Bryce Canyon Day 1
The house we rented is excellent and I recommend it for anyone that is going to Bryce Canyon. 
After checking into our lodgings in Hatch, we drove to Bryce Canyon and arrived there at exactly 6:01, which worked to our advantage since they stop charging admission at 6:00.
We drove to Inspiration Point and then walked along the Rim Trail toward Sunset Point, although we did not go all the way there before we turned back.
Inspiration Point has some spectacular views and it really earns its name. We were all quite awe-struck with our first encounter with the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. These huge cliffs and strange rock formations are unlike anything we encounter in New England.
Below is a picture of the Rim Trail; don’t get too close to the edge or that could be your last move. The Rim Trail also has no railing most of the way so it’s a little disorienting to us flatlanders that are not used to such heights, but the trail is plenty wide so there is no real danger unless you walk near the edge.
You get a good look at the sunset colors in this pic. From the Rim Trail, you look out east toward the Amphitheater with the sun setting behind you.
Check out those layers of rock. This must be a geologist’s dream.
These trees have no fear; they just grow right out on the edge of the rim without giving it a second thought.
From up here, I just look down and wonder what it would be like to get down into the canyon and explore it, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
In the picture below, you can see the highest platform at Inspiration Point. We were running out of time, so we did not go up there, but Emily and Kristin would stay and make it to the top.
On the way down, this tree popped up from over the edge of the trail and gave Emily quite a scare, as the tree scurried along, trying to chase her. Fortunately, Emily managed to get away.
While Kristin and Emily stayed at Inspiration Point to check things out further, the rest of us made a quick jaunt up to Paria View to get a look at a different area.
We made our way back to our lodging in Hatch. After a long day Emily and I spent some time star-gazing. The Milky Way was somewhat visible in the night sky and there were plenty of stars to be seen. Emily tried to map out some constellations while I tried to get a picture with very poor results.
