The Capitol Reef: Journey to American Parks 5

<—- MOAB: THE PARK OF THE ARCHES AND THE CANYONLANDS

Day 7: Moab-Capitol Reef-Bryce Canyon National Park

May 7

This morning we left at 8 for Bryce Canyon. We are traveling on Interstate 70, as we move away from Moab these beautiful mountains also move away, until we see only a flat and monotonous land.

We turn at the crossroads for State Route 24 and arrive at Capitol Reef National Park. The first impression is good, there are very high rocky mountains above us: they are not red, but they are yellow. After a while, the rocks turn red and green. Especially when the sun beats they are very beautiful.

After the stop at the Visitor Center with the car we follow a partially dirt road, then we arrive after a short walk inside a canyon (the Capitol Gorge) where we see Indian petroglyphs. After the visit to the park we leave for Bryce Canyon. We take State Route 12 and here we go through a forest full of snow.

We start to climb, it’s not possible it’s snowing! Just before we were in a desert! We stop and do some beating! We are on Boulder Mountain at around 2,800 meters above sea level. After about 10 minutes from the mountain pass, the landscape changes again. The earth becomes barren and the sun comes out we are again in the desert! We arrive at Bryce Canyon around 3pm after traveling 300 miles.

Bryce Canyon

We enter Bryce Canyon and stop at the Visitor Center then we go to see the most important panoramic points (Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point etc.), this park I think is one of the most beautiful shows that you can see on Earth. Too bad they are remaking the panoramic road and we cannot visit the whole park, however the most beautiful part is available to us.

The weather is very bad and a cold wind blows. We will be staying for the next two nights at the Bryce Canyon Best Western Ruby’s Inn, our room is facing a beautiful pond.

Night: Best Western Ruby’s Inn, Bryce Canyon

THE BRYCE CANYON —->