Around every corner and every bend was another “wow” moment. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

For several decades, I have seen photos and heard stories about trail riding through Bryce Canyon National Park, in Utah. Ever since I visited the park as a child on a family vacation, I have wanted to return. As an equestrian adult I have wanted to visit the area with horses. However, while my husband, Matt, and I often trail ride, we are not at the caliber of backcountry riders or packers, so I didn’t know if we could do a Bryce Canyon ride.

But in recent years, we have ended up with a pair of nice mustangs that are great on trails with a fair number of miles and experiences under their respective saddles.

When COVID struck this spring, we canceled travel plans for the year, intending to just hunker down. About the time late August rolled around, we realized that camping and visiting the outdoors still offered a safe option—and if we wanted  to do anything, we’d better get busy and make it happen. So, we carved out four days in late September, just a few weeks away, and planned a camping trip to Bryce Canyon National Park with our mustangs, Mesa and Stellar