Utah Diaries - Bryce Canyon - Novajo Trail

Utah Diaries - Bryce Canyon - Novajo Trail - A walk in Golden Alley

This was a trip that I had not planned for. My friends were going to Vegas, and I said I will join them if we do Bryce & Zion national parks as well. They agreed and I flew to Vegas. I did not have time to find out about trails, and with the group I knew we couldn't do a lot of extreme trekking.

We stayed in a cabin just 2 miles from the Bryce Canyon National park the previous night. Plan was to see sunrise in Bryce Park. That night we looked up all the available trails, what options were available for us that we could complete in 4 hours. Novajo Trail was our pick.

We were in the park by 6:15 AM, saw sunrise at their sunrise point, the entire canyon lit up slowly with touch of every first ray of sun. It was a beautiful view. You might think all canyons are same but you would be surprised how different they are, unique in their own ways.

Bryce Canyon

I have seen sunrise and sunset in various Red rock canyons like Arches, Grand Canyon, DeadHorse, Red Rocks, Canyonlands; and I had an impression how would this one be different. But it is, amazingly and beautifully different!

Rays of Sunrise lighting up the entire canyon

After watching sunrise we hit the Novajo Trail. And honestly it was simply beautiful. I just felt I was in a completely different land; like ancient Egypt or Turkey; the trail taking you to the base of the red sandstone like canyons. I still was trying to digest the magnificence of the place as I kept walking down the trail, when I saw the trail heading towards a small crevice. And as I walked through those narrow steps I could see the walls of the rocks ahead of me glowing bright orange. I was intrigued by what the other end of the trail might open to.

And when I finally stepped into the open, I held my breath for good 5-8 secs I think. Oh boy! It's fucking awesome. There is no better way I can put it and those were the words I had blurted.

The trail opened to the base of the canyon with two tall trees that were touching the sky, and the morning rays of sun was funneling into the base of the canyon lighting that place like it was some bloody hot furnace with boiling metal or a base of flowing volcano; but it was so cool and peaceful like we are in some deep space or in a vacuum where nothing existed. You might think I should get my head straight, I am probably confused. But no I am not. It was a mix of many elements and it was a complete bliss; to lie there at the base between the trees looking up at the sky and counting the sun rays.

I lied down looking up at the sky. Blissful!!

To give you an idea of how tall the trees were.

I have been at top of the mountains, at base of gorges, in the middle of ocean, on the face of glaciers; and now between the canyons. Nature has an amazing way of Humbling you, of getting you to make peace with your mind and soul in a matter of just few seconds. It’s just few minutes like these out of millions of billions of your lifetime minutes; that leave an impact forever, that makes living worthy.

Dated 23rd November 2017

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