One of my main reasons for purchasing a travel trailer is to be close to trailheads, rather than spend the first two to three hours driving before arriving at my destination. This morning is ample evidence of the wisdom of that decision as I leave my camping spot located in Red Canyon and watch the sun start to rise upon arrival at the Fairyland trailhead a few minutes later.

Bryce Canyon faces east and the morning sun, not the sunset, as most people believe highlight the colors and contours of this majestic place. This hike is my fourth and perhaps final hike of the Fairyland Loop. I love this hike, and it has brought immeasurable peace to my soul during difficult times. Today I want to hike this beautiful loop due to the lack of crowds currently visiting our national parks due to COVID-19.

I linger at the trailhead watching the sun travel downward as the light increases the beauty and splendor of the Hoodoos. With its rays, I also begin to feel the heat start to rise. It was chilly last night, and our elevation is high at 7779 feet, but it is July, and the countryside will warm up considerably as the day moves on. I start down the rocky path into the awaiting shade.

I’m familiar with the path and the sights, but I stop and take pictures often of the landscape.

I take a frequent picture because of the beauty, but also in part because cell phone cameras have become sophisticated enough to take amazing photos with someone like me behind the camera. I’ve long maintained I was born into the digital era for a reason, and the ability to take hundreds of pictures to get a few good ones is reason enough.

By the time I reach the final section of the hike, back along the rim, the sun is high in the sky, and the temperature is hot. Few clouds linger, and storm clouds are making their presence known on the western horizon, but I am thankful I decided to hike this route again. My thought this morning when I started; there are so many stunning hikes in this part of the country, why am I walking the same one over and over again? Now that I am near the end, I’m not so sure this will be my last time around Fairyland Loop at Bryce Canyon.