If you visit any of the parks in Southern Utah you're bound to here of the term, Cryptobiotic soil. Cyano-bacteria, or blue-green algae grow in the red soil here and form a structure that reduces erosion and provides fecund ground for other plant life. The crust you see here in the ground also contains lichen, fungi and even mosses.

It's incredibly delicate and repairing the damage by human footsteps can take decades. Rangers will warn you to watch your step.