Pinyon and gnarled juniper trees add a splash of green contrast to the red sandstone terrain. When conditions are just right, wildflowers bloom in profusion from April to July. Most species of mammals are nocturnal, but you might see mule deer, kit fox or more often, jackrabbits and cottontails, kangaroo rats and other rodents and small reptils. Flocks of blue pinyon jays chatter in tree tops; migratory species and residents such as golden eagles are seen by careful observers.

Cryptobiotic Crust: Its alive, so watch your step! But it won't bite you. Once called cryptogamic soil, this dark crust covers much of the untrampled desert. Composed of cyanobacteria as well as lichen, algea and fungi, this covering protects against erosion, absorbs moisture and provides nitrogen and other nutrients for plant growth. Avoid crushing these life-giving organisms. Stay on trails. Without these crusts, many of the larger plants could not survive, and if plants go, so do the animals. The desert could lose much of the life that makes it such a magical place.