New State Alert
Though some may not immediately think of forests when they think of Utah, this Southwest state is home to numerous forests spread throughout the region. Red Canyon in the Dixie National Forest is one of these hidden gems and the first Utah forest to be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network. Dedicated in June of 2022, Red Canyon is a land of contrasts: verdant ponderosa pines set against unique rock formations in brilliant hues of red, orange, and pink. Temperatures in Red Canyon can soar well over 100 degrees in the summer, yet it receives a fair amount of snow in the winter. The vistas in Red Canyon include both towering plateaus and well-eroded creek beds. A land of veritable extremes, the pinyon-juniper forest contained within Red Canyon is as distinctive as the rest of the picturesque landscape.
Hiking along Red Canyon you’ll find plenty of coniferous species, such as ponderosa, Douglas fir, pinyon, and juniper, in addition to willow, cottonwood, and other water-loving species along the ephemeral creek beds. The diverse habitat is home to a wide array of fauna, such as owls, hawks, deer, coyotes, and even cougars. The pink Claron limestone, from which the famous hoodoos are formed, has eroded into soft soil where cryptobiotic soil abounds. Formed up of living organisms like algae, fungi, and cyanobacteria, cryptobiotic soil forms a crust upon which the organisms live. This crust not only provides structure to the organisms, but it also helps slow down erosion due to it being less water absorbent as regular soil. Some cryptobiotic soils also fix atmospheric nitrogen, drawing important nutrients down into the soil where other plants and organisms can benefit. Unfortunately, cryptobiotic soil is extremely fragile and once damaged, can take as long as decades to regrow. When hiking or recreating in desert environments such as Red Canyon, please stay on established trails.
Though located less than 15 miles away from the more well-known Bryce Canyon, Red Canyon is a truly spectacular, underappreciated treasure in southwestern Utah. As OGFN’s first Utah forest, Red Canyon certainly is an awe-inspiring start to what will hopefully be many more protected forest to come within the state!
To date, the Old-Growth Forest Network has dedicated forests in 32 states and that number keeps growing! Is there a state you’d like to see on that list? Nominate your forest today!
