Red Canyon - 2

 I realized I have been neglecting this area so went there in the late afternoon. I think this will be the focus for tomorrow. I was planning on going to Kodachrome Basin SP tomorrow but Red Canyon is a few miles from the hotel and both times I have been there have been great.

Today was Losee Canyon and the Arches trail which starts from the same parking area. This is two miles down a dirt road but reasonable for cars. Red Canyons is a large area with lots of trails. Some are hiking only, some horses and hikers, and some atv use. One trail today was hiking only and the other hiking and horses. 

Red Canyons is part of Dixie National Forest. This is not a crowded area. I was the only car at this particular trail head.

Check out the tree at the top of the rock left of center

Bryce - 2

 A near perfect sunny day for walking. Just below freezing at the start going up to 50 by noon and 60 by the afternoon.

started with what is likely the most popular hike at Bryce. Queens garden to Navajo loop. Hard to make progress on this trail since there is something cool to look at the whole time. It wasn't very busy this time of day. 

next was Hat Shop from Bryce Point. I wanted to go to Peekaboo loop but it was closed. Not due to winter but other issues. Hat Shop is not popular. A nice hike on a long ridge. 

then i did the tourist thing and drove the road to the end. Lots of places to stop. Natural bridge was a highlight. The road goes up to the high point of the park, 9115 feet. I walked a 1 mile loop trail at the end which was back to winter. Snow on most of the trail.

hiking at this park is different. You almost always go down at the start of a trail and up at the end. Views the whole time typically. Very different from your standard mountain hike.

Queens Garden to Navajo

Bryce point and Hat Shop trail

Driving to the end of the road

Walking near Rainbow point

Driving back