OCR Text |
Show pRE'S MASTERPIECES K 'osion Carves Stupendous ; )ectacles in Three Canyons - n WilTJ Features. x from the beginning of time, wind and water have corned corn-ed to carve the earth's surface in a small section of north-Arizona north-Arizona and southern Utah into three of the most stupen- 5 spectacles in the world, the Grand canyon of Colorado , r, Zion canyon of Virgin river and the great horseshoe-v horseshoe-v i oed amphitheater known as Bryce canyon. """-Cach area in this scenic triumvirate is now a national park kemib as sucn belongs to the people of the United States. These r Alcidtr.may be counted among xne Bee o! fciparable jewels in the national ?nt, Enrij-lre t0 be enjoyed by us today ig his poip oe held trust for the benefit i him bicnerat'ons Americans yet to . Grand Canyon National park -Frthern Arizona Is the largest of -sTv M the three I parks, con- ional Parks taming 645,- C'5k 000 a c r e s- 'I'" Zion National 1 a Series Park ta utah is second in f. size with 94,- :res and Bryce Canyon Nation-rk, Nation-rk, also in Utah, is the smallest , !6,000 acres. In 1946 more than f '0 people visited these parks. KSssf ind canyon is 297 miles in l, a mile deep and in some s 18 miles wide. Mighty moun-s moun-s t rising thousands of feet from fer ppths of the gorge, are dwarfed i enormous proportions of this I V ; trough. From the rim of ! vV!i :anyon the visitor may look 4 ! on the summits of these moun- j j Wave on wave they reach ' " horizon, garnet, purple, topaz, FUND!) stormy sea on fire. And a Dverby Iqnd feet down real storm 'resident's may lash these mountains, cutive fring may sparkle and thunder monetacreverberate from wall to wall, rity on t above the sun shines in a 'monelafless sky. --YCE CANYON presents a contrast to Grand canyon, '".'he visitor enters a fairyland sfi- " ilc, white, red and lemon yel-V yel-V 1 ,) land of minarets and towers, id of castles and cathedral s, a dreamland of goblins and sque shapes. There are 30 .. jof pink cliffs carved and sculp- j main amphitheater, Uiree long and about two miles is crammed with fantastic flg-ind flg-ind kaleidoscopic color. Trails to such places ps Sunrise Fairy Castle, Queens Garden, ?iif;;.Xv '-''oo Canyon, art-i Silent City. UN IN SHARP contrast, Zion n is like a vast cathedral. The ' of heaven seems to rest on :er stone wills. Considered by people the most satisfying of itional parks, Zion, by the ED fflflor of its scene, invariably Kravclir.ands silence from all who en-assy en-assy at'5 Approaching by Mount Car-' Car-' nlUIli!,:ign'vay the first view is from 'nation b?a11 of e canyn through win-"I win-"I e (jj:in the highway tunnel. From -ujiauth the visitor enters along IS mrse of Virgin river passing sn the huge rock masses called spjusst and the West Temples. ice inside these gates, the - - ' eler stands in a level valley t osed by almost perpendicu- walls which rise more than I a mile above him. Side vons cut these walls into tre-1 tre-1 f dous blocks, which rise i a blood red base, changing ! 'ddish brown and, two thirds to gleaming white, tinted buffs, grays and reds, he visitor proceeds along this nental valley he passes the el, the Mountain of the Sun, s ourt of the Patriarchs, the White Throne, Angels Land- ing, the Weeping Rock and finally the Temple of Sinawa. This mystical amphitheater ia completely surrounded by stone rock walls. The level floor is green with trees and in early summer bright with blossoms. In the center of the circle stand two large stone pillars. The larger one is called the altar and the smaller one is known as the pulpit. The visitor instinctively listens for the sermon and waits for the sacrifice. The early ear-ly pioneers, deeply religious Mormons, Mor-mons, were so impressed by the solemnity of the scene that they named the canyon "Little Zion." THESE THREE national parks are readily accessible by paved highways, but the roads on the north side of Grand canyon are closed by snow from October 15 to May 15. Accommodations of all types, including in-cluding hotels, lodges, cabin camps and cafeterias, are found on the south rim of Grand canyon. Lodges and cabin camps also are available at the north rim and in both Zion and Bryce. Free campsites for motorists bringing their own equipment equip-ment are maintained in all of the parks by National ,Park service. Excellent paved highways within the parks make it possible for all travelers, without physical exertion, to see many of the principal wonders won-ders of each park. For hardier persons, per-sons, there are miles of foot trails, and the adventurously inclined may explore more distantly on horseback. horse-back. It is possible to cross on foot, by mule or horse from the south rim to the north rim of Grand canyon, but this trip and all trips down into the canyon should be taken tak-en only by persons in excellent physical phys-ical condition. In each park, ranger-naturalists give frequent talks, and in the evenings eve-nings they conduct entertaining programs pro-grams around the campflres. |