A fairly short drive from Zion, Bryce Canyon is usually described as “surface of Mars” and unlike many cliches, this one is actually true. Beautiful intense crimson-colored intricate sculpture-like hoodoos sprawled out as far as the eye can see.

I stayed in the Bryce Canyon Lodge owned by the National Park. Nice clean rooms and bathrooms, the best thing about the Lodge complex is the proximity to the Bryce Canyon ridge. Sunset, sun is on your right, sunrise, sun is on your left. And the crimson ocean of quirky spires in every direction.

Some great trails. The first day, I ran out before dawn, watched the sunrise and then practically ran the hiked the 8-mile Fairyland Loop with a short (1 mile) spur to the Tower Bridge. Then, I hiked Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden combo (3.9 miles). Afterwards, I walked on the ridge trail to the highest observation point to soak it all in. While there, I met a large group of young Mormon guys from all over the country visiting a fellow missionary in Utah. They had just hiked Peekaboo – the trail I meant to do the next day. But I got inspired and hiked it as a sunset stroll (about 6.5 miles as a figure-8 loop to include Navajo and Queen’s Garden trails). The following morning, I hiked Peekaboo again. It was that good.

I rarely say this and always want to stay places as long as possible, but 2 nights would have been plenty for me at Bryce. In the afternoon of the second full day, I drove to Rainbow Point from which I walked to the Yovimpa Point for even more splendid view of the hoodoo amphitheaters.