WEST COAST OF THE USA STAGE 5: HORSESHOE BEND AND BRYCE CANYON

This day we had it well marked on the calendar, and perhaps it was the most complete of our entire route along the west coast of the United States. 12 hours and almost 800 km we have put our crumb (the Ford Fiesta we rented in San Francisco) to see some of the most impressive places of the trip. And that we came from the Grand Canyon!

But is that the Horseshoe Bend and the Bryce Canyon They have nothing to envy. Here we tell you what to see in Bryce Canyon and the other places of interest of this stage, and all useful information to prepare visits.

We stayed about 20 miles from Page and we were lucky that on the way to the Horsehoe Bend we had to go through some super cool places that we didn't expect! First we deviate in the Lone Rock, a lonely rock that rises in the Lake powell With an incredible environment.

Later we take a secondary road that runs next to the Lake powell and with several lookouts interesting. We didn't want panoramic roads ... well here we have hundreds.

And to open our mouths before arriving at the Horseshoe Bend we stopped at the viewpoint over the Glen Canyon Dam, in the town of Page itself. Surprising.

But of course, it was to open our eyes to the horseshoe of the Horseshoe Bend and run out of words. So much so that it goes straight to the head of the most impressive sites visited on our trip through the United States. I can't say anything else, better than the Grand Canyon? For me (Rober), yes!

To visit the Horseshoe Bend You will have to leave the car in the parking lot and walk the 1.2 km on foot until you reach the precipice. The road is mostly sand and you don't walk easy, but come on it's patience. Take plenty of water (there are no sources in the parking lot). The visit takes about 40 minutes in total.

From here to get to Bryce Canyon you can choose to take the Vermillon Cliff Scenic Route that, although it will take you a little longer, go through beautiful places: we highlight the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River, and its parallel pedestrian bridge, to stay literally suspended over the green waters of the mythical river. And the Marble Canyon, which you will probably go through with your mouth open (practically with the same gesture that you will wear all day).

Since Kaibab Visitor Center the road goes to the Grand Canyon North RimBut telita, it's 45 miles one way and we don't even know we'll meet at the end ... so we choose to continue without wasting any more time.

Upon arriving at Kanab another question will come in: Do we visit the Zion National Park? They have told us that it is worth it, but today it is impossible for us! It is about 27 miles from this town, by the way, very cool.

Already on Highway 89 and 6 miles from the detour to Bryce, on the right side there is a green land and small streams where they live, neither more nor less than 50 buffalo! They are in captivity but from what we saw they have enough land to stick good walks.

If you already had your mouth open, here your jaw may be disengaged! Highway 12 that leads you to Bryce Canyon passes through this area of ​​red rocks like fire, impossible formations and arches that you will have to cross. The Red Canyon does not last more than 2 or 3 miles, but what miles! There are some car parks where you can leave your car for a few minutes and go out to contemplate the beauty of this place.

If the Horseshow Bend enters directly to number one, the Bryce Canyon is placed in the top3 of what we visited so far from the west coast of the United States. We did not want to look to the left along the road, we preferred not to reveal its greatness from the glass of the car, but it was almost inevitable and the eye went almost every corner ...

When you get to the first viewpoint, whatever it is, park the car, try to control your impulses and arrive at the cliff facing the ground, grab the rail and look up. Probably the first thing that comes out of your mouth is a curse ...

It is perfect for vaguetes: the park consists of a 17 mile highway where different viewpoints are distributed, some practically next to the asphalt and others that must be reached by short and easy paths. The road runs along the top of the canyon, so you'll see it from above.

Like all lookouts are on the left side in the first leg, it is advisable to reach the end of the Rainbow point and from there return stopping at the viewpoints. The one way is done in about 30 minutes, the return is what it takes (of course!).

There's a path that practically crosses the whole canyon below and others that join some viewpoints. You can make several sections if you have time, although we do not know how your state is and if it is common to do it (we did not see anyone). Perhaps the most interesting part is the one that goes from Bryce Point to Inspiration Point (2.4 km) or the paved road of 1.6 km from Sunset to Sunrise Point. The most popular seems to be the one that combines the Queens and the Navajo in a loop (4.6 km), although with moderate difficulty.

→ Park maps

As in other parks, at Bryce Canyon there are free buses They stop at several viewpoints, although we believe that if you go by car it is better to do it at your leisure.

After stopping at almost every viewpoint, the ones we liked the most were (from farther to closer to the Visitor Center):

• Rainbow point
• Natural bridge
• Bryce point
• Inspiration Point

The detour to Bryce Canyon is on Highway 12, to get there you probably have to do it along Highway 89, whether you arrive from the north or if you do it from the south.

The day ends with an incredible sunset on the way to Green River, passing through some places of real madness. If Arizona was cool, Utah has fallen in love with us!

- Always check the official website updates about the state of the park, access roads, weather forecasts, etc.

- Download the Bryce Canyon map to prepare your itinerary.

- We advise you to get up early if you leave from Page if you want to see all the points that we have explained before, and hurry up because the night will soon be upon you.

- Get well on sunscreen and bring enough water, it is not a bad idea to buy a portable cooler and put ice to keep the water bottles cold.

- Be careful because you cross Navajo territory several times, where there is no time change, so you will probably find another hour in these areas.

- You can camp, always registering (policy of "the first to arrive keeps the site"). Tent areas cost $ 20 per night and for a motorhome they are $ 30.

- If you stay to sleep you will enjoy a clear sky, the Bryce Canyon is one of the darkest places and therefore better to observe the sky at night.

- Whether you have paid this ticket or if you have the America the Beautiful pass, you will have to put the ticket (or pass) in a visible place when you leave the car in a parking lot.

We rented a huge caravan entirely for us in a caravan park in Green River. As we had monkey sleeping on wheels (after our Route66 in a motorhome), we saw no better place! Although for practical purposes it is a full-fledged house, with its room, its kitchen, its living room, its bathroom ... We rented it with Airbnb and left for about € 70. You can get a € 35 discount if you make a new account from this link.

Video: USA West Coast road trip part 5: Horseshoe bend, Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon Dam (April 2024).