![]() Other short paths include the Hat Shop Trail to a group of unusual pinnacles, and the Mossy Cave Trail to a waterfall and a sheltered alcove. There are more features of interest besides the rocks, such as along the one mile Bristlecone Trail, at the far south end of the park, which passes several 1,600 year old bristlecone pines these are the longest lived species of trees in the world. Many of the formations in this part of Bryce Canyon have received official names, like Tower Bridge, reached via a short side-track, which resembles one of the Thames bridges in London. Hiking just part of the route is enough for nice views the other most popular paths nearby are the Navajo, Peekaboo and Queens Garden trails. There are various trails both along the rim and down through the formations, but probably the best is the Fairyland Loop Trail, an 8 mile, little-used route which descends 900 feet from the ridge road and winds through many of the fins and spires giving a more intimate view of the park. During the long, cold winters, the cliffs are further weakened by freezing water expanding in cracks, resulting in more erosion when the ice thaws in spring. In time these too erode, and the whole process moves very gradually westwards as more of the cliff is slowly worn away. Rain and melting snow flowing down the Pink Cliffs towards the Paria River form ridges, or fins, which subsequently erode into the spires, pinnacles and other shapes (collectively known as 'hoodoos') which are left standing. Water is responsible for creating the rock shapes in Bryce Canyon National Park. The rocks that give Bryce Canyon its distinctive colors are members of the Claron Formation, a mixed limestone/sandstone layer, and are also found exposed, with similarly intricate forms, in other nearly locations such as Red Canyon and Cedar Breaks. Most of the Grand Staircase is now contained within the BLM-managed Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. The cliffs are named according to the dominant rock color: (running northwards, from the Grand Canyon) - Chocolate, Vermilion (visible most spectacularly around Lees Ferry, Arizona), White (which surround Zion Canyon), Gray and Pink. Bryce Canyon National Park is a magical place famous for its towering hoodoos, mesmerizing canyons, switch backing trails, horseback rides, and breathtaking. ![]() The main ridge forms part of the Pink Cliffs, which are the highest and most geologically recent of a series of escarpments known as the Grand Staircase that stretches across much of south Utah, formed by erosion and uplift of differently colored sandstone rock layers. ![]()
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