Bryce National Park                              click to enlarge

April in Bryce is a very good time to visit. The crowds are down, it’s not too cold for the sunrise. Alright it’s a little cold. You are at 8000′ after all and that can be chilly in the morning all summer long. But the air is bracing, it smells incredible with the scent of pines and cool breezes and it is one of those places that makes you glad you had the good sense to come and see it.

By this time of year you have the birds back and their songs carry along the cliff face and echo off the spires and hoodoos. Occasionally a mule deer will move silently across the meadows that lead up to  the canyon’s edge and far off the faint sound of a raven calling for its mate will travel down to you with the wind. If you’re still and watchful an entire image of how the canyon starts its day will enfold before your eyes.

Mornings are good in the park. Most morning people are not loud and boisterous. They’re here to see how Nature gets up in the morning and they don’t want to disturb her. Later on when the buses arrive and discharge the hordes who want to race around and see everything in the 15 minutes or so allotted to this view, things are different, but now it’s peaceful and quiet. When the noise starts it’s a good time to head back in for breakfast. Besides it won’t be all that long until sunset. That’s another good time.