US-UT-Bryce+Canyon+National+Park+--+Natural+Bridge

Also, see Bryce Canyon National Park
 * =Birding in Utah=

Kane County
=Bryce Canyon National Park= =Natural Bridge= Bryce, UT 84764 Bryce Canyon National Park website Bryce Canyon National Park area map Bryce Canyon National Park detail map Bryce Canyon National Park bird list Natural Bridge webpage

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Bryce Canyon NP -- Natural Bridge
Coordinates: 37.5321293, -112.2606311 eBird links: Hotspot map View details Recent visits My eBird links: Location life list Submit data

About Natural Bridge
Though the name tends to be misleading, Natural Bridge is one of several natural arches in Bryce Canyon and creates a beautiful scene at this viewpoint. This arch, sculpted from some of the reddest rock of the Claron Formation (rich in iron oxide minerals), poses a stark contrast to the dark green of the Ponderosa forest that peeks through the arch from the canyon below.

Bridges form through the erosion of rock by streams or rivers. This window or arch formed from a combination of processes. Frost wedging, the expanding of cracks in rock as water turns to ice, weakened the rock. Dissolution, the chemical dissolving of rock by rainwater, chewed away at the top and sides of this wall of rock. Finally, gravity pulled loose the weakened pockets of rock at the center creating the hole you see. Thus, Bryce Canyon's 'bridges', including Natural Bridge, are spectacular examples of arches that, like the hoodoos, are constantly at risk of destruction as the forces of erosion continue to wear the rock away.

In the southern corner of the parking lot, you will notice a small stand of Quaking Aspen. Historic photographs suggest that aspen were much more common throughout the southern portion of the park prior to intense fire suppression efforts of the past 75 years. Aspen are easily shaded out by spruce and Douglas Fir. You will notice several areas of burned trees as you drive through the park. This is evidence of our prescribed fire program. By returning small and safe fires to the ecosystem we can slowly restore a natural mix of forest types, providing better habitat for a greater diversity of animals. Also near the parking, lot you might find Markagunt Penstemon. From Natural Bridge webpage

About Bryce Canyon National Park
There is no place like Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos (odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion) can be found on every continent, but here is the largest collection of hoodoos in the world! Descriptions fail. Photographs do not do it justice. An imagination of wonder will serve you when visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.

Birds are feathered vertebrates, most having flight capability, that reproduce from hard-shelled eggs. While everybody knows what a bird is, few think of Bryce Canyon when they think about birds. Nevertheless, 175 different species of birds have been documented to frequent Bryce Canyon National Park. Some are just passing through. Others stay for an entire season. Fewer still make this their year-round home. During any season, you can come to Bryce to see some of your favorite birds or perhaps spy a species you've never seen before. In this section of the website, you can learn more about some of the more common and interesting of Bryce Canyon's Birds. From Bryce Canyon National Park website
 * Peregrine Falcon
 * Steller's Jay
 * Raven
 * California Condor
 * Clark's Nutcracker
 * Osprey
 * Violet-Green Swallow



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media type="custom" key="29014865" || L4125922 US US-UT US-UT-025 37.5321293 -112.2606311 Bryce Canyon NP -- Natural Bridge