| Bryce Canyon is not a canyon. It is the spectacular | | | | are plenty of trails for the visitor to explore, ranging |
| edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, a place where | | | | from easy strolls to hard hikes. Some of the best |
| intricately carved towers and archways of stone | | | | trails are located in the Bryce Amphitheatre, located |
| shimmer in a dazzling array of colour under the bright | | | | near the entry to the park.Here you can wander |
| sun.The state of Utah in the United States is home | | | | through the Queen's Garden, or gaze up at Queen |
| to many beautiful National Parks, and Bryce Canyon | | | | Victoria herself surveying the 'flowers' in her garden. |
| National Park ranks as one of the most magnificent | | | | Some of the most awe inspiring lookouts are situated |
| and awe inspiring.15 million years ago the earth in this | | | | in this area, including Sunset Point and Inspiration Point |
| region began to shift, forming a series of plateaus. | | | | - a must for any visitor.Walkers can also follow the |
| The Paunsaugunt is an extensive plateau, with the | | | | Fairyland, Riggs Spring and Under-the-Rim trails, which |
| Paria River gradually eroding away the edge to form | | | | are longer, but allow more opportunities to see the |
| Bryce Canyon.The rock in Bryce Canyon is composed | | | | different elements of the park at close |
| of layer after layer of sediment deposits, deposited | | | | quarters.Summer months can cause temperatures in |
| millions of years ago when the area was at the | | | | the base of the canyon to soar, so it is very |
| bottom of a lake. Now the Paria River has exposed | | | | important to be prepared for the heat, and carry |
| the layers, allowing a detailed history of the lake to | | | | plenty of water.In winter the roads are opened |
| be determined.The Park itself was established in | | | | between snowfalls, allowing a totally different |
| 1924, and was named after an early settler in the | | | | perspective of the park. Snow capped pinnacles |
| area, Ebenezer Bryce. He emigrated from Scotland, | | | | stand out sharply against the background of white |
| married a local girl then moved southwards in stages, | | | | snow and dark green trees. The air is also cleaner, |
| building sawmills as he went.In the mid 1870s he | | | | allowing visitors to see great distances.For the |
| reached the Paria River, where he and his family | | | | energetic, it is possible to cross-country ski in a |
| settled for a number of years. It was at this time | | | | number of areas in the park, and on some trails it is |
| that Bryce made his immortal comment about Bryce | | | | possible to go snowshoeing instead of hiking.If you |
| Canyon - he called it "one hell of a place to lose a | | | | want a slightly different view of the park, it is |
| cow".The area remained basically undiscovered by | | | | possible to explore the park in a 1930 limousine. |
| European tourists, the first guest houses only being | | | | Alternatively, you can rent a horse on an hourly basis |
| constructed around the time when the park was | | | | to trek some of the better trails.There is plenty of |
| officially established.Luckily this has led to Bryce | | | | interest to explore in the park, apart from the |
| Canyon being an area of largely unspoiled beauty, as | | | | marvellous scenery of the 'silent city', as the hoodoos |
| well as the enormous scientific value of the historic | | | | are sometimes called. The park also contains a large |
| information trapped in its pinnacles and spires.The | | | | variety of plants and wildlife, including meadows and |
| canyon is by no means a stagnant place - the rim | | | | forests.Ground squirrels abound near the viewing |
| recedes by an average of about a foot every 50 | | | | areas, and their antics are almost enough to distract |
| years, and in this ever changing scene it is water that | | | | the visitor's eyes from the scenery. On quiet |
| plays the most vital role in the shaping and eventual | | | | mornings and evenings it is also possible to see deer, |
| destruction of the magnificent scenery.Because the | | | | elk and antelope grazing on the meadows.Some |
| rock was laid down in layers, there is a variation in | | | | bears and mountain lions also enter the park |
| the hardness of the rock formed. When water | | | | occasionally, but are rarely seen by tourists.Bryce |
| runoff trickles across the rock, some areas erode | | | | Canyon is a hidden jewel, thoroughly deserving to be |
| rapidly whereas others hold firm.This variation in | | | | as well known as its southern neighbour, the Grand |
| erosion speed causes the formation of pinnacles, or | | | | Canyon. Include it on your itinerary, and you definitely |
| "hoodoos" of stable rock. In some places the water | | | | won't be disappointed.In fact, you may be completely |
| seeps down through cracks and eats out holes | | | | overwhelmed by the fascinating and awe inspiring |
| beneath the surface. When the side rock erodes | | | | beauty of Bryce Canyon, just like almost every other |
| away, an archway is left behind.Eventually the arch | | | | visitor.Copyright Felicity Walker 2005Travelling the |
| collapses, leaving two more pillars to join the rest. | | | | national parks in the US is one of the author's |
| The ever changing vista of colours, spires, walls and | | | | favorite things to do. Check out or for more |
| archways is spectacular at any season, and the park | | | | information. |
| is open all year round.In the warmer months there | | | | |