water and to catch our breath on the climb out. And I like to stop for lots of pictures too! The Rim Trail goes on for miles. We parked at Sunrise Point which added a mile ( round trip) to the Navajo Loop. The Rim Trail goes on for miles and is fairly level and easy with great views along the way of the canyon below.

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  6. More of the awesome scenery you see on your hikes. Surprised the trees are growing from the canyons depths.

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  7. This is such a spectacular trail. Thanks for sharing. I love the way photos come out of the path down. It really does show the steepness of the wiggles. We gave been to Bryce twice, both in late May, and Wall Street was closed both times! One day we too will get to see this area. Glad you included lots of photos of what we keep missing:) Such a magnificent park:)

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    1. We only did this hike to see Wall Street Pam...like you, we missed it last time. Next time, we will do the loop clock-wise for a totally new experience! That's one of the nice things about hiking...even the in-out trails...all look different in the other direction.

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  8. Wonderful shots looking up through the trees and canyon - wonderful perspective! Your weather looks perfect :-)))

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    1. Thanks Jodee. Yes, September is a perfect time to visit!

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  9. Gay, Your photos are stunning! So many beautiful scenes. That lone tree is gorgeous!

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  10. So many photo ops on that trail. Great captures and Im glad you came back for another hike.

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