Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1: Introducing Zion & Bryce
Canyon National Parks
There aren't many places in the world where the forces of nature have
come together with such dramatic results as in Zion and Bryce Canyon
nationalparks.Fromariddeserttopine-coveredpeaksandawe-inspiring
rock formations, these parks offer some of the American West's most
spectacularscenery,plusalmostunlimitedopportunitiesforhiking,camp-
ing, and other outdoor experiences.
Zion and Bryce Canyon sit on the vast Colorado Plateau, which they share with
Utah's three other national parks (Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef) and
Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona.
The plateau began millions of years ago when forces deep within the earth forced
the crust to rise, exposing many strata of rocks, and erosion and weathering sculp-
ted rock formations, colored with an iron-rich palette of reds, oranges, pinks, and
browns.
Both national parks are known for their stunning geology—Zion for massive
sandstone monoliths and Bryce for delicate limestone sculptures called hoodoos.
But there are also shimmering pools of deep green water, a roaring river, forests of
pine and fir, and a vast array of plants and animals.
Note About Maps
This guide contains dozens of maps of varying sizes and complexity. If you find it hard to read a
map on your device, use the zoom function to enlarge. You can also download and/or printout PDFs
of all of the maps in this guide. Go to
www.frommers.com/go/ebookmaps
and click on the title of
your guide.
Southwestern Utah
