Bryce Canyon
I found sunrise to be the most rewarding time of day to see and photograph the formations, as the first rays of the sun made the hoodoos glow with unbelievably rich color. The low morning sun cast long dark shadows among the hoodoos, creating a three-dimensional perspective unattainable in the high noon-day sun. Inspiration Point is higher in elevation than the others, and there I was rewarded with excellent views of the tightly packed pinnacles of the Silent City. From Bryce Point, the entire amphitheater opens up to the north, and has the added attraction of peculiar grotto-like structures called the Wall of Windows. Rows of these tall arched windows appear in the cliff face where water has eaten away at the limestone. Although the actual sunset was blocked by the plateau, Sunset Point was an excellent place to photograph an hour or two before the sun touched the horizon. This vantage point provided views north to Sunrise Point and south to Inspiration Point, and may be the most spectacular vista in the park.
      There are ten more overlooks in the park, stretching out along the 20 mile main road. To its credit, the National Park Service operates a shuttle service that stops at all the overlooks, in an attempt to reduce vehicle emissions from the 1.5 million travelers that visit Bryce Canyon every year. I decided to stay in one of the two campgrounds located in the park. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground can fill up quickly in the summer, but since I was there in late September, this wasn't a problem. Lodging is also available both inside and outside the park. The campgrounds and the Bryce Lodge are open from about mid-April to mid-October, but year-round accommodations can be found just outside the park boundary, and in the nearby towns of Tropic and Panguitch.
     One of the added advantages to exploring the park at sunrise and sunset is being able to watch the mule deer come out into the grassy meadows to feed. One of these gentle creatures was bold enough to stick his nose inside my car window. As cute as they are, though, it is never a good idea to hand out food to the wildlife. Not only could it disturb their natural eating habits, but it may also cause them to lose their wariness, and make them easier targets for predators. Mule deer are the most common animal in the park, but foxes, mountain lions, black bears, and elk may be seen as well.