You are here

"Wall Street" In Bryce Canyon National Park Closed By Rockfalls

Share

The popular "Wall Street" stretch of trail in Bryce Canyon National Park has been temporarily closed due to rockfalls. NPS graphic.

Falling rocks are not a good thing to have raining down on your visitors, so the folks at Bryce Canyon National Park have temporarily closed the popular Wall Street stretch of trail on the Navajo Loop Trail.

Park officials say two hikers recently were hit by rocks -- one as large as a softball -- while passing through Wall Street. Fortunately, their injuries were minor, the park reported.

Here's the trail closure announcement from the park:

The Wall Street section will remain closed until further notice. When conditions are safe, park staff will assess the trail conditions to determine when it can be reopened. Visitors should inquire at the Visitor Center for the latest trail information.

The other section of the Navajo Loop Trail, known as Two Bridges, remains open but visitors are cautioned to watch out for falling rocks and slippery trail conditions. Hiking is at their own risk. Along this trail, visitors can still complete the 3-mile long Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Combination Trail.

Due to the abundant snowfall this winter, the snow is still 2-3 feet deep. Trails are snow-packed, icy and muddy. Visitors are urged to wear hiking boots with lugged soles for traction and use caution when descending and ascending steep trails.

Rock falls are part of the natural geological processes which shape the colorful spires called hoodoos. This process is known as frost wedging; water from rain and snow seeps into cracks in the rock during the day and then freezes at the night. The tremendous pressure exerted when water expands during freezing widens the cracks and loosens the rock. At an elevation of 8,000 feet, Bryce Canyon experiences 200 days a year of freeze/thaw cycles.

It is not unusual for trail closures during this time of year. In May 2006 a significant rock fall occurred on the Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop Trail. The rock debris covered an area roughly 60 feet long, 15 feet deep and 15 feet wide with an estimated mass of 400-500 tons. The largest rock was as large as a midsized car. This event closed Wall Street for over a year as trail crews constructed a new path around the slide.

Comments

That's really a shame, but it's nature at work. And who knows, after things settle down it may well prove to be even more photographic. I'm just glad I have all of my pictures to remind me of one of the nicest 'walks' I've ever taken.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.