Return to Bryce Canyon National Park & Red Canyon

Edges of the Paunsaugunt Plateau | Saturday – Tuesday, November 8-11, 2025

Earlier in the year, well before she even knew she had a meningioma and would need brain surgery in October, Diane told me that she wanted to go to Bryce Canyon National Park sometime this year because she had never been there before and it was the only National Park in Utah that she hadn’t been to yet, so I planned a trip for us to visit the park over the Veterans Day holiday and weekend in early November. Of course, after her surgery in early October and the rough recovery afterwards, I wasn’t sure if we were still going to be able to go on this trip, but as the dates got closer and she continued to slowly get better every day and was no longer under any restrictions, we decided to still go, even if she would only able to visit the overlooks from the rim. Although I had initially planned to go on some longer hikes when I started making plans for this trip earlier in the year, I had no problems toning down those plans so we could experience the park together now. I thought this extended weekend might be a nice getaway for Diane who has spend most of the last month either in the hospital or at home.

We left home early on Saturday morning, drove through the High Plateaus of Utah and made it to Bryce Canyon at the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau shortly before noon. After stopping at the Visitor Center we continued on to Sunset Point and Sunrise Point so Diane could get her first view of the Bryce Amphitheater before we spent the rest of the day following the Scenic Drive and stopping at most of the overlooks on our way out to Rainbow Point.

Hoodoos below the rim at Sunset Point.

After leaving the main overlooks above the Bryce Amphitheater we stopped and walked out to the Paria View since I had not been out to this viewpoint before.

Next, we stopped to take in the views from Bryce Point.

Bryce Natural Bridge

After walking out to Rainbow Point at the end of the Scenic Drive, Diane was feeling up to try a short hike, so we hiked the Bristlecone Loop Trail.

The Promontory

She was still feeling good at the end of the loop, so we continued out to Yovimpa Point.

We stopped at a couple more viewpoints on our way back out of the park from Rainbow Point.

Swamp Canyon Butte

On Sunday morning we were up early and back in the park before sunrise. This morning I was planning to hike the Navajo Loop because the Wall Street section was closed during my last visit when I had hiked all the other trails in the Bryce Amphitheater and I wanted to cross this one off my list. Diane was feeling well after the shorter hikes on Saturday and wanted to join me for the hike. I was a little worried about how she was going to do, but I brought along her hiking poles in case she needed them and planned to take as long as she needed to complete the loop.

We arrived at the rim near Sunset Point just as the early morning light struck the rim and hoodoos below.

After taking a few photos from the rim we started down the trail.

The Queen’s Garden at Sunrise

On our way to Wall Street.

Looking down the many switchbacks of the Wall Street Trail. We were the first ones down and had the place to ourselves, which was great! We wouldn’t run into another hiker until we were almost at the top of the Two Bridges Trail.

I think Diane was pretty happy to be outside again after a very rough month!

Little Switchbacks

Stonework & Tunnel

Into the Depths

Stairway Glow

Tall trees at the bottom of Wall Street.

Diane in Wall Street

Looking up from the bottom.

Two Bridges

Trees & Trail

Hiking up the Two Bridges Trail to complete the Navajo Loop.

Navajo Loop Switchbacks

Finishing our hike above Thor’s Hammer.

Diane completed the Navajo Loop with no issues and was hiking just as fast as she usually does, so I guess I had nothing to be concerned about. Afterwards she was still feeling like hiking some more so we went over to the Mossy Cave Trail and hiked that short trail, too.

Water Canyon

After getting a late breakfast at Ruby’s Inn we returned to the hotel so Diane could rest for a while. Even though she had no problems with the hiking, it did tire her out much quicker than normal.

Red Canyon Tunnel

After getting some rest we returned to the park in the afternoon to visit Farview Point and the Piracy Point Overlook because they were the last two viewpoints we had not visited the day before.

We still had a few hours left in the day, the park was pretty busy and Diane was feeling well enough to go on another hike, so I thought it might be nice to head over to Willis Creek in the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument since she had never been there before and I hadn’t been back in a long time, but I remembered it being a pretty easy walk to some nice canyon narrows.

Here are a few photos of our short walk through the narrows of Willis Creek.

On Monday morning Diane was supposed to have a follow-up with with one of her surgeons, so she stayed at the hotel to take that call while I headed over to Inspiration Point to photograph the sunrise.

Inspiration Point at Sunrise

Light Below Inspiration Point

Sunrise Spires

Bryce Creek

Boat Mesa

Hoodoos at Sunrise

After photographing the sunrise I grabbed some breakfast at Ruby’s Inn and then returned to our hotel to pick Diane up again. She was still feeling good after hiking the Navajo Loop and now wanted to hike the Queens Garden Loop this morning.

I didn’t take many photos during our hike on the Queens Garden Trail, but this hoodoo reminded me of my favorite hoodoo in The Needles.

Looking up from the Queens Garden Trail.

Mystic Eyes

After completing the Queens Garden Loop we spent the rest of the day going on short hikes in Red Canyon.

Birdseye Trail

Photo Trail Ridge

Arches Trail

We finished off the day with a drive up above Red Canyon to Mud Spring Ridge where we had a good view of Casto Bluff.

On Tuesday morning we started our drive home before sunrise, but I took a little more scenic route as we cut across the Paunsaugunt Plateau and then took the Old Escalante Road through the Escalante Mountains to Escalante.

We passed by Casto Bluff again at sunrise.

An early morning drive across the Paunsaugunt Plateau.

Flat Top

We also visited the Circle of Friends pictograph panel along the way.

Finally, we stopped to visit the Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder since I probably haven’t been there in over 15 years and Diane had never been. After stretching our legs by walking around the museum and ruins we continued our drive back home. We had a nice long visit to Bryce Canyon National Park and I’m very happy that Diane was able to get out and start hiking again!

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