The Navajo Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park

The Navajo Trail is one of many you will find in Bryce Canyon National Park. The park entrance is through the plateau at the top of the canyon at 7,664 feet above sea level. When we reach its brim, we can see the wonderful spectacle of those hundreds of hoodoos that rise up, creating an army of strange figures.

When I look at them, I feel that it is like looking at the clouds and trying to find the forms that are hidden, this time, between the stones. The hoodoos are constantly changing due to erosion caused by rain, snow, and wind. But they also change according to the time of day and the season. Snow adds its magic.

The canyon has a depth of 550 feet and several paths down to the valley. Some of them are closed during the winter and others must be used cautiously.

These trails remain covered in a thick layer of ice, the surface of which melts a bit in the sun during the day but freezes again each night, making a normal shoe not grippy at all. If you plan to travel to the park during winter or spring, using the chains that give you traction for the ice is essential. 

The path goes down in a zigzag pattern, and although in some parts it has handrails or a protective fence, in other parts, it does not. A slip on the ice could be very dangerous.

As you go down, the view changes completely. To walk inside these tall stone towers, is to enter an enchanted world. Each bend of the trail shows you a new angle. 

You can see caves excavated by erosion, rock bridges, and incredible rock formations.

When descending, the trees begin to emerge. Some of them are very tall and are hundreds of years old. The conditions of the canyon are completely adverse for them to grow. The lack of rain, the type of terrain, and the altitude mean that each tree that grows there has had to fight for its survival.

As I went down, in addition to enjoying the beautiful view, I was also looking up and thinking that I would have to go back up! Although I walk every day and sometimes for several hours, I have been living at sea level for a long time, and my walks through the mountains of Colombia have been a long time ago. But it went well for me, despite the fact that I am aware that my 63 years put a toll on me and that in a few more years, I won’t be able to accomplish this type of adventure. Maybe that’s why I now enjoy them much more. I don’t take them for granted!

The valley below is very beautiful, it had a lot of snow, and the great pine trees, the blue sky, and the sunlight created an enchanted world.

The Navajo trail in the summer is a loop, but a part of the trail is closed in the winter. My hike was about five miles between going down, walking in the valley, and going up.

I returned using the same route, and going up presents a completely different perspective. The park, although not very large in extension, has a variety of places to visit and know. I will share them one by one. Now I want to invite you to join me in my wonderful experiences with sunrise and sunset in the park.