April 18-23, 2026
It was a reasonably short drive to Bryce Canyon from Zion. If I wasn’t towing a trailer I could have driven through Zion and the Mount Carmel Tunnel saving a few miles. With the trailer I went to I-15 North and then back down 89 south to Bryce. It was a beautiful drive.
I stayed at the Bryce Valley Ranch RV and Horse Park. This park can hold probably 100 RVs, while I was there I don’t think there were more than 20. And the facilities seemed to be brand new, I would definitely return.
After I set up I headed to the park’s visitor center.
Long Day of Hiking
Upon hearing that I had four days the ranger at the visitor center suggested the Navajo Loop to the Peekaboo to the Queens Garden Trail hike for a starter. This would be about 5.5 miles. Coming from Zion I was used to 1400 ft elevation gains. But Bryce is different – you’re at a higher elevation to begin with and, on a single trail you can have 3, 4, or 5 600-800 ft elevation gains and declines. My first day’s hike was grueling but the pictures along the way were unbelievable.
Here come 30 or so pictures.
Mossy Cave
The previous day’s hike was pretty grueling and my legs were a bit sore so I wanted to take it easy.
The park brochure list Mossy Cave as one of the more popular hikes and is very short. I had driven past the trail head numerous time as I drove from the campground to the main park entrance. Mossy Cave isn’t really a cave but a sheltered overhang. This “cave” is filled with mosses in the summer and icicles in the winter.
Kodachrome Basin State Park
After Mossy Cave I drove to Kodachrome Basin State Park. The park’s name comes from a National Geographic Expedition in the 1940’s that named the area Kodachrome Flats. When the area became a state park in 1962 it was originally called Chimney Rock State Park. Later Kodak gave permission to use the name Kodachrome and the park was renamed.
I hiked the Sentinel Trail.
That night the wind had finally died down enough to enjoy a campfire.
Grosvenor Arch
The next day I explored two local highlights of the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument (there are 10s or 100s of great sights in the Monument but these two were relatively close).
First, the Grosvenor Arch. This is a rare double arch and is named after a former president of the National Geographic Society. To get there you drive about 11 miles on an unmaintained dirt road. Four wheel drive is advisable and when wet signs say the road is impassable.
Once you reach the site there is a cement trail to the arch.
Willis Creek Slot Canyon
The second highlight of the Monument that was nearby is the Willis Creek Slot Canyon. There are several slot canyons in the Monument, some, at least looking at pictures are much more spectacular, but they were much much further away.
Accessing this site also required about 10 miles on unmaintained road, I’d say in worse condition that the road to Grosvenor Arch. This was most definitely worth the road.
I;m hooked on slot canyons after this.
Last Day at Bryce Canyon
Three goals for my last day – hike part of the rim trail, lunch at the Bryce Canyon Lodge, drive to the far end of the park, Rainbow point.
On my first day I hiked in the canyon, looking up at the hoodoos and the rim. That was a grueling hike. Now the Rim Trail follows the rim and I started at Inspiration Point and had a down hill hike toward Sunset Point and looking down into the canyon.
Then I drove to the highest point in the park, Rainbow Point.
Then driving down canyon I stopped at several of the turn offs.
No pictures of lunch at the Bryce Lodge but the Bison Chili was excellent. I moved on the next day.