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