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Bryce Canyon - Utah
Descriptive:
Carved out of eroded limestone, sand and shale, the sculpted spires and pinnacles of this fantastic landscape rise like an mythical city. Less than 40, 000 acres, Bryce Canyon is an eroded basin less than six square miles in size, yet held by some to be the most spectacular of the National Parks.
Although the rock formations are generally a bright orange-red under the Utah sun, these rock temples and turreted castles are particularly unearthly under the cold moonlight.
Vegetation:
Douglas fir
Ponderosa pine
Piņon pine
Rocky mountain juniper
White fir
Quaking aspen
Violets
Evening primrose
Blue columbine
Indian paintbrush
Goldenweed
Yarrow
Wildlife:
Chipmunks
Deer
Prairie dogs
Marmot
Porcupine
Skunk
Birds:
Warblers
Bluebirds
Tanagers
Townsend's solitaire
Sapsuckers
Hermit thrushes
Ruby-crowned kinglets
Key locations:
The Navajo Loop Trail begins at Sunset Point and descends 521 feet to the canyon floor amid breathtaking formations. Some of the landmark formations to be seen on this trail are Thor's Hammer, the Temple of Osiris, and an excellent view of Wall Street.
Also starting at Sunset Point is the Peekaboo Loop, a more strenuous trail requiring about five hours' hiking time. On the Peekaboo, excellent views can be had of the Wall of Windows, Three Wise Men, the Bryce and Hindu Temples.
The Under-the-Rim-Trail is 23 miles of hiking into unparalleled countryside. Since the main road runs nearby, it can be accessed by just a short hike in at various points, and broken up into smaller hikes.
Horses can be rented and are an excellent way to view the Park. The trails are steep and narrow and perhaps the most popular for horseback riding is the Peekaboo Trail.
Activities:
Horseback riding
Hiking
Geology:
An ancient sea bed and much of the area of southern Utah was slowly elevated by tectonic plate shifting until the canyon was two miles above sea level. Great stresses caused these rocks to break, causing large depressions, often several miles or more across. The heart of Bryce Canyon runs along one of these great fault blocks, the Paunsaugnut Plateau, produced by this tremendous upheaval.
Trails:
Fairyland-Tower Bridge-Bryce Trail
Navajo Loop Trail
Queen's Garden Trail
Rim Trail
Under-the-Rim Trail
