We loaded up the vehicle and started our four hour journey to Bryce Canyon. I had been there once before to perform at The Cowboy Ranch Experience. I was excited to be invited back but this time for a songwriters retreat with some writers from Nashville and Texas. Leaving our place in Las Vegas where temperatures had dropped to mid eighties during the day, was a little intimidating to escape to the colder weather of forties during the day and twenties at night but we packed accordingly. The drive was both scenic and a little nerve racking through the windy mountains. It was well worth the drive once we reached Bryce Canyon National Park and were greeted roadside by a whole family of deer.
Once we got out of the vehicle and walked to the edge of Inspiration point overlooking the canyon we were just in awe of its amazing beauty. Pictures do not do this part of the world justice. Its distinctive geological structures are called hoodoos. Hoodoos are tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. It was formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. The views are so spectacular and the colors of the rock truly make you appreciate Mother Earth’s artistic flair.
If you are an avid hiker, this is a must add to your bucket list. Bryce Canyon’s remote location affects how many people actually see this splendor and only receives about two and a half million visitors a year (mostly international visitors) compared to Zion National Park which have over four million visitors or Grand Canyon National Park which has roughly over six million visitors a year.
There are only a few places to stay in Bryce Canyon and less than a handful of places to eat. Ruby’s Inn is a great visit because you have the general store right there and is conveniently located outside of the National Park, but for the most part we ate at The Bryce Canyon Resort. Our host, Gregory Stauffer provided meals for the songwriters during the retreat at the resort.
It was a peaceful getaway hiking in the morning, gathering inspiration and writing in the afternoon. Who knows, maybe a big hit came from that retreat. A good time was had for sure.
By Kelly Vohnn