Cross-Country Vacation
Day 3: Cedar Breaks and Bryce Canyon
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
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As everyone was finishing breakfast Tuesday morning I made sure I filled up, even though I still had over 1/2 tank left and we were not going all that far today. We were starting across a stretch of rural Utah and I did not want to hear a repeat of all of the complaining about being low on gas again.
From Cedar City we headed east on Utah route 14. The elevations in Zion had topped out around 7000 ft, but except for the last overlook there we were mostly down in the canyon looking up. Here we started to climb even higher, over 9000 feet and headed for 10K. Along the way we had a view back towards Zion where you could especially make out the West Temple and Great White Throne.
Our first major stop that morning was Cedar Breaks National Monument. As you can see on the one sign, the elevation is over 10,000 feet here.
There was a trail going out to the point near the upper left of the next photo. The map said that there was a bristlecone pine forest over there. I decided to hike over and check it out, but everyone else was feeling the effects of the altitude and decided to stay behind. I looked back and took some pictures as I departed.
About half way over to the point I passed a couple who were pointing and taking some pictures, and I finally saw what they were looking at. They said it was a golden marmot, although later in one of the guides I saw it called a yellow-bellied marmot.
Finally I reached the end of the trail and the bristlecone pine forest. This is the species of trees that are the oldest living organism on earth. There are some trees in the Owens Valley in California as many as 5000 years old. While at the overlook, I could hear a couple of female voices. It sounded as if they were right next to me, but I was the only one there. Then I recognized the voices as belonging to Cheryl and Dawn. The bowl shape of Cedar Breaks causes a natural amphitheater effect and their voices had carried all of the way across to me. I heard Dawn ask Cheryl if that was Dennie out there and I yelled back and waved. I took their picture at full 10x zoom, and you can barely make them out in the third shot that follows, that is how far away they were.
On the way back I spotted a marmot den and I was able to get quite close to it without alarming them.
You can see where I was in the previous pictures in this next shot. I had been on the ledge just to the left and above them.
We stopped at a few more overlooks on the way out of Cedar Breaks.
As we were leaving a thunderstorm was rolling in and we saw some spectacular lighting strikes as we drove down into Panguitch where we stopped for lunch. From Panguitch we headed east towards Bryce Canyon. Before you get there, though, just as you turn off of US-89 onto scenic Utah Highway 12 you enter Red Canyon and part of the Dixie National Forest.
We made it to the turnoff for Bryce Canyon in the early afternoon and found a place to spend that night right on the corner. Then we headed into the park.
There is a scenic road that runs about 17 miles to the back of the park and dead ends. So just like at Zion we went all of the way to the end at Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point and worked our way forward. That was good, because the views only got better as we went.
In these next three shots you can just make out Navajo Mountain (elevation 10388) in the distance. It is about 60 miles away.
Here is the view from the Natural Bridge lookout.
Some heavy thundershowers passed to the north but we only got a little sprinkled on that afternoon.
From Piracy Point looking back to Farview Point (elevation 8819):
I thought that this crow in the dead try with the dark sky rolling in made for an ominous picture.
Paria View and looking at the pink cliffs:
Bryce Point; this is where things really started getting spectacular.
Mary dropped her pack of cigarettes over the edge and I had to go fetch them.
Inspiration Point. It was amazing how different the towers and spires looked from different angles.
Sunset Point:
There is a Sunrise Point, too, but by this time the sun was setting and everyone was getting tired and hungry.
We started to head back to the park exit but I saw a food icon on the sign to Sunrise Point so we drove back there to the Lodge to have dinner. Unfortunately it being after Labor Day most of their workers had gone back to college in preparation for the slow part of the season. So the restaurant was well under-staffed and it took a while to get seated and we were waiting for the food.
Thus began our ritual of Mary getting tired of waiting for dinner to arrive and thus deciding to go have a cigarette, and then us watching the food come right after she had left. It seemed like most of us had some unusual dish that was in the specials. I do not recall what it was, but it seems like it was pretty good.
Cedar Breaks National Monument: Website, Map
Bryce Canyon National Park: Website, Map
Day 3 Summary:
Start: Cedar City, UT
End: Junction UT-12 and UT-63
By way of: Panguich, UT
Route: UT-14, UT-148, UT-143, US-89, UT-12, UT-63
Approximate Driving Distance:
This Day: 105 miles
Total: 785 miles
Next: Day 4: Capitol Reef