Hoodoos, Hiking, Camping, Biking, and Fishing
RV Roadtrip to Arizona and Utah
One Day at Bryce Canyon
Stayed: Sunset Campsite
Budget: $100
Bryce Canyon National Park has the largest concentration of hoodoos found on earth!! These hoodoos have been on my bucket list ever since I laid eyes on the pictures of the uniquely shaped formations a few years back. As I researched the area, I just knew it had to be explored via our first ever RV roadtrip to the West. An RV trip is the perfect way to take in the beauty of the many national parks within a short driving distance of each other in Arizona and Utah, especially with kids. Take a look at our full trip itinerary HERE.
One Day at Bryce Canyon
We arrived there with plenty of time to walk along the rim and catch the sunset. We camped overnight at the Sunset Campsite right inside the park. It’s within walking distance of Sunset Point. Lucky for us, they were not taking campsite reservations because of park construction. Normally, these sites are booked up to a year in advance. On this particular day, they were first come, first serve. We arrived around 4pm and managed to snag one of the last sites in the whole park. yay! There are no hookups available inside the park itself and their quiet hours start at 10pm. (This means no noise, even an engine or generator) No hookups in October meant we had to bundle up in coats and hats to sleep. Since this was our first RV trip, we had not taken the time to learn how to use the generator or propane to heat the RV on a cold night or to cool the refrigerator. We did some unnecessary roughing it, but we were too busy with our adventures to worry about it …. until 3AM on this night. The temps got COLD!! One by one, throughout the night, each kid came to our bed saying they were cold. By the morning, all four kids were snuggled in the back bed with us to stay warm. We were packed in that bed like sardines, but we were WARM! A memory I’ll never forget!!
At 6am, I was able to take a quick hike to catch the sunrise cascading into the valley as the kids slept in the RV. Kyle stayed with them. This was when I realized that we had cut our trip too short. I wanted a full day or maybe two at Bryce Canyon, but we were running out of time. I hiked down as far as I could in the brisk, cold air and then hastily made my way back up and out of the canyons before Kyle began to worry. The kids were still sleeping! We had planned to get in a few hours of hiking the hoodoos before lunch, but decided not to interrupt their sleep since we had overnight flights to catch by the end of the day and we still wanted to see Zion. Instead of waking them up, bundling them up, and hiking the hoodoos, we decided to get some heat into the RV by hitting the road and going on to Zion National Park. My heart will be forever sad that we didn’t hike those hoodoos; a lesson to be learned in trying to fit too much into one trip. Details below on the best hikes. There’s also a lodge there where you can eat!
Look here for more information on Bryce Canyon.
Tip: Reserve your campsite as far in advance as possible. They go quickly. $30 campsite fee.
Hiking the canyons
The Best Hikes
From our research, there are a few popular trails that you shouldn’t miss out on. Each trail offers its own unique view of this unmatched landscape, so take time to hike as many as possible.
At Sunset Point
Tips for Bryce Canyon
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Tip: If you have children, be careful of the edges where there are no railings and straight drop-offs.
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Sunset Point
Most of the pictures that we took were of Sunset Point. This lookout point is home to some of Bryce Canyon’s most famous hoodoos, including the Silent City and Thor’s Hammer, located just below the overlook on the northern edge. See if you can find Thor’s hammer in any of our pictures. Because Thor’s Hammer stands alone, it’s easy to spot. The colors of the rock at Sunset Point are quite striking, with iron oxide minerals making the bright reds, oranges and yellows stand out.
According to past visitors, Sunset Point is a must-see, especially for those “looking for great views without a strenuous hike.” Reviewers also recommended catching a ranger tour to learn more about the geology of the hoodoos. Half-hour geology talks are offered year-round at Sunset Point (or in the visitor center auditorium during winter), while 1-mile rim walks are offered daily in the spring, summer and fall. The NPS website provides detailed information for various ranger programs.
If you do want to hike, the 1.3-mile Navajo Loop Trail is one of the most popular in the park and leads down into a slot canyon called Wall Street that’s populated with 500- to 700-year-old Douglas firs. The trail is often combined with the Queens Garden Trail, which leads through the Queens Garden and ends at the rim at Sunrise Point. There are restrooms and drinking water available at Sunset Point. For more information about Sunset Point, including trail details and lengths, consult the NPS website.
The sun setting over the hoodoos.
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