Backpacking the Under the Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park

[steve]

Episode 18: Backpacking the Under the Rim Trail in Bryce Canyon NP

This trip was on August 29, 2014.

 

[Nick]

I was just looking at this route on the map last night and wondered if you guys had done it. Looking forward to watching this when I get a little more time later today.

 

[steve]

We made sure to film every backcountry campsite; there wasn't much info on these aside from our video. With all the deadfall across the trail, we wondered how many people hike this each year. In fact, the rangers didn't seem to be very familiar with the trail either.

Hopefully this video helps others know what to expect at each campsite, and along the trail. The water sources here are known to have giardia in them, so you want to make sure you're extra careful while filtering.

 

[Parma]

Vienna sausages...really?
I may have to reconsider this pack raft trip.

 

[steve]

Don't worry, I'll share.

 

[Nick]

Nice! That was a lot more forest and a lot less hoodoos than I had expected/hoped for. How would you rate it overall?

 

[steve]

Yeah, that was our take too. I was hoping it would be an extended version of the navajo loop, but we really didn't get many hoodoos. The best parts were within 1 mile of the start and finish. It was pretty atypical for a national park; all the good spots were right by the road.

I'd rate it a 2.2/5. It was a fun hike because of our group, and I'm glad I did it, but I don't have any plans to go back and do it again. It's always good to have a mental map of what a trail covers, and I'm glad I got that.

There wasn't anything particularly spectacular about it. Water sources were limited, and the noise pollution was awful. You could hear harleys, trucks, busses, and helicopters the whole time. We couldn't see them since they were up on the rim, but the sound traveled down to where we were hiking.

The best part was the solitude, we didn't see hardly anyone on the trail. It would be a fun one to hike at night on a full moon.

 

[slc_dan]

I've looked at Bryce for backpacking ideas, and always decided to just go a bit further south. GSENM/Upper Paria has some real gems.

 

[Mike K]

Great video report (as always) @steve. I really liked Joel jumping over the gully. And I enjoyed the music by you and @Tess at the end. Great skills and beautiful voice. I'll add a few pics here in a bit. Thanks for putting it together.

 

[Mike K]

I agree with Steve...the beginning and end sections of the hike were the coolest. The middle had a few cool parts here and there but overall it was pretty mediocre. Lots of burned areas. Water sources were tough. I don't remember the noise pollution bothering me, but I remember talking about it. It was still a fun trip with a great group. I think the trip was a little tainted for Steve because he has some serious chafing happening on Day 1...and I'm sure it continued on to Day 2...even though he was a trooper and pushed through it =) Ouch!!

 

[steve]

probably TMI, but my chafing was more a skin bacteria issue than a skin on skin rubbing itself raw issue. The neosporin was the perfect remedy. I'll never leave home without it.

 

[Mike K]

probably TMI, but my chafing was more a skin bacteria issue than a skin on skin rubbing itself raw issue. The neosporin was the perfect remedy. I'll never leave home without it.

Bummer! I was thinking it was a rubbing problem. Until I watched the video, I had forgotten how big of a deal it was and that you were seriously considering heading out after our first night. Not fun hiking when every step hurts. Way to tough it out.

 

[Mike K]

If anyone is interested here's my full album in case I forget to add some pictures later.