Wagner Road Trip 2014 - Zion and Bryce Canyon National Park

Before we headed out of Zion, we had another mini-hike planned for the morning. 

The Narrows Hike in Zion is a very popular hike.  However, you need wading boots because you are definitely going to get wet. The very nature of the Narrows Hike is trekking through the Virgin River between the narrow canyon.  We knew in advance that we would not be hiking the Narrows, but it was possible to hike up to the Narrows entry point.

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Here we are at the beginning of the Narrows Trail.

Here's where you enter the water and where our hike ended.

On the way back, we stopped off at this pool to check out the fish.  The water was so clear.

I love how the water streams down the canyon wall like condensation. The wall was filled with beautiful flowers, honeysuckles and greenery.

We headed out of Zion and made our way to Bryce Canyon National Park also in Utah.  I've seen pictures from Bryce Canyon but the photographs of the Hoodoos pale in comparison to the real deal.  There is just no way to describe it.  One of the more visually stunning parks I've ever been to.  

Starting our trail at Sunset Point.

Making our way down to Wall Street.

Inside Wall Street.

Making our ascent from the Queen's Garden.

Still hiking UP from the canyon.  It was hot!

We headed back to our cabin and took a nap.  It was a long 3.5 mile hike in the noon-day sun.  We needed a break! 

We had dinner at a local pizzeria near our cabin.  We had a running joke the whole trip and it was that the people who work in National Parks are on "Mountain Time" or "slow-as-molasses-running-uphill in-the-winter" time.  I think we waited for our pizza for about 45 mins.  Not the model of efficiency I must say.  But, it was good and we beat the dinnertime rush.  (Thank goodness!)

After dinner, I headed back to the canyon to check out the Hoodoos once more.  The sun was lower in the sky so you could make out more detail of the Hoodoos in the shade of the canyon.

The square shaped hoodoo on the left is Thor's Hammer.  The tallest hoodoo in Bryce Canyon and one of the most recognizable hoodoos in the world.

Close up of Thor's Hammer.  It looks like it could topple at any moment.

The cabins that we stayed in at Bryce were beautiful and decorated so lovely.

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The next morning we headed out quite early because we were facing an 11-hour drive to Albuquerque.  On the way out, we stopped by the National Park sign and took our obligatory picture. 

We arrived in Albuquerque at dinner time, ate local Mexican food and went to bed early.  We had another long drive ahead of us... this time 12 hours.  We made it home by 8:30 p.m. that evening and we were so glad to be home.  

Our road trips are a lot of fun.  There is a lot of pre-planning involved, but once we hit the open road, it's nice and relaxing.  I hope that before the girls are too much older, we can plan one more BIG road trip.  Thinking about Washington, D.C. next.  Maybe in a couple of years.