Southwest Canyons and Rainbows Loop {10/8: Bryce Canyon}

Day 10! The last day of our big road trip adventure of the fall. We spent the morning and lunch in the park, hiking, walking, sitting in the shade/sun (depending on the breeze), eating, working on Jr. Ranger books. And then we headed home. What a trip!

First peek on Bryce Canyon.

We decided to try a hike down into the amphitheater
since we didn't get to do that the last time we were here.

We hiked down to the Queen's Garden from Sunrise Point,
and while we were down there, decided to make it into a loop
(we hoped it would work - we didn't have our map with us
but we did a quick google and then just followed the hordes
of people doing the same thing) by coming back up 
Sunset Point.

It's such a crazy, gnarly place!

Oh! Fun tunnel alert!

A nice fellow hiker offered to take our photo after he
saw our goofy attempt.

Making a rubbing from one of the "hike
the hoodoos" marks.

There's the queen for whom the Queen's Garden is
named (I thought it was the formation that we kept
taking pictures by and of that looked like a crown!).

I love all this twisty desert wood.

Another view of the queen, right in the center.

Starting up some serious switchbacks.

Back and forth and back and forth.

I mean - WOW!

Because we made the loop, we all qualified for the
"I hiked the Hoodoos" vinyl cling sticker when we
got back to the visitor's center with the kids' completed
Jr. Ranger books.

I just can't believe this place sometimes.

Instead of going straight back to Sunrise Point on the
path, we meandered over to the lodge to check it out.
Such a cool building!

Back in the visitor's center to get the 
finishing touches for the Jr. Rangers.

Driving back out through Red Canyon toward the
 highway home.

And just look at those leaves on the mountains
in Utah County! Wowza!