COLORADO RIVER BASIN 
297 
point only a few rods distant from the place of beginning. Even 
though the canyons in this particular locality seldom exceed an 
average depth of 500 feet, yet their walls are so nearly vertical 
as to make them effective barriers even to a man afoot. 
Thus we have before us the home of the greatest natural 
bridges in the world. Entirely obscured from distant view, and 
far below the general surface of the surrounding country, these 
masterpieces of Nature are hidden away in one of the most inac¬ 
cessible countries known. Their security and isolation might al¬ 
most be interpreted to mean that Diety had deliberately decided to 
place them in such a position that only those who were willing to 
pay the price of distant travel shall be permitted to look upon 
them. ' 
Zion National Park is situated within the north side of the 
Colorado Basin and just at the base of the steepest part of the 
stairs. The water flowing through Makuntuweap Canyon rises 
far up near the head of the stairway, and as it flows over each 
of the succeeding steps it buries itself in deep, steep-sided can¬ 
yons. Zion Canyon constitutes an extremely narrow gorge where 
the Makuntuweap River cuts through the Vermillion Cliffs. In its 
lower stretches, Zion Canyon is three thousand feet deep and of 
about the same width. The walls are nearly perpendicular. 
Farther up, the canyon narrows and the stream, not in excess of 
fifty feet wide, occupies the entire width of the gorge. The 
height and steepness of the walls are maintained, in fact the 
overhanging cliffs not infrequently shut out the sky many rods at 
a stretch. 
Zion Canyon is attractive primarily because of its depth, the 
verticality of its walls, and the coloring of its formations. It is 
altogether probable, particularly in its upper course, that this is 
the narrowest canyon in the world. A view from the rim of this 
incision gives one the impression of looking down into a great 
rift virtually without bottom. 
Right at the top of the stairway and, therefore, at the rim of 
the great Paunsaugunt Plateau, nature has placed perhaps her 
most delicate jewel, Bryce Canyon. The contour of the plateau 
is highly crenate, almost like the edge of a beautiful leaf. Bryce 
Canyon occupies one of these reentrant angles, and is, therefore, 
