Getting There Bristlecone Pine Trail Bristlecone€¦ · The Bristlecone Pine Trail is a short, 0.5...
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Bristlecone Pine Trail Cedar City Ranger District Dixie National Forest Named for the spectacular Bristlecone Pine trees that grow in the area, this short, 0.5 mile roundtrip, hiking trail is a journey back in time. The end of the trail provides beautiful views into Zion National Park. Forest Service United States Department of Agriculture The Bristlecone Pine Trail is a short, 0.5 mile round- trip, hiking trail that is named after the trees that grow along the trail. The Bristlecone Pine tree is considered the oldest living single organism in the world. Some of the trees date back nearly 4,500 years, around the same time the pyramids were being built in Egypt! The key to these trees surviving to their remarkable age is their ability to survive in adverse growing conditions. Bristlecone Pine trees have the amazing ability to grow during favorable years and almost completely stop all growth during adverse years. Their slow growth makes their wood extremely dense which makes it resistant to insects, rot, and erosion. Many of them contain considerable amounts of dead wood that surround a thin lining of inner bark that sustains the living portion of the tree. Found on the high, barren, wind-swept slopes of the southwestern states, Bristlecone Pine trees can be identified by their location, form, foliage, and cones. These trees are short, bushy, often multi-stemmed and malformed. The needles are deep green and occur in clusters of five. They are 1” to 1 ½” in length and slightly curved. The needles completely surround the twigs and small branches giving them the appearance of a long bushy tail. The cones are 3” to 3 ½” in length and are a deep chocolate brown at maturity. The cone scales are stout, thick, and armed with a long fragile prickle from which the Bristlecone Pine receives its common name. The trail is a relatively flat easy hike, but be careful on some of the uneven surfaces. The trail offers two branches, diverging shortly out of the parking area and converging before the viewing platform at the end. To see all the trail has to offer take one branch on the way out and the other on the way back. The viewing platform at the end of the trail offers spectacular views of the upper reaches of Zion National Park. The trail is accessible late spring when the snowpack has melted through the fall. There is a little shade offered along the trail under the trees but many areas are fully exposed to the sun. There is also no water available along the trail. While the elevation helps to keep things moderately cool, prepare for warm temperatures during the summer. Due to the limited range, unique age, scientific and aesthetic value, the U.S. Forest Service has a non-cutting, non-removal policy for the trees. You are encouraged to visit and photograph these extraordinary specimens but please do not climb, carve, or deface the trees. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Dixie National Forest. Please remember to respect your National Forest Lands and Tread Lightly! August 2011 Bristlecone Pine Trail Getting There Access Bristlecone Pine Trail is accessed from the Bristlecone Pine Trailhead/Parking Area. Bristlecone Pine Trailhead N 37° 34.047’ W 112° 50.933’ From Cedar City to Bristlecone Pine: Approximately 18 miles From I-15 take Exit 59 for UT-56/200 North. Proceed east on 200 North for 1 mile to the intersection with Main Street. Turn right onto Main Street and head south for 0.2 miles to the intersection with Center Street/University Blvd/UT-14. Turn left onto Center Street/UT-14 and continue southeast on UT-14 for 17 miles to the Bristlecone Pine Trailhead parking area on the south side of the road. Cedar City 15 Brian Head 14 143 1 148 Trailhead Cedar Breaks N.M. 143 0 1 5 4 2 3 Miles Bristlecone Viewing Platform Branches and Needles Trailhead
Transcript of Getting There Bristlecone Pine Trail Bristlecone€¦ · The Bristlecone Pine Trail is a short, 0.5...
BristleconePine Trail
Cedar CityRanger District
Dixie National Forest
Named for the spectacular BristleconePine trees that grow in the area,
this short, 0.5 mile roundtrip, hikingtrail is a journey back in time. Theend of the trail provides beautiful
views into Zion National Park.
Forest Service
United States Department of Agriculture
The Bristlecone Pine Trail is a short, 0.5 mile round-trip, hiking trail that is named after the trees that grow along the trail. The Bristlecone Pine tree is considered the oldest living single organism in the world. Some of the trees date back nearly 4,500 years, around the same time the pyramids were being built in Egypt!
The key to these trees surviving to their remarkable age is their ability to survive in adverse growing conditions. Bristlecone Pine trees have the amazing ability to grow during favorable years and almost completely stop all growth during adverse years. Their slow growth makes their wood extremely dense which makes it resistant to insects, rot, and erosion. Many of them contain considerable amounts of dead wood that surround a thin lining of inner bark that sustains the living portion of the tree.
Found on the high, barren, wind-swept slopes of the southwestern states, Bristlecone Pine trees can be identified by their location, form, foliage, and cones. These trees are short, bushy, often multi-stemmed and malformed. The needles are deep green and occur in clusters of five. They are 1” to 1 ½” in length and slightly curved. The needles completely surround the twigs and small branches giving them the appearance of a long bushy tail. The cones are 3” to 3 ½” in length and are a deep chocolate brown at maturity. The cone scales are stout, thick, and armed with a long fragile prickle from which the Bristlecone Pine receives its common name.
The trail is a relatively flat easy hike, but be careful on some of the uneven surfaces. The trail offers two branches, diverging shortly out of the parking area and converging before the viewing platform at the end. To see all the trail has to offer take one branch on the way out and the other on the way back. The viewing platform at the end of the trail offers spectacular views of the upper reaches of Zion National Park.
The trail is accessible late spring when the snowpack has melted through the fall. There is a little shade offered along the trail under the trees but many areas are fully exposed to the sun. There is also no water available along the trail. While the elevation helps to keep things moderately cool, prepare for warm temperatures during the summer.
Due to the limited range, unique age, scientific and aesthetic value, the U.S. Forest Service has a non-cutting, non-removal policy for the trees. You are encouraged to visit and photograph these extraordinary specimens but please do not climb, carve, or deface the trees.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Dixie National Forest.
Please remember to respect your National Forest Lands and Tread Lightly!
August 2011
Bristlecone Pine TrailGetting There
Access
Bristlecone Pine Trail is accessed from the Bristlecone Pine Trailhead/Parking Area.
Bristlecone Pine Trailhead N 37° 34.047’ W 112° 50.933’
From Cedar City to Bristlecone Pine:Approximately 18 miles
From I-15 take Exit 59 for UT-56/200 North. Proceed east on 200 North for 1 mile to the intersection with Main Street. Turn right onto Main Street and head south for 0.2 miles to the intersection with Center Street/University Blvd/UT-14. Turn left onto Center Street/UT-14 and continue southeast on UT-14 for 17 miles to the Bristlecone Pine Trailhead parking area on the south side of the road.
CedarCity
15
Brian Head
14
143
143
148
Trailhead
CedarBreaks
N.M.
143
0 1 542 3Miles
Bristlecone
Viewing Platform
Branches and Needles
Trailhead
Cedar BreaksNational
MonumentAshdown
GorgeWilderness
Area
14
14
148
Blowhard
Trail
Potato
HollowTrail
Cry
stal
Springs
Trail
Virgin
River
Rim
Trail
#1635
#055
#165
0
#055
#055
Trail
HancockPeak
#240
#251
#1626
#251#251
#1624
#251
#1625
#277
#361
#052
Bristlecone PineTrail
14
ParkingArea
ViewingPlatform
Bristle
cone Pine Trail
0 250 500 750 1,000Feet
0 0.5 0.75 1Mile
0.25 0.250.20.150.10.050
10,000
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9,960
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9,920
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Bristlecone Pine Trail Pro�le - East Path
Distance in Miles
Elev
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Fee
t
ParkingArea
ViewingPlatform
0.250.20.150.10.050
10,000
9,980
9,960
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9,920
9,900
Bristlecone Pine Trail Pro�le - West Path
Distance in Miles
Elev
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ParkingArea
ViewingPlatform
n
ew
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