Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon

On Sunday after attending a local sacrament meeting we took to the road again.  We enjoyed a scenic drive along Highway 12.  We drove through Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon.  Red Canyon is in the Dixie National Forest and there was a great looking bike path that went all the way along the highway...someday we will have to return for a bike ride. 

We loved the tunnels along the highway.

We ended up getting into Bryce Canyon free which was an awesome birthday present.  Bryce Canyon was stunning with snow. We enjoyed a picnic lunch near Sunset Point then headed out to the point to enjoy the views.

We took a short walk over to Sunrise Point...and wished we had our snow boots rather than our hiking shoes.

We hit the main road in the park and enjoyed views from Inspiration Point.

Then Bryce Point.

Then Fairview Point where I got my favorite picture of Bryce Canyon.

Our next stop was Natural Bridge.

I can't remember the name of this view point.

Finally we visited Rainbow Point and then got back in the car for the scenic drive back to Kanab.

Glen Canyon Dam

On our way back to Kanab on Saturday we stopped at Glen Canyon Dam.  We would have loved to go on a tour of the dam...but we arrived just a few minutes before the visitor's center closed.  We did have plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the dam and canyon below.

Upper Antelope Canyon

Our next stop was Upper Antelope Canyon.  The tours for this canyon leave every hour so we had a little time to kill before the tour.  We soaked up some sun for about a half an hour which was absolutely heavenly.  Then we loaded into the back of a truck for the drive out to the canyon.

This canyon was quite a bit more crowded.  Our guide did a great job of moving us through pointing out the best spots to take pictures.

We sneaked ahead of the group on this tour as well and were able to get this amazing family photo.

As you looked up through many spots in the canyon there were tree limbs and trunks from flash floods of the past.

The pictures below are some of my favorite.  Our guide showed us the "heart of the canyon."  I actually handed our camera to the guide and after he took the first photo...then he adjusted all of the settings on our camera so that we would get some better shots.

Whatever he did brought out the reds of the canyon and vastly improved the quality of the rest of our photos.

Can you see the thumbs up?

This one is called Arizona sunset.

Can you see Abraham Lincoln?

Our guide took this picture as well...it is called monument valley.

We reached the end of the canyon and our guide took another family photo for us.

After a little break we headed back in and towards the entrance.

Upper Antelope Canyon was pretty spectacular.  Our guide definitely earned a tip by pointing out good pictures, adjusting our camera setting and giving us some good history on the canyon.