.All Trips / Pic of the Week

“Pic of the Week”, November 22, 2013. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

2013-46-November 22a Bryce Canyon 6-93 012 Natural Bridge

Utah is a land of surprises and one of my favorite US states.  It has some of the most unusual and colorful rock formations in the world.  Whether it’s dramatic arches, natural bridges, amazingly sheer canyons or rock monoliths, Utah has it all!  And in white, black, red, orange, brown and most every other imaginable shade.

One of my favorite destinations in Utah is Bryce Canyon National Park.  Situated in southwestern Utah the park is of surprisingly high altitude, so keep this in mind when planning your trips there (evenings are always cool, snow comes early and stays a long time, even into summer).  The rim at Bryce varies from 8,000 – 9,000 feet above sea level (about 2,500 m) and is in a forest of pine, including stands of the rare and long-lived Bristlecone Pine.  The many eroded orange rock columns which characterize the park are known as “hoodoos“, these being arranged in large, broad amphitheaters.  Views from the Canyon Rim are spectacular and hiking trails take you into the heart of the Hoodoos.

If you’ve never visited Utah, you now have one more reason to go!

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