Cryptobiotic soil is a critical element of a healthy desert eco-system.  It consists of cyanobacteria, microfungi, algae, moss, and lichens. The interwoven structure created by these organisms prevents erosion by holding things together during wind and rain storms and by giving plants a place to take root.  It also provides important nutrients for plants by fixing nitrogen from the air into the soil, plus it helps retain moisture after rainfall.

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Cryptobiotic soil ("crypto" for short) is extremely fragile and one footstep or tire track can destroy it.  It's very slow-growing and can take 5-7 years just to begin to regenerate.  It could take 50-250 years to fully recover from just one mis-step. Whenever possible, stay on trails, bare rocks, and in dry washes. Please take care to avoid disturbing this valuable ecological wonder during your camping, hiking, biking, climbing, and off-road adventures.

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For more information about Cryptobiotic Soil, check out these great articles:
Cryptobiotic Soil Crusts from Wild About Utah
Biological Soil Crust of Southeast Utah from the National Park Service