Bryce Canyon Day Trip 4/11

Today we took Hwy 9 east through the tunnel to Hwy 89 and on up to Bryce Canyon National Park.  Zion Canyon is beautiful but the drive over the mountains in Zion is incredible.  Driving in that area you are able to really see the detail of the mountains...the textures and colors are beyond description.

Anyone that has been here will recognize the arch you see before you get to the tunnel.  

Looking back west from the tunnel control station.

The tunnel is about 1 mile long and was built in the 30's.  It is narrow and there isn't a lot of vertical clearance near the sides so they limit it to one way traffic when RVs or trailers need to go through.  Traffic is stopped at each end of the tunnel and one way traffic is sent down the middle of the tunnel.  The last vehicle to go through is given a baton to hand to the ranger at the opposite end indicating they can send traffic through the tunnel.

The ranger on the right with the orange vest seemed to be at every station we went through.  She was at the campground entrance when we arrived.  At the entrance to the park when we returned from town, and then today at the tunnel control station.

Driving east on Hwy 9.

Again very lucky to see Desert Big Horn sheep.

Rainbow Point which is at the end of the road and at just over 9000' elevation.

Even though it was in the 70's the snow remains in many areas.

Prominent Hoodoos.

Natural Bridge.

We saw a couple of herds of antelope but they kept

 their distance.

Sunset Point which is one of the more famous and visited spots in the park.  We have been here near sunset and the light makes the cliffs surreal.

Back in Zion.

Another great day.