Grand Circle – Day 3

September 29^th 2012

Panguitch, UT – Caineville, UT

Miles driven: 216

Night spent: Rodeway Inn, Caineville, UT

Time traveled: 8.13 am – 6.25 pm

Very similar morning, we got up, had some coffee and started to drive towards Bryce Canyon. Another (sound like cliché) pretty day (sun was coming up and there were almost no clouds). We could not wish for anything better.

The drive was pretty short and before Bryce, we had small preview, Red Canyon. It was just small site by the road with few short hikes. We did not do any walking, but took a moment to enjoy the view.

The turn from main road towards Bryce Canyon (it is about 20 miles one-way). We had to experience the touch of civilization again (like in Grand and Zion Canyons), the shops and lodges. Oh well. Another gate into park and surprise by “No fee day”.

There was option for travel by shuttle, but we thought it would be easier and better just to drive. The shuttle serviced just main part of the park anyway. Quick stop by visitor’s center, too many people and nothing useful, so we drove in the park. Our first stop was Inspiration point. Hard to say anything to describe the picture we saw.

There were again several stops, which were overlooks or trailheads. We stopped by some on the way to the end, which was the Rainbow point. One of the incredible views was Natural bridge.

It was really incredible drive, for most of it, we could not see the canyon, but it was still pretty. The views of the canyon and red formation were unreal. Amazing and fascinating.

Again, unfortunately, we did not have a week or so to spend on one place, so we had to keep moving. We decided to take one smaller hike, which went down to the canyon around the rock formation. It was called Navajo Loop and was a bit over a mile. The starting point was in the main part of the park and was called Sunset point. The parking lot was full and there was so many people. We enjoyed the views and could see the trail winding down into the rocks. Interesting. Very interesting.

Really amazed and very happy about this trip so far, we left Bryce Canyon and were heading towards Grand Staircase, Capital Reef and town of Caineville for the night. We stopped for small hike to see waterfall and mossy cave. Hard to beat the views from Bryce.

We got on the road number 12 (scenic road). We stopped by visitor’s center for Grand Staircase. The park is relatively new and most of the roads in it are dirt. We did not have much time either, so we basically just drove along this beautiful road. At some point, we ended up on the top of the mountains and were looking down to the open country. The views were incredible, the road was making me sick (some). But … it was awesome.

We encountered the beauty of the fall again. And again, J. went crazy with pictures. In fact, for the whole trip, we ended up with 1400 pictures. I mean, it was really pretty and incredible, but so many pictures, really?

So, the drive was really a treat, but we still stopped by Capitol Reef National Park. Just two scenic roads going in (and back), the rest were dirt roads. The entrance had a garden, orchards and some old buildings and barns. This was the way to the west in old days and as well place, where some people settled. It was pretty, but we were getting really tired and obviously, it was not as impressive as some sights before.

A bit more of travel left. The surroundings changed again (more like desert) and nothing else. The evening was as well coming and sun was slowly leaving us. And … we had enough for a day. J. was hungry, but we did not go into town called Torrey, and she did not like the look on one restaurant we passed. There should be something in Caineville. After one sharper curve, we almost missed our motel – Rodeway Inn. In the middle of nowhere. We went in, checked in and were informed, that Caineville consists of maybe ten houses scattered around. J. ended up with some microwave food. Oh well …

http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Canyon_National_Park
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Staircase-Escalante_National_Monument
http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/grand_staircase.htm
http://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Reef_National_Park
http://www.capitolreef.org/caineville.html
http://www.rodewayinn.com/hotel-caineville-utah-UT151