Utah: Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

We finally got up early enough to be at Bryce Canyon National Park at sunrise. 🙂

We arrived at the fee station at 6:10 am to show our America the Beautiful annual pass, but no one was there.

Bryce Point

Around 6:15 am, we parked at the half-full Bryce Point parking lot, and grabbed our gear.

We snagged some railing and set up. 2 minutes later, our railing area was full. By 6:30 am, the parking lot was full, especially since a tour bus pulled in with about 40-50 people on board. Just a short walk down the Rim trail, Inspiration Point was jam packed with people awaiting sunrise.

It would have been nice to be at Inspiration Point looking straight at the sunset, but I think our vantage point was just as good, because it captured the sunrise glow on the hoodoos and the valley areas.

Sunrise making the hoodoos glow.
Sunrise making the hoodoos glow.
A slightly different view shows the intensity of the sunrise on the hoodoos.
A slightly different view shows the intensity of the sunrise on the hoodoos.
More glowing hoodoos, framed by trees.
More glowing hoodoos, framed by trees.
Looking out in the distance to see the sunrise glow.
Looking out in the distance to see the sunrise glow.
A close up of some glowing hoodoos.
A close up of some glowing hoodoos.

Inspiration Point

A short walk up the trail to Inspiration Point revealed the view everyone else there got for sunrise. I’ll go back again someday, and get there earlier for this sunrise view.

Left side of the amphitheater area.
Left side of the amphitheater area.
Center left of the amphitheater area.
Center left of the amphitheater area.
Almost dead center of the amphitheater area, but a smidge to the left.
Almost dead center of the amphitheater area, but a smidge to the left.
The far right of the amphitheater area.
Center right of the amphitheater area.
Far right of the amphitheater area.

Natural Bridge

From Bryce Point, we headed to Natural Bridge. My research had shown that mid-morning light was best for photographs, so once sunrise was complete, it made sense to head there.

Natural Bridge, close up.
Natural Bridge, close up.
Amazing view to the right of the bridge, #1.
Amazing view to the right of the bridge, #1.
Amazing view to the right of the bridge, #1.
Amazing view to the right combined with natural bridge to the left, and beautiful skies above.
Amazing view to the right, #2.

Farview Point

Next we headed to Farview Point. More amazing views, of course. 🙂 On all but the worst pollution days, Navajo Mountain in Arizona is available. If the skies are really clear, the Kaibab Plateau at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is visible.

Farview Point on the right side.
Farview Point on the right side.
Farview Point on the left side.
Farview Point on the left side.
A wide angle view of all Farview Point.
A wide angle view of all Farview Point.

Swamp Canyon overlook

A little further down the road, we checked out the Swamp Canyon overlook. Well worth the stop!

The view across the road from the overlook.
The view across the road from the overlook.
The right side of the Swamp Canyon overlook.
The right side of the Swamp Canyon overlook.
The left side of the Swamp Canyon overlook.
The left side of the Swamp Canyon overlook.

Red Canyon

On our last trip to Bryce Canyon National Park, we missed getting photos of the tunnels in Red Canyon, so we stopped on the way back home.

Amazing view of one of the tunnels with no traffic coming through.
Amazing view of one of the tunnels with no traffic coming through.
No trip would be complete without a picture of the Jeep in a beautiful location.
No trip would be complete without a picture of the Jeep in a beautiful location.

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