Phoenix, AZ to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

It is not everyday that you get to drive the Gypsy Wagon through not one, but two, rock tunnels. 

Today we drove north from Phoenix, AZ to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. We took Highway 17 to Flagstaff opting not to drive through Sedona as we have done it before. If you have never driven through Sedona definitely take Highway 179 to Sedona and Highway 89A to Flagstaff. Seek out the Sedona Airport and plan a picnic lunch as you gaze over the amazing red mountains. Click here for more specific information on this scenic by-pass. 

Goodbye Desert's Edge RV Park. You were not much more than a parking lot but you were cost effective and had everything we needed. 

Living the good life. Noshing on P.K. Chang's Surf and Turf leftovers while cruising through the Coconino National Forest. 

The landscape is constantly changing.

Approaching Page, AZ. 

Horseshoe Bend is a very worthwhile stop a few miles south of Page, AZ. Plan at least 30-60 minutes here. This is not the best place to stop with a trailer. Click here for details on staying in Page and visiting this place. Click here for details on visiting the Antelope Slot canyons for which Page is famous. We have been here before and just took a screen shot as we passed by as we have our sights set on Toadstools!

North of Page we enter Utah!

About 20 Miles west of Page, heading towards Kanab, is a small pull out that marks the Toadstools Trailhead. This sneaks up on you around a corner as you are going down a hill. Have your GSP or Google Maps on so that you can be slowing down well ahead of time. 

The lot is very small so do not turn in if you are towing. There is a short pull-out lane beside the road that can accommodate about 2-3 vehicles towing trailers. I scoped this out using the overhead view on Google maps the night before. It is a little tippy to the right so ease in slowly. 
Lucky us - no other trailers!

Plan for 30-45 minutes at this stop. The one main Toadstool is about 800 metres along a sandy walk with a few ups and downs. Bring some water. 

Do you see the little creature in this picture? 

Highway 89 turns west towards Kanab, Utah. We are greeted by long stretches of easy driving. 

Kanab, Utah. The prettiest gas station location ever! It had a Wendy's restaurant attached - how timely. It's getting later and I cannot face another turkey, coleslaw wrap. Good call, Mama. 

As we leave Kanab, the highway turns north. After a few miles we see the turn off to Zion National Park. We still had a good hour or so before we would be turning east to enter the Dickie National Forest. I thought that this part of the drive would be a scenic drive with many pull outs. No. This is a single lane highway that goes over rolling hills and through some very small towns with few places for faster travellers to pass the tourists.  Later, I would realize that I was mixing up this road up with the 18 mile scenic drive that is inside Bryce Canyon National Park. 

We turn east off of Highway 89 on to Scenic Route 12. Within a mile or two we are treated to the stunning entrance to the Dixie National Forest. It is about 6 pm now and the sinking sun makes the red rocks sing. 

1/4 mile down the road is another unoccupied scenic pull-out. We are stopping because these views are beyond comprehension.

Yes, I am the one in a high-visibility hoodie. Military habits die hard. And, I do not wish to become a hood ornament. The view is too beautiful to keep your eyes on the road. 

What, what what?!?!  Not one but two rock arches for us to drive through. They seem to be doing road work on this section and the shoulder was coned-off. It was after-hours so the workers were gone and there was no traffic in sight. I slowed down almost to a stop which a mind to park it in the middle of the road, jump out, run behind the trailer and get the money-shot. BUT, just as I was about to do that a car came up behind us. I do regret not stopping; however, I will just have to be satisfied with my similar escapade on Avenue of the Giants in the Redwood Forest in northern California two years ago. Click here to check that one out. 

All was not lost - in addition to getting some shots from the front as we rolled on through, I stuck the phone out the window to get some backwards shots. Winner :). 

The high planes give way to a valley. Part way down is a large, empty pull-out just for us. The pictures do not tell the story - the depth of colour, shape and texture can only be fully appreciated in person. This last half hour our drive was a treat. 

At the time of booking there appeared to be no sites available in the state park campground that is within Bryce Canyon National Park. I think the state campground was first come, first serve during these dates as it was not full when we drove past the next day. I have yet to figure out the finer points of these reservation websites. Oh well, we had a secured reservation at the KOA. Since the KOA was fully booked and we were arriving after office hours - seeing a welcome package on the office door with our name on it beside the 'No vacancy' sign was a confirmation that having a reservation before arriving is so the way to go. 

The KOA in Cannonville is located about 20 minutes past the turn off to Bryce National Park.

The wind is fierce and the temperature dropping. We dropped the trailer and had it levelled out in a jiffy. The Gypsy Wagon never felt so good. Soon the furnace was roaring and we were cozy in our beds watching our nightly episodes of Corner Gas.  We have all six seasons of Corner Gas on DVD that we only watch while glamping in the Gypsy Wagon. We are in for the night near Bryce Canyon National Park.