Bryce Canyon National Park
Personal Notes:
November Trip
This page presents our personal notes on our visit to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah in November of 2001..
| Sunday, November 11, 2001 | |
Sunday, November 11, 2001
Overview
This was our first trip into the park in the month of November. It is quite pleasant without the throngs of tourists crowding the overlooks and fighting for the limited parking spots. The only drawback to this time of year is that many of the facilities, such as the lodge, general store, restaurant, and restrooms, are closed for the season. It also appeared that the two campgrounds within the park are closed, although we did spot a couple of campers within the north campground.
The new Visitor Center has been completed and looks great. They have maintained the character of the park, while enhancing the interior functionality of the building. It is modern, spacious, and will accommodate many more visitors at one time than the previous structure. And the building blends nicely with the surrounding environment.
There were no entrance fees on this weekend because of the Veteran's Day holiday.
Fairyland Loop Trail
( Map )
We have hiked all of the trails within Bryce Canyon National Park, with the exception of the unnamed trail that follows the main drainage out of the park and meets a road that goes to the town of Tropic below the park. We have also missed the short .8 mile round trip trail that goes to an arch along the eastern edge of the park, accessed from Highway 12.
We have hiked the Fairyland Loop Trail several times, and it is one of our favorite hikes within the park. It is an 8 mile round trip hike. Although you can begin your hike at the Fairyland Overlook, we prefer to begin the hike from the Sunrise Point Overlook parking area. Part of the trail, 2.7 miles, follows the Rim Trail between the two points. We prefer to complete that portion of the hike first, allowing us to end our hike immediately after the long, strenuous climb out.
The entire 8 mile hike took us three hours and fifteen minutes, and we didn't feel like we pushed ourselves, except, maybe, on the last ascent.
Rim Trail
Leaving Sunrise Point, going north along the Rim Trail, we followed the path along the edge, with its spectacular panoramic views of the hoodoos and sculpted spires and colors below. From this trail you overlook the entire northern section of the basin, and look across the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument toward Powell Point and the Kaparowits Plateau to the east.
The trail along the rim is well defined, and is mostly easy to moderate. There are a few short climbs, but it is a good trail to warm up on and loosen your muscles for the more strenuous parts of the trail below. This part of the trail also helps you get into a rhythm. The surface is solid and obvious and would make a great hike for beginners. It also passes near the North Campground.
Fairyland Canyon Overlook
At Fairyland Overlook the trail descends into the basin, passing through the pine trees and other pine related vegetation found in the upper parts of the basin. The length of the Fairyland Trail is well defined and wide enough in many places for two to walk side by side. The surface is solid in most areas, with some crumbly clay-like nuggets here and there. It can get sticky when wet, being more clay-like than sandy in most areas.
At this time of the year we didn't see any wildlife, other than a single blue jay along the Rim Trail. We did see deer tracks at several places where we crossed dry stream beds, and we did smell skunk when we first started down into the basin, but saw no signs of the black and white critter.
The trail undulates up and down and around through the spires and towers and natural sculptures within the basin. It is one of our favorite hikes. We have taken this hike several times, in each direction, and we prefer this route.
We mostly had the trail to ourselves. We met three women coming up just below the Fairyland Overlook, and there was a couple near the bridge who apparently had walked down from Sunrise Point. And on our climb out we met a fellow walking in.
All along the trail there are great views of the surrounding landscape, and as the lighting changes the views change as well. It seems that because of the low angle of the sun at this time of year the colors seem richer and darker than they do in the bright, intense sunlight of the summer months.
From the Bridge to the top is 1.7 miles. It's pretty much a continuous climb from there, with the exception of one short stretch along the China Wall. We have learned that the best way to conquer these long climbs is to just set a comfortable pace and keep going. One foot in front of the other. If you stop it is more difficult to get going again. Eventually your body and breathing get into a rhythm and your heavy breathing matches your stride and before you know it you're at the top without much difficulty.
If you must stop, it's best to hold on until you can find a relatively flat area. That will make it easier than trying to begin again on a steep slope. Of course, sometimes you don't have a choice.
We made it to the top in good shape. We were breathing heavy, but recuperated quickly. I ended with a sore right ankle, and Anne's calves ache some, but otherwise we are fine and had a great hike.
