Why is the Utah Countryside Red?

   One of the most prominent aspects of Utah, particularly here in the country between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, is the large amount of red ground, red rocks, red hoodoos, and even large red rock cliffs. In more ways than one, Utah is a red state! This red coloring makes for beautiful sunsets which turn the country even more brightly red and orange, and in many places the bright green quaking aspen up against the red rock country makes for some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. In fact, it's so beautiful here that Bryce Canyon National Park receives over a million visitors each year and Zion National Park receives well over 4 million visitors each year and many of these visitors are not only from all over the United States, but are also from Europe, Australia, and Asia. In either Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park, you can expect to hear many different languages being spoken on the hiking trails.
 But why is the Utah country so red? The colouring of the red hills of Utah is caused by the fact that there is so much iron in the ground here in Utah. As the iron is exposed to oxygen and to water, it does what all iron does- it rusts. So what you're actually seeing in this red Utah country is sandstone and shale that is rusting. In many areas, you will see this rust in contrast with a bright white which is limestone.
   If you are ever out here in the Zion or Bryce Canyon National Park country, I hope you will drop in and take a memorable horseback ride with us here at Rising K Ranch!