Bryce Canyon at Wintertime

By: Kellie Archuletta

Bryce Canyon is my favorite National Park. I love the hoodoos and the surreal landscape of the canyon, but visiting in the winter was a real treat. The canyon was pristine and unoccupied, not to mention visually stunning.

The park was beautiful filled with snowcapped hoodoos and we had the park virtually to ourselves; after experiencing the park several times in the summer, the height of tourist season, it was magical to be able to hike my favorite trails without battling throngs of tourists.

Toni and I had originally planned to snowshoe over the rim trail but when we got to Bryce and asked the waitress at Ruby’s Inn where the best place to snowshoe was she replied, “Cedar Breaks, Bryce has so little snow that you’ll ruin your equipment.” Cedar Breaks was where we had spent the night and left the rest of our family downhill skiing. I guess this is the reason that you should call the visitors center before you arrive at the park. A limited supply of snowshoes can be borrowed at the visitor’s center for free if you are lucky enough to have enough snow to use them. Toni and I headed for the main gate and visitor’s center after a great meal in the empty dining room of Ruby’s Inn. The visitor’s center has an outstanding array of touristy national park curios; I think it was one of the best visitor’s centers I’ve ever shopped. The ranger on duty recommended hiking the Sunrise to Inspiration Point rim trail and we decided to follow her suggestion.

The vistas from Sunrise to Inspiration Point were phenomenal; Toni was so busy snapping photos I thought she glued her camera to her eye. I briefly considered hiking down into the canyon on the Navajo loop but when Toni informed me that if I broke something while in the canyon, I would be on my own, I reconsidered. I did have an opportunity to pay her back later in the hike by refusing to sit on a tree stump perched precariously on the rim that Toni insisted would be an interesting photo op; she tried to plead to my artistic sensibilities but self preservation won out.

Toni and I had an outstanding time in the park; it was a balmy 47 degree January day when we decided to hike. If you plan to go to the park in the winter I would suggest calling beforehand and asking about weather conditions. (The visitor center number is 435-834-5322) Wintertime is the best time to experience Bryce National Park.

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Kellie Archuletta is a senior at UNLV majoring in Marketing, the president of the PTSA at Knudson Middle School the magnet for the performing arts and a former 5 time Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier who still enjoys running and coaching. Her husband Jaime is a United Airlines Pilot. Her son Charlie is a 13 year old aspiring actor and musician. You can contact her by e-mail kellie.archuletta@cox.net

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