Falling rocks close part of Bryce Canyon trail

BRYCE CANYON — Bryce Canyon National Park has closed the Wall Street section of the popular Navajo Loop Trail due to falling rocks, until further notice.

Recently two visitors were struck by rocks — one as large as a softball — while hiking to Wall Street. Their injuries were minor.

When conditions are safe, park staff will assess the trail conditions to determine when it can be reopened. Visitors should inquire at the visitors' 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. Along this trail, visitors can still complete the three-mile Queen's Garden/Navajo Loop Combination Trail.

Due to the abundant snowfall this winter, the snow is still 2 to 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.

In May 2006, a significant rockfall occurred on the Wall Street section of the Navajo Loop Trail. The rock debris covered an area about 60 feet long, 15 feet deep and 15 feet wide, with an estimated mass of 400 to 500 tons. The largest rock was as large as a mid-sized car. The rockfall prompted the closure of Wall Street for more than a year as trail crews constructed a new path around the slide.

— Lynn Arave