Bryce Canyon National Park

Description

Paiute lore has it that Bryce Canyon was formed when Coyote, displeased with the Legend People who lived there, turned them to stone. Today they still stand, frozen in time. According to geologists, the fantastic spires, bridges, and hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park are the work of water and time on the limestone, shale, and sandstone of the Pink Cliffs at the edge of southwestern Utah's Paunsaugunt Plateau. Here, erosion caused by rain, ice, and snow runoff has created a series of amphitheaters filled with colorful, bizarre stone sculptures, and the plateau continues to wear away at the rate of a foot every fifty years or so. Ebenezer and Mary Bryce settled near what is now the town of Tropic, directly east of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, in the 1870s. For five years they tried to raise cattle and ran a sawmill, but they moved to a friendlier climate for Mary's health. By then, locals had started calling the area Bryce's Canyon, and the name stuck. It was declared a national monument in 1923.Open year-round, the park's high elevation ensures pleasant daytime summer temperatures perfect for hiking, but be prepared for the mercury to drop after the sun goes down. With a dusting of snow on its spires and pinnacles, winters at Bryce Canyon are especially beautiful. And don't miss the park by moonlight, when the fanciful landscape shows an entirely different, but no less appealing, face. No matter what time of year, the beauty changes with the light and location and all are special. What to see and do: Stop by the visitor center near Bryce Canyon National Park's entrance and take in the slide show and the historical and geological exhibits. It's open 8 AM to 8 PM daily May through September, until 6 PM in April and October and until 4:30 PM during winter months except for major holidays. A schedule of ranger-led activities is posted there, and you can also pick up a copy of The Hoodoo, the park paper, which provides additional visitor information. Rangers lead walking tours and offer talks on a variety of subjects throughout the summer, including park wildlife, prehistoric history and stargazing. Astronomy lovers should take note: In the average rural area, 2,500 stars are visible. At Bryce Canyon, close to 7,500 can be seen. Drive along the park road to see the ever-changing panorama of the amphitheaters from the many overlooks. All the overlooks are along the east side of the road; Bryce Canyon National Park authorities suggest driving to Rainbow Point, where on clear days your view is obstructed only by the curvature of the earth, and taking in the overlooks on the return trip. Expect a 37-mile round-trip, and please note that trailers are not allowed beyond Sunset Campground. Day-use visitors are encouraged to leave their trailers outside of the park. Spur roads lead to Bryce Point and Paria View. And don't miss Fairyland Point. It's on another spur road north of the visitor center. It is possible to see some of the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park without leaving the comfort of your car, but you'll miss most of the park experience if you don't get out and walk. There are over 50 miles of hiking trails through the hoodoos and arches of the amphitheaters, and they range in length and difficulty from the one-mile, relatively level Bristlecone Loop, which leads past 1,600-year-old bristlecone pines, to the 22+-mile Under-the-Rim Trail that connects Bryce and Rainbow Points. At intervals, connecting trails lead from overlooks to the Under-the-Rim trail, making it a good choice for day hikes as well. A number of trails originate in the visitor center area, near historic Bryce Canyon Lodge. Most of these are between one-and-a-half and five-and-a-half miles long and wind through areas named Wall Street and the Queens Garden. All but the Rim Trail descend into the amphitheater, so remember that you have to climb the same distance and elevation to reach the trailhead at the end of your hike.