Bridge Mountain (Utah)

Bridge Mountain is located east of the park headquarters near the south entrance to Zion Canyon. Bridge Mountain was once originally named Crawford Mountain after the Crawford family who were early Mormon settlers in the canyon. But the name was officially changed to Bridge Mountain in 1934 when a natural bridge was discovered on Bridge Mountain. However, it was not a bridge, but a natural arch. For years, rangers in Zion Park told visitors that this was a natural bridge, hence the mountain's name. A bridge is defined as a subtype of arch that is primarily water-formed. To avoid confusion, the National Park Service eventually named the span Crawford Arch. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the North Fork Virgin River. This mountain is composed of Navajo Sandstone, with a red shale outcropping of the Kayenta Formation exposed along the lower slopes. ==Climate==

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Bridge Mountain. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone, which is defined by the coldest month having an average mean temperature below 32 °F (0 °C), and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter. ==Gallery==

File:Bridge Mountain and West Temple.jpg|Bridge Mountain (left) and The West Temple seen from the east File:Crawford Arch.JPG|Crawford Arch on Bridge Mountain ==See also==