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Bryce Canyon Flora

Bryce Canyon has three life zones located in the boundaries of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The dwarf forest, or upper Sonoran Zone is located at elevations of 6600' to 7000'. Here you will find the pinion pine and Utah juniper trees. Rising to the transition level at 7000 to 8500' the Ponderosa Pine Forests dominate. At this elevation the Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir and the Ponderosa Pine trees are found. This is the level in Bryce Canyon where the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center and Bryce Canyon Campgrounds are found.

The soil among the hoodoos provides a harsh environment for flora, but still there are sparse selections of wild flowers and a number of evergreens that thrive in the red, rocky soil.

Highest Elevations
At the highest elevations in Bryce Canyon, the Douglas fir, White fir, Aspen and Spruce trees dominate. Wild flowers, and a multitude of other flora flourish at this zone where water is more abundant that in the high desert areas of the park. There is some flora scattered sparsely about he rocky soil of the hoodoo hiking areas, which consist of mostly hardly wildflowers that thrive on desert conditions. When hiking the Navajo Loop Trail, and walking down Wall Street, look for the towering Douglas Fir that reaches out of the top of a short slot, searching for the sunlight it needs to survive.

Directions to Bryce Canyon From Salt Lake City: Travel south on Interstate 15 past Beaver to UT 20. Exit on UT 20. Turn south on UT 89 and travel past Panguitch. Follow UT 89 to UT 12. Travel along UT 12 through Red Canyon to Bryce Canyon. Turn south on UT 63 to enter the park. From Las Vegas: Travel Interstate 15 past St. George to Exit 16. Drive through Hurricane, Utah. Follow Utah Highway 9 through Hurricane and to the only stop light in LaVerkin. Turn right at the stop light. Continue on Highway 9 to the south entrance of Zion National Park. Drive through Zion to the junction of UT 9 and US 89 at Mt. Carmel Jct. Turn north on UT 89, then exit on UT 12. Follow UT 12 through Red Canyon, turning south on UT 63 to enter Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyon Road Map - Bryce Canyon Trail Map			Trees surprisingly thrive in the harsh, arid and rocky soil amid the fantastical red hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, although they are sparse in their presentation. The high desert elevation combined with the rocky, dry soil makes it difficult for flora to thrive profusely.
	Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.

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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah