We left Zion via the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. We had to get a special permit, so that they would stop traffic at one end and we could drive down the center of the lane in the tunnel. This is the longest tunnel of its type in the US(1 mile long). We drove through it in the jeep a couple days before which gave us a heads up on how it would be. Scott did an awesome job!
We ended up staying at the Hitch N Post in Panguitch, Utah(about 24 miles from Bryce). All the close campgrounds were already closed for the winter. I had never thought about how a difference of 4, 000-5,000 feet in elevation makes a difference in the weather.
We headed to Bryce on Wednesday. It was a cold and slightly rainy day. We headed to the visitor center for the movie and for our kids to get their Junior Ranger book. We found out there was a ranger program along the rim of the canyon, so we ate lunch in our jeep and headed there.
After the ranger program, we headed down into the canyon on the Navajo/Queen’s Garden Loop(luckily, the rain had stopped). The limestone walls and the different shaped Hoodoos were so amazing!
The following day it was 51 degrees in Panguitch. The owner of our campground told us about a way to get our RV cleaned at the local jail. He said the inmates that clean the RVs are only in for minor offenses. Well, our RV was SO Dirty! Had not been washed since Alaska!! We could not beat the steal of a deal(it included wash and WAX), so we dropped our baby off and headed to Bryce NP and Grand Staircase Escanlante National Monument. Time we arrived at Bryce NP it was in the low 30s and snowing! We ate lunch in the jeep again before heading into the Visitor Center. While we were sitting in the jeep, we saw a family walking in and it looked like the 2 boys had on a gold sequin vest, but it was only their 200+ Junior Ranger badges. They have been to alot of places! They are on a 2 year road trip. The husband is able to work from the road.
We headed to Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Visitor Center next(it was about 20 minutes from Bryce). This Monument protects almost 1.9 million acres in southern Utah. It was a great geology lesson!
The next morning, we woke to some light snow. I had checked the weather, so we were leaving Bryce to miss the snow! I guess I should I have rechecked the weather that morning. 🙂
