Bryce Canyon In Winter

Winter in Bryce Canyon National Park (or more accurately, spring in a heavy snowfall season) is magical for many reasons — the red rock amphitheater gleams beneath a coat of white; the sandstone arches, windows, fins, spires, and bizarre rock forms called hoodoos look even more surreal; the blanket of slushy snow dampens the trills of nature; and the usual crowds of visitors are gone, leaving you with a sense of solitary quiet in this monumental space.

On a road trip through Utah in late March, I put on cross-country skis and set out for Fairyland Point to explore the canyon rim.