Scenic Byway 12 - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 380

Before venturing into the canyon, stop at Ruby's Inn, an all-purpose facility just north
of the visitor center. There you can buy supplies, rent mountain bikes, cross-country skis,
andhorsesorarrange totake ahelicopter rideoverthepark'smanyandvaried scenic won-
ders.
Once inside the park, head for the turnoff to Bryce Canyon's main amphitheater, which
isringedbyfoureminentlyaccessibleanddrop-deadgorgeousviewpointsplusthesalmon-
tinged hoodoos that stand within. By following signs to Sunrise Point, you'll be able to
drive or walk to Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce points. Keep in mind that eleva-
tions in the park range from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, oxygen is scarce, and that trails that lead
down mean you must climb back up them. Wear proper hiking shoes; the trails' surfaces
are covered with loose gravel, and you'll need traction to obtain a good footing. At Sun-
rise Point hike the Queen's Garden Trail, a short trek into the canyon below. The trail was
named for the hoodoo at the bottom that bears a more than passing resemblance to Queen
Victoria. At Bryce Point trythe two-mile-long Hat ShopTrail, where youwill see boulders
and rock formations shaped like top hats and Easter bonnets.
The park's main road continues south six miles to Farview Point, whose high elevation
offers sweeping views of the surrounding Dixie National Forest.
Higher still is Rainbow Point, several miles south, where the one-mile Bristle-cone
Loop Trail leads to stands of the gnarled pines. More than millennium in age, these hardy
trees are the oldest living things found in Bryce Canyon.
Did you know…
The difference between a hoodoo and a pinnacle, or spire, is that hoodoos are
much thicker and have a shape similar to a totem pole. A spire, on the other
hand, has a smoother profile or uniform thickness that tapers from the ground
upward.