Sunrise–Temples of the Sun and Moon
The Temples of the Sun and Moon in the first rays of dawn. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Sand Dunes of the San Rafael Desert, Utah
Some forty miles of dirt road leading to Horseshoe Canyon crosses the San Rafael Desert and along the way is this impressive region of pristine sand dunes. Lining the horizon, the Henry Mountains were the last range to be discovered and named in the lower 48 states.
Fallen Roof Ruins
This pristine granary is in Cedar Mesa, Utah. The sandstone ceiling has spalled off and lies broken in front of the small rooms.
Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel, Utah
This is a mostly Barrier Style panel, with artwork that is approximately 2,000 years old. Some later Fremont Indian artwork was added several hundreds of years ago. This panel is at the edge of the great San Rafael Reef.
Grandview Point – Canyonlands National Park
The high view from the Island In The Sky District. This great canyon complex was formed by the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers.
Above Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico
A taste of early fall color on the high road above Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico.
Making a New Friend–near Gran Quivira, NM
Made the acquaintance of a new friend and his family, along the road to Gran Quivira, New Mexico.
Angel Peak, New Mexico
The prominent spire of Angel Peak dominates a complex canyonscape in northwestern New Mexico.
Narrow Guage Steam Train in Chama, New Mexico
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway starts in Chama. This authentic “Old West” train station with its yellow wooden buildings, water tank, and recently restored coal tiller are always a treat to see, especially when the train is pulling into the station. The smell of the coal steam and the sharp and reverberant sound and feel of the steam whistle are always a thrill!
Narrow Guage Steam Engine in Chama, New Mexico
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway starts in Chama. It's always a treat to see, especially when the train is pulling into the station. The smell of the coal steam and the sharp and reverberant sound and feel of the steam whistle are always a thrill!
Narrow Guage Train Tracks in Chama, New Mexico
The narrow tracks lead out of the station and into the Old West.
San Juan River Sunset at Muley Point, Utah
Desert sunset from Muley Point, at the top of a 1,500 foot cliff ridge overlooking the San Juan River and its canyons.
Canyon of Time, Goblin Valley, Utah
Goblin Valley State Park is an amazing and unexpected geological phenomena. This photograph, taken inside the maze of thousands of complex and fantastical formations, was part of a meditation on Time.
The Great Gallery–Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonlands NP
The magnificent Great Gallery, a world-famous panel of some 80 images stretching over 200 feet of sandstone wall. These are approximately 2,000 years old and certainly a place of shamanic ritual and spiritual importance.
Great Gallery (main panel)–Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonlands NP
The magnificent Great Gallery, a world-famous panel of some 80 images stretching over 200 feet of sandstone wall. These are approximately 2,000 years old and like all such rock art, it serves as an energetic and symbolic connection between the spirit life and the everyday life of these people.
The Holy Ghost Panel–Great Gallery, Horseshoe Canyon, Canyonlands NP
At the south end of the Great Gallery is the Holy Ghost Panel. These enigmatic figures loom as a group. The main figure is over twice the size of a human. If they cannot speak to us in details of their meaning and powers, there is one thing they do speak plainly of: Time.
North Cathedral Valley Road, Capitol Reef NP, Utah
The top section of the 65 mile-long loop road that takes one into the northern and most remote part of the National Park comes off of the plateau and enters Cathedral Valley with its many sandstone towers and fluted walls.
Dirty Devil River Formations, Utah
Intriguing formations at the mouth of the Dirty Devil River as it meets the Colorado River, just above Lake Powell.
“Sauron’s Tower”– Factory Butte, Utah
Near Factory Butte in Utah, this sandstone tower looks like a scene from The Lord of the Rings! Many of these formations have informal if not formal names, but I couldn’t find one for this peak, so I named it Sauron’s Tower. The east flank of Factory Butte rises up behind it like the slopes of Mt. Doom.
Dusty Road to Moab–Long Canyon Rd, Utah
Sunrise over the dirt road that leads through Long Canyon from Canyonlands National Park down to the Colorado River to Moab. Super dry conditions caused the dust to rise whenever there was any wind at all. The La Sal mountains form the backdrop.
Long Canyon, Utah
Early morning in this, indeed, quite long canyon stretching from Canyonlands back to the east to Moab. The great Colorado River waits at the end of the road, its waters rapidly heading into Canyonlands and eventually through the Grand Canyon.
Fall Yellow in Horseshoe Canyon, Utah
In the remote canyon bottoms, the first signs of fall delight the weary hiker.
Entering “Pucker Pass,” Long Canyon, Utah
For the length of a football field, the high sandstone walls squeeze in on each side of this one lane narrow section of the Long Canyon Road. When this trail was originally created by the uranium miners back in the 50s, the pass was even tighter.
Flattop Sunset, San Rafael Desert, Utah
One of the two mesas in this part of the San Rafael Desert known as Flattop glows in the sunset light under the gaze of a lonesome cow.
Full Moonrise over the San Rafael Desert, Utah
The yellow desert moon rose over this vast expanse of rolling sage and sand that stretches between the San Rafael Reef and the deep canyons of Canyonlands National Park to the east.
