Bryce Canyon

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Bryce Canyon
by James Cassidy, Ph.D.

“Oh, My....” Eliza muttered just after drawing in a breath that got caught in her lungs only minutes after reaching the rim of Bryce Canyon at Sunset Point. She was only one member of five families who were preparing to descend into the sandstone towers of the canyon.

It was the beginning point for the Queen’s Garden Navajo Loop Trail. It is the easiest of the routes into the canyon, however it began to drop immediately. Eventually it would fall 520 feet to the bottom of the canyon... but what a ride down.

About half way down we passed a group of Japanese tourists who were on their way up the trail when they stopped en mass in their tracks. The operatic sounds of The Barber of Seville echoed off the sides of the canyon walls as Daniel-- the opera lover in our group could no longer restrain his enthusiasm and took advantage of the acoustics of the natural cathedral.

The hike was about 2 miles round trip, but we lingered so long gawking at the beauty that we spent nearly four hours on the route.

Bryce Canyon is a member of the national park system. This was just one of the many hikes available at the park. For those with small children who prefer not to attempt the descent into the canyon there is the option of the Rim Trail which is second best to none.

Enjoy, but bring lots of water in the summer months even though you are at an elevation near 8000 feet. The dry climate of the canyon can be quite dehydrating. Make certain you have a good pair of shoes, warm clothing even in summer, and plenty of room for enjoyment.

DIRECTIONS:
Bryce Canyon is located in southwestern Utah at the intersection of US Hwy 89 and Utah State Highway 12. At the junction of the two highways, turn south on Utah Highway 63 and continue three miles in order to reach the park entrance.

There is a shuttle service that drops hikers and sight seers off at several stops along the way; it runs from May to September. If you prefer, you may drive your own car in the park. The visitors office is a fountain of information, make sure to check it out.

Related Links:
Sedona Hikes
Hiking Sedona

James Cassidy, Ph.D. has been an educational therapist/consultant with over twenty years experience in research and practice in which his clients have been the rich and famous of Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. He has published numerous professional papers, a geometry textbook, a screenplay, and two novels-- A Paradise Lost and A Little Charity (Through a Glass Darkly Shines). Dr. Cassidy has advocated educational programs that accommodate individualized learning styles for one on one situations as well as in the classroom. His methods were developed during research at UCLA in conjunction with the University Enrichment School on campus and have been used for over ten years to train thousands of tutors at the University. During his four year association with the school in the Education and Psychology departments under the aegis of project C.U.E.S. , he wrote and produced several educational training films which are still being used. Those successful films are the basis for his latest book: A Simple Formula For Smarter Kids.

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