National Parks-Bryce Canyon-Utah

On June 13th, we stayed at Bryce Canyon National Park. We hiked the Queen's Garden Trail.

Lucia, Erin and Trish the beginning of the journey.

Check out that hat.

Photo Credit: Erin Maguire

Bryce Canyon was nothing of what I had expected; it was more beautiful than I had imagined. It felt like a more compact and accessible Grand Canyon. I took so many pictures but you have to go in person to truly experience the beauty. The vibrant red, almost surreal towers of rock pasted against a blue sky. Just wait till I see the Grand Canyon then my mind will be blown.

Canyon-view from the top.

Photo Credit: Erin Maguire

The Canyon up close and personal.

Photo Credit: Erin Maguire

Peek-a-boo.

Photo Credit: Erin Maguire

Part of the group within the canyon.

Photo Credit: Trish Seelman

I did not like how touristy it was in and around Bryce. It was almost demeaning the beauties of this natural wonder by having inns, lodges, and campgrounds infringing upon it. I am glad we stayed at Timber Creek campground away from all the tourist traps. Plus it felt pretty awesome to drive down a gravel road to our campsite and sleep in a glen of trees. Overall all it was a Bryce day hahaha get it.

The next morning before we left for Zion National Park, we spoke about Prairie dogs which are an endangered species right outside the park. Prairie dogs are the pigeons of the west. The dogs dig up the ground, and make holes that livestock can fall into therefore farmers and ranchers do not like having them on their land and are prone to shooting them.

There are about 1,000 Utah prairie dogs left in the country. There are 14-20 different types of prairie dog species in North America. They have been an endangered species since the initial signing of the Endangered Species Act in 1973. The species is very hard to translocate if they are found on someone’s property because they hunt in large groups and you need to take all of the prairie dogs of the “town” to the new location.

I found it very interesting that the dogs and bison have a symbiotic relationship. The bison lift up vegetation and grasses when they eat and the prairie dogs use those holes the bison dig as their towns.

Prarie dog warning its town that intruders, we, were there.

Photo Credit: Erin Maguire