From Panguitch to the Grand Canyon

 

WanderWest – Day 12: From Panguitch to the Grand Canyon

Today, July 10th, we packed up and said farewell to Panguitch, UT and Bryce Canyon—and honestly, we left with a little heartache. We didn’t quite get the time we wanted there, and it felt like we were just getting started. No one’s fault, just one of those travel hiccups. But Bryce has now officially landed on our “must-come-back-and-stay-longer” list. Next time, Bryce, we’re doing it right.


We hit the road south toward the Grand Canyon, rolling through the wide-open beauty of Arizona. And then the time warp began. Our phones couldn’t decide if we were in Mountain Time or Pacific Time—jumping around like they were on a caffeine buzz. After way too much googling and debating, we discovered that Arizona doesn’t do daylight saving time (bold move), which means they stick to Mountain Standard Time all year round. Except for the parts that don’t. So, yeah… time is fake here. 😂

We made a stop at the Desert View Watchtower for our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. Just… wow. The scale, the colors, the vastness—truly indescribable.


By the time we got to our campsite, it was later than planned—but no worries. We’re practically park rangers at this point. Camp was set up in record time, and dinner was a brand new experiment: foil packet quesadillas! Crispy tortillas, melty cheese, and bonus toppings all cooked over the fire. Easy, fun, and delicious—a 10/10 campground win! 


The full moon lit up the sky, stars were scattered everywhere, and we saw not one, but multiple shooting stars. On the horizon, we spotted an eerie, glowing orange light that looked like a fire dancing in the distance—and spoiler alert: it was. The next morning we found out it was the White Sage Fire, which had sparked on July 9th. A wild, beautiful, slightly surreal moment to witness.




 

Temps dipped into the 70s overnight, and we all finally got some solid sleep under the stars. Grand Canyon, you are already unforgettable. 

Bonus win: temperatures dropped into the low 70s overnight, and we all finally got the kind of sleep that makes you feel like a human again. 

The Grand Canyon is already blowing our minds—and we’ve only just begun. Stay tuned for more adventures in this massive, magical place.

📸 🔗Don’t miss the night hike photos—absolute magic.  

Click Here! 

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