As you descend into the canyons, stillness and silence is everywhere. But don’t be tricked into assuming that this is a lifeless desert. Magic is everywhere. Up in the cliffs, tribes of birdmen lay their eggs. They patrol the canyons below, seeking prey to bring back to their young. Keep an eye out for their signs: brightly colored feathers on the ground, ranging in size from inches to two-feet-long tail feathers that are streaked in chromatic reds, yellows and blues. You may also hear their calls echoing through the canyons, a shrieking in the wind. Descending further into the labyrinth below, fire is everywhere. Absorbing the heat of the strong high-desert sun, unfiltered and day after day, small living flames flare into life before burning into ash. On particularly hot days, full-fledged fire elementals may spawn as well. Keep an eye out for remnants of their burn: charred juniper trees, flame-scarred rocks, and charcoal littering the ground. Avoiding the heat of the day during the hottest months is the best way to avoid a chance encounter, but, even in the dead of winter, the sun can still become so intense that you can never be sure. Take precautions—bring plenty of water! One of the rarest encounters in Canyonlands is the opposite of what you may expect. Deep within the canyons, especially in shaded areas, you may find a friendly water spirit. These playful creatures can assume many forms, from a single smiling droplet to a rippling fountain that dances in the wind. These creatures are generous by nature, giving life to the plants and animals around them. Their power is most pronounced in the early spring, when the snow-pack trickles down the rocks and collects in pools below. Keep an eye out for a patch of bright green, or even a congregation of butterflies, and you may catch a glimpse of this kind creature. Then of course, there’s the legendary bronze dragon that makes the entire span of over 300,000 acres into its kingdom. It prefers to hunt at night, both for pray and treasure, and it’s said that it’s lair is deep within the canyons in the most remote parts of the park. Only the bravest adventurers have dared to seek out the cruel and territorial dragon. While rumors abound that some have managed to find and slay its young, the ancient dragon has yet to be challenged by anyone who has lived to tell the tale.