Scenic Byway 12

Sunlight on a beautiful morning lights up miles of the seemingly endless landscape visible from Sunrise Point in Bryce Canyon.

Scenic Byway 12 tunnels through a redrock fin in Red Canyon, Utah.

A spectacular display of redrock hoodoos and arches awaits travelers as they drive Scenic Byway 12 through Red Canyon.

Brilliant red rock formations usher sightseers into the aptly named Red Canyon west of Bryce Canyon National Park.

An overcast sky brings out the brilliant colors of sagebrush-covered cliffs and rock formations in Escalante Canyons as seen from the Boynton Overlook.

A serene landscape of sandstone stretches as far as the eye can see in the area near the Escalante River and Escalante Canyons of Utah.

Fluffy cumulus clouds sprawl out over the cream-and-orange sandstone of Escalante Canyons from the Head of the Rock Overlook on Scenic Byway 12 in Utah.

Prickly pear cactus is commonly found throughout the southwestern U.S. This one bears pinkish-purple fruit.

An Interpretive Center in Escalante informs visitors.

Early morning view north across sagebrush meadows from the roadside near a turnoff to Bryce Canyon.

Pine trees thrive where little else can by sending their roots deep into the orange and cream-colored sandstone in the ridges and valleys of Bryce Canyon National Park.

The American flag flies over the shadowed grounds of Cannonville's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in September.

The forest-topped bluff of pink-and-white Powell Point rises above the gold and white buttes and mesas of the Escalante-Grand Staircase area of Scenic Byway 12 between Cannonville and Henrieville.

Scenic Byway 12 lies ahead between multicolored buttes and mesas in the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument.

A car is about to drive through one of the tunnels on Scenic Byway 12 in Utah.

A couple strolls down one of the hiking trails that descend from Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon National Park.

A small pine clings to the rim of Bryce Canyon near Sunset Point.

From Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon a trail descends into the canyon by a series of switchbacks. Far below the trail disappears into a shadowed slot canyon.

The pink and white formation called Powell Point rises from the gray-blue rock fields called "The Blues."

Yellow-flowered rabbitbrush flourishes on the rim of the Blues below Powell Point at the overlook and rest area on Scenic Byway 12.

A hiker braves a stormy sky to hike the petrified forest trail at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park.

A huge petrified log lies in pieces before the restroom facilities in the campground at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park.

Scenic Byway 12 curves through white and pink Navajo sandstone far below the overlook known as Head of the Rocks.

Roadside stop has fine view of Powell Point. An interpretive plaque tells all about it and the slate-gray rock formations of this part of the Grand Staircase, nicknamed "The Blues."

Hikers are scattered along several tiers of switchbacks on the trail below Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon.

A visitor to Bryce Canyon looks ahead where the bottom of the Sunset Point trail disappears into a slot canyon.

Angel enjoys the sunshine at Powell Point Overlook on Scenic Byway 12 in Utah.

Stone, timber and graceful lampposts are highlights of the newly constructed Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument Visitor Center built in Cannonville, Utah.

A sturdy, slender tree trunk rises to reach the sunshine high above the convoluted slot canyon in Bryce Canyon below Sunset Point.

Two hikers on the switchbacks wave at hikers below on the Sunset Point trail in Bryce Canyon National Park.

A biker rolls along the Red Canyon Biking Trail under a cloudy sky one morning in Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12.

A tree frames a view of Bryce Canyon on a summer afternoon.

A family enjoys the cool water at the foot of a waterfall on the Mossy Cave Trail (the waterfall branch of the hike.)

This tongue-in-cheek notice sits above an old gas pump in Cannonville, Utah on the way to Kodachrome State Park.

A U.S. Forest Service sign greets visitors to Dixie National Forest in Red Canyon.

Bruce Fullmer of Garfield County says a few words at the Scenic Byway 12 All-American Road Designation event in Boulder, Utah.

The roots of a small yet resilient pine tree stand exposed on the edge of Bryce Canyon National Park.

Powell Point, a significant landmark on Scenic Byway 12, is just waiting to be photographed.

Ebenezer Bryce's quaint cabin resides in the town of Tropic.

The view from Boulder Mountain looks down upon a varied landscape.

Scenic Byway 12 curves on its way to Panguitch.

Looking down from the Boynton Overlook, Scenic Byway 12 curves, and the Hogsback lays in the distance.

White-tipped orange hoodoos sit on both sides of Scenic Byway 12 as it passes through Bryce Canyon National Park.

Scenic Byway 12 curves around slickrock, and the black road contrasts the ecru-colored landscape.

Redrock sandstone glows in the sunlight through a view on a hiking trail in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Books, maps, and postcards are available at the Multi Agency Visitor Center in Escalante.

This old pioneer fence remains bordering a field in Boulder.

Boulder Mountain provides a view of rugged splendor.

Sunlight strikes the old Hickman homestead barn one spring morning in Fruita, with the orange and cream sandstone cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold behind.

Petrified wood, like this log, is common at Escalante State Park.

Visitors tour the rock garden of petrified wood at Escalante State Park.

Quaking autumn aspen abounds on Boulder Mountain.

An old tree overlooks Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon's Sunset Point on the day of a prescribed burn in the nearby forest.

Black and white sketch of wagon on Hole-in-the-Rock Trail.

The break in the sandstone walls lends us a taste of a marvelous view on the Arches Trail on Scenic Byway 12.

Green fields of a ranch near the road contrast with the rugged sandstone terrain visible on the horizon.

Black and white sketch of riders on the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail

As travelers climb Boulder Mountain they will meet with views of the rocky valley and, in the fall, changing leaves.

"On a Clear Day" pullout affords a marvelous view that stretches far into the distance.

The aspen on Boulder Mountain change color in September.

The tilt of the camera makes these jagged uprisings of rock seem even more surreal.

This photo captures a closeup of Fremont Indian petroglyphs near Highway 24 in Capitol Reef National Park.

The Blues describes the entire landscape well on this bright summer day.

Gray and yellow bands of rock form the sides of Willis Canyon.

The cream-colored Hickman Bridge is just a short hike from Highway 24.

Flash floods have created huge scooped caverns in the slot canyon walls of Willis Canyon.

Visitors looking out from Larb Hollow Overlook on Boulder Mountain can see part of the Dixie National Forest, the Waterpocket Fold, and the Henry Mountains.

Cattle enjoy the grasses alongside Scenic Byway 12.

Horseback riding in the Scenic Byway 12 region has been a popular activity for decades.

The road winds down Boulder Mountain through forests of aspens and evergreens.

Miniscule hikers look at the sunlit hoodoos in the distance.

Scenic Byway 12 climbs up through the chilly-looking "Blues" at a vicious 12 percent grade.

Dark photo of north end of Upper Valley near Intrigue pullout.

This sign is posted near the junction with Hole-In-The-Rock Scenic Backway.

Angel's Palace Trail leads the traveler into a narrow canyon.

An RV waits for its owners to return at a parking area at Calf Creek, under brilliant redrock.

This pullout offers an extensive view of the mutli-colored mountains.

This is the Wildcat Ranger Station area, as seen from the road in the summer.

This natural arch frames layers of landscape with red stone.

Scenic Byway 12's Boynton Overlook commands an impressive view of the arid Escalante Canyons.

Red hills rise behind the Red Canyon Visitor Center.

A Utah historic site, this old log schoolhouse with its bell tower and red sandstone steps is a lovely reminder of Torrey's pioneer heritage.

A lone hiker wades in the cool waters of Calf's Creek in Escalante Canyons, Utah.

The early pioneers held evening musical entertainments and dances in the Big Apple Outdoor Dance Hall in Torrey. The hall is used for much the same purposes today.

The road contrasts with candy striped country near Kodachrome Basin.

Linger snow clings to the shores of Posey Lake.

Slickrock formations by Scenic Byway 12 in Utah gleam surreally in the afternoon sun.

This historic cabin is part of a museum that is open to the public.

Rams, sheep, and curious figures remain etched in Fremont Indian petroglyphs next to Highway 24 in Capitol Reef National Park.

Looking northeast from Larb Hollow Overlook relatively flat candy-striped mesas sit near Dixie National Forest and east of Capitol Reef National Park.

Visitors peer inside Fruita's historic old log schoolhouse as they listen to the recorded voice of a former schoolteacher tell of her experiences here.

Two mule deer at dusk, startled while feeding on the spring growth near the petroglyphs by the highway in Capitol Reef National Park.

The vivid red blooms of a barrel cactus are a treasure to find on the Hickman Bridge Trail in spring.

A man on a bench is catching the park at its best, with spring-bright juniper and sagebrush spotlighted against the fiery red and orange rocks of Sunset Point.

This young byway traveler has fun in a straggly juniper tree.

The new signs welcome visitors to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

In brilliant oranges and reds, Castle Rock rises heavenward.

Snow clings to the edges of the Posey Lake shore.

Angel explores the Anasazi buildings at Anasazi State Park.

Colorful sagebrush and juniper contrast with the brightly colored mesas in the distance.

A park ranger explains the building style of the Anasazi at the Anasazi Village State Park in Boulder, Utah.

This view from Burr Trail shows the road when it was still unpaved (before the Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument was designated).

Hole-In-The-Rock Pullout and sign sit in front of a spectacular view of tall mountains.

A single car enjoys the view near the West Entrance to Red Canyon.

Posey Lake lies still in the summer sun.

You'll need a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens to get this close a look at this archaeological site.

A lone hiker heads for the shade on a trail at Posey Lake.

Boulder, Utah boasts several picturesque pastoral scenes framed by the mountains.

Take a walk around Anasazi Village State Park to see the ruins that have been uncovered here.

Water-etched walls line this narrow slot canyon in Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument.

Quaint buildings, both old and new, dot Scenic Byway 12.

A Kiosk in Red Canyon.

Calf Creek in the Escalante Canyons is the life blood of the area.

The lonely Posey Lake Road junctions with Scenic Byway 12 and leads to Posey Lake.

An old gas pump reveals the culture of Cannonville.

A hiker enjoys a waterfall on the Mossy Cave Trail in Bryce Canyon.

Brillant, orange, mossy cave fins decorate the bright blue skyline in Bryce Canyon National Park.

White clouds float over the expanse of the Groundhog Preservation Field.

Shadows are creeping up the rocky crags of Sunset Point.

The aerial view of Escalante Petrified Forest State Park from Petrified Forest Walk lends an extensive view of the surrounding landscape.

This sculpture is located at the Anasazi Village State Park in Boulder, Utah.

A huge orange boulder lies cracked beside the road near the Burr Trail.

From this overlook, fascinating geology spreads out on the landscape below.

A few cars sit in the parking lot at the Escalante Multi-Agency Office.

The desert landscape spreads out north before the Escalante Multi-Agency Office.

A hiker maneuvers through the twisted and bizarre slot canyons of Willis Canyon.

The Willis Canyon hike features narrow slot canyon walls and a small stream.

A clear sky tops the rugged terrain at an overlook on the Burr Trail.

Erosion from flash floods has carved the walls of Willis Canyon.

Golden cliffs tower overhead in the Capitol Gorge of Capitol Reef National Park.

Water forms a small pool near a falls in Willis Canyon.

Water carved this great arch in a outcropping in Bryce Canyon.

Long Canyon on the Burr Trail has walls of brick-red hue.

A tiny waterfall flows beneath the glowing cliffs of Capitol Reef National Park.

A fantastic landscape of pillars unfolds before you from a Bryce Canyon overlook.

Willis Canyon offers hiking through shadows and sunlight as the walls converge.

Willows and other riparian vegetation line the Escalante River and bring welcome wetness to this arid region.

Sunlight casts warm rays on the golden cliffs of Capitol Reef National Park.

Tall cliffs cast shadows over the trail ahead on the Capitol Gorge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park.

The Capitol Gorge hiking path careens past high and low golden cliffs in Capitol Reef National Park.

Powell Point is prominent on the horizon from Bryce Canyon on a lovely summer day.

Bands of color line rock walls beside Capitol Gorge in Capitol Reef National Park.

A car approaches on the Burr Trail. Golden cliffs streaked with desert varnish tower above the road in Long Canyon.

From an overlook on the Burr Trail is a bird's eye view of Long Canyon.

A white car parks tight against the cliffside on the Burr Trail. There is no shoulder on the cliff side, and what looks like a very long drop on the other! This may be part of the famous switchbacks descending into the Capitol Reef area.

A hiker strolls along the roadside beneath the beautiful walls of Long Canyon on Utah's Burr Trail.

The paved Burr Trail curves through a rocky desert canyon in Utah. Clouds are scattered across the blue sky, making shadows on the rocks.

The rocky desert terrain of Long Canyon looms beside the Burr Trail in Utah.

The Burr Trail winds through the desert hills of Deer Creek, Utah.

Clouds are scattered across a blue sky, making shadows in a rocky desert canyon on Utah's Burr Trail.

The red sand of the Capitol Reef area is a soft foreground to starker stone mesas and uplifts in the distance.

Morning sun casts an ethereal light on the white Navajo sandstone peak prominent above SR 14.

Chimney Rock and background mesas stand out against the white of a mostly cloudy sky.

Shade structure and parking area greets hikers at the entrance to Capitol Gorge in Utah's Capitol Reef National Park.

The long span of this natural bridge in the midst of the Escalante Canyons rises above the bright green band of cottonwoods lining the Escalante River, on the Escalante River Trail.

Horses graze in a pasture beside a red barn in Boulder, Utah.

Afternoon sunlight tints the cliffs of Capitol Reef with fire.

Afternoon sunlight brings the creamy formations at Sunrise Point in of Bryce Canyon into sharp relief.

Shadows and sunlight tint the hoodoos near the Natural Bridge Overlook in Bryce Canyon.

Elegant orange and white hoodoos highlight thie view of Bryce Canyon, taken from near the end of the park road.

Pine needles frame this view of Powell Point.

A cloud-strewn sky highlights this view of a long striped ridge in Bryce Canyon.

The twisted branches and roots of a bare-twigged tree on the edge of Bryce Canyon highlight this view of red rock canyons and cloud-speckled sky.

Powell Point is visible on the horizon under a sky strewn with clouds.

Sunlight brings the subtle colors of Bryce Canyon National Park to life.

Sunlight tips rock formations as far as the eye can see in Bryce Canyon.

The marvelous cream, rust and orange hoodoos of Bryce Canyon shimmer under a summer sky.

Powell Point stands out on the horizon over the cream and rust colored cliffs of this section of Bryce Canyon.

Powell Point is prominent on the horizon over the cream-colored cliffs of this section of Bryce Canyon.

A cloud-strewn sky extends over landscape of white rock dappled with rich green juniper.

A vast panorama which includes Capitol Reef National Park and the Henry Mountains can be seen from this interpretive overlook.

This is a close up of one of the interpretive panels at a byway roadside kiosk in Escalante.

Travelers read the panels at the Larb Hollow Overlook on Boulder Mountain.

A traveler reads an panel at the Larb Hollow Overlook on Boulder Mountain.

A visitor stops for the view from an overlook on Boulder Mountain. Partly cloudy skies add texture to a spring-green forest landscape.

A visitor reads about the area at this overlook south of Escalante.

The three-paneled visitor orientation kiosk is right outside a small staffed information center in Torrey. The grounds of the center are nicely landscaped with wildflowers.

From the top of the Hogsback, this view looks over the Escalante River toward Bryce Canyon National Park. There is just a hint of the winding maze of the white section of Escalante Canyons.

From the top of the Hogsback, this view looks out over the Escalante River toward Bryce Canyon National Park. There is just a hint of the winding maze of the white section of Escalante Canyons.

Tropic Creek winds gently between trees and redrock below the Mossy Cave Trail.

Hiker relaxes on a log bridge over one of the streams on the Mossy Cave Trail. This is on the Mossy Cave branch of the Trail.

Tropic Creek (actually an irrigation ditch) flows even in high summer in Bryce Canyon, on the Mossy Cave trail.

A shady, tree-lined main street is a rarity in this hot desert country.

The waters of Calf Creek Falls gather gracefully in a pool below. Green foilage springs up all around.

A bright red barn stands out against white cliffs and green fields on this dairy farm in Boulder, Utah.

A hiker pauses to look at the effect of flash floods in Willis Canyon.

Scenic Byway 12 proceeds in a northeastern direction through "The Blues" from Powell Point Overlook.

Winter is a beautiful time to visit Bryce Canyon. Winter sunlight and snow give the formations a new dimension.

Hikers on the Mossy Cave Trail get a welcome break from the July heat with a dip in Tropic Creek in Bryce Canyon.

Hikers on the Mossy Cave Trail get a welcome break from the July heat with a dip in Tropic Creek in Bryce Canyon.

On the rim hiking trail above Bryce Canyon, a gnarled pinyon pine tree offers a shady retreat from the desert sun.

A recreational biker tries out the brand new biking trail paralleling Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12. Cyclists find Scenic Byway 12 an increasingly popular spot to visit.

Fremont petroglyphs can been seen on the sides of cliffs at Capitol Reef.

You need a keen eye to see the Fremont Indian petroglyphs here in Capitol Reef National Park.

The rock formations really are this bright, especially in the afternoon.

This road passes through a tunnel in Red Canyon, seen from the "Popular through the Ages" turnout.

A lone pine looms over the flowered valley floor at the Summit Rest Area on Scenic Byway 12.

This Anasazi granary is barely visible high in a niche in the rocks above the roadside pullout.

Scenic Byway 12 takes the traveler on a magic journey through Escalante Canyons.

Power lines parallel the Cannonville junction of Scenic Byway 12 and Cottonwood Road to Kodachrome State Park.

It's worth stopping at the Boynton Overlook for this spectacular view.

This view looks back across the Hogsback on Scenic Byway 12 near Boulder.

On a crystal clear day, you can see 20 miles to the Henry Mountains, Waterpocket Fold, and Dixie National Forest from the Larb Hollow Overlook on Scenic Byway 12 in Utah.

This is the junction of Scenic Byway 12 and SR-24 near the town of Torrey.

Driving along Upper Valley, golden mesas line the roadsides.

Nan, a big fan of the Wayne County part of the Byway, was ready to leave Garfield County by the time we finished driving through it.

Leslie takes notes on the wonderful view on Scenic Byway 12 as it proceeds over the Hogsback.

A recreational cyclist utilizes the brand new biking trail that parallels Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12.

This gray landscape on Scenic Byway 12 is known as "The Blues."

Farmers irrigate a field near Tropic, Utah on Scenic Byway 12.

From this overlook, visitors can see enough square mileage to fill Connecticut.

Nan Anderson finally reaches Wayne County on Scenic Byway 12.

A visitor hikes Arches Trail on Scenic Byway 12.

Bruce Fullmer takes a quick nap between stops on the Scenic Byway 12 tour with NSBO.

Look for granaries like this Anasazi Granary all along Scenic Byway 12.

Hiking the Arches Trail in Losee Canyon off of Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12, visitors can enjoy overlooks.

This arch is the biggest arch on the Arches Trail in Losee Canyon.

In the fall, on Scenic Byway 12, look for gold and orange aspen to match the gold and orange sandstone.

Scenic Byway 12 heads back to Escalante near Head of the Rocks overlook, passing rock outcroppings.

Scenic Byway 12 travels below Boynton Overlook and crosses the Escalante River.

A visitor grins as she looks out over Powell Point.

Mountains, pine trees, and sagebrush fields form a wilderness view on Scenic Byway 12.

Visitors may encounter cattle along Scenic Byway 12.

Scenic Byway 12 offers views in every direction when you cross the Hogsback.

Scenic Byway 12 runs north along the ridge called the Hogsback.

Hoodoos lie at the mouth of Casto Canyon in Red Canyon area of Scenic Byway 12.

Guided trail rides are a popular activity on Scenic Byway 12.

Scenic Byway 12 winds through the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

The creamy white sandstone knob of Navajo Dome is prominent above Scenic Byway 12 heading west. Locals have a saltier name for this formation; you'll have to ask them for it!

Nan Anderson, Bruce Fullmer, and many others gather in Boulder, Utah, to cut the ribbon across Scenic Byway 12, opening it for traffic as an All-American Road.

Nan Anderson of Wayne County, Utah says a few words at the Scenic Byway 12 All-American Road celebration in Boulder, Utah.

This large display at Scenic Byway 12's September designation event in Boulder, Utah is made of strip banners featuring photos, descriptions and history of the Byway.

This is the square version of the Utah state scenic byway program roadsign, on the same signpost as a Scenic Byway 12 sign.

Utah's Scenic Byway 12 receives their designation plaque at the Designation 2002 event at Union Station in Washington DC.

This is a closeup of the "Travel Made Easy" interpretive sign on Scenic Byway 12.

An old log cabin stands next to a three-paneled kiosk in Escalante on Scenic Byway 12.

Sunset paints the red rock pinnacles and peaks of Red Canyon in fiery hues next to Scenic Byway 12.

This is a sample of an early USFS Interpretive sign on Scenic Byway 12 near Boulder, Utah.

Early morning sunlight shines on mountains near Torrey and Scenic Byway 12.

Shadows fall across both Scenic Byway 12 and a bicycle path as this car travels through Red Canyon.

Byway and highway signage work together to indicate the route on this section of Scenic Byway 12, just south of Escalante.

This closeup of one of the three panels at Torrey's byway information kiosk shows a map of Scenic Byway 12 and its points of interest and attractions. A few cosmos flowers get in the way.

This three-paneled kiosk at the Torrey Information Center (at the entrance to Red Canyon) introduces the traveler to Scenic Byway 12 and the surrounding area.

Pink and white cosmos add color to part of the Torrey Information Center where a three-paneled kiosk provides travelers with information about Scenic Byway 12.

This three-paneled kiosk at the Torrey Information Center is located at the entrance to Red Canyon. Each panel helps to introduce travelers to Scenic Byway 12 and the surrounding region.

Scenic Byway 12 goes through extensive Dixie National Forest on the side of Boulder Mountain on this calm, cloudy day.

Travelers plan a trip on Scenic Byway 12, surrounded by brightly-colored wildflowers at the kiosk in Torrey.

Travelers look over the wonderful view at this interpretive stop on Scenic Byway 12.

Scenic Byway 12 descends the New Home Bench.

Scenic Byway 12 runs along the narrow ledge of the Hogsback.

Scenic Byway 12 runs close to aspens lining the Escalante River, and the road itself is edged with no shoulder right up against the towering cliffs of the Escalante Canyons.

Here, Scenic Byway 12 is benched into the redrock cliffside as it descends into the Escalante Canyons and the Escalante River.

Scenic Byway 12 descends from New Home Bench.

Scenic Byway 12 descends into the convoluted redrock canyons of the Escalante River.

A motorhome is trailed by a few cars as it drives through a valley edged by tall white cliffs on Scenic Byway 12 in Utah.

Interpretive sign for the Henry Mountains states "As Far As The Eye Can See."

A tumbled, tortured landscape of white rock as far as the eye can see greets travelers on this overlook on Scenic Byway 12.

Late afternoon sunlight paints this parking area and welcome panel in rich red tones in Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12.

Bright green forests stretch out toward the rippling red and white ridges of Capitol Reef, which appear to lay against the deep blue and purples of the Henry Mountains. On this crystal clear day, you can see for miles.

The hogsback of Scenic Byway 12 curves atop a ridge of juniper and rock.

From the Hogsback of Scenic Byway 12, the ranching and farming community of Boulder nestles amidst rugged terrain.

This is one of the multi-colored Scenic Byway 12 orientation signs at the Visitor Information Center in Torrey, Utah.

A photographer captures the perfect view of the Escalante Canyons from Boynton Overlook.

Two canyons come together in Willis Canyon.

A well-earned view on sunlit orange hoodoos rewards hikers from a ridge in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Scenic Byway 12 tunnels through a redrock fin in Red Canyon, Utah.

A Clark's Nutcracker perches against a striking blue sky atop a limber pine branch loaded with cones.

Scenic Byway 12 snakes through Bryce Canyon National Park, surrounded by hoodoos and patches of trees.

On the Queen's Trail in Bryce Canyon, hikers squeeze through narrow slots in sheer sandstone walls.

A visitor approaches the "wall of arches" on Arches Trail.

Riders start out on horseback in Losee Canyon off of Red Canyon.

The darkness in the photo is an ancient pit dwelling: nice place to spend hot summer days.

Orange, peach, and cream pastels make a warm palette for rock formations at the edge of Bryce Canyon.

Two hikers climb along the Rim Trail at Bryce Canyon.

Hoodoos and arches are found throughout Losee Canyon, Casto Canyon, and Red Canyon.

The sheer sandstone walls of this narrow wash bear these inscriptions, etched in by many pioneers who traveled on this road which was once the only way a wagon could pass through the Waterpocket Fold.

This old cabin sits nestled in the high meadows of late summer with a faint glimpse of Cedar Breaks in the distance.

The historic Fruita orchards can be seen from Capitol Reef Visitor Center.

Visitor watches the tadpoles and other water life that survive in one of the perpetual water holes in the slickrock sandstone of Capitol Gorge.

Three visitors pose in front of the Keyhole Arch.

A visitor stands beside a dead tree on Arches Trail in Losee Canyon. At least this tree is interesting!

A visitor stands under the biggest arch on Arches Trail in Losee Canyon.

This hiker rounds a bend on the Chimney Rock Trail.

Highway 24 runs through the rugged redrock of Capitol Reef, Utah.

These three hikers take care descending the Arches Trail in Losee Canyon.

A hiker peers down a dry wash in Red Canyon.

An Anasazi granary sits in the cliffs down by the Escalante River.

Two visitors are awed by the scope of the wind-scoured countryside stretching out ahead.

Chimney Rock stands out at Capitol Reef National Park.

The Fruita Orchards provide delectable fruit every year.

Group of hikers from Ohio gather at Red Canyon Visitor Center.

As Highway 24 heads east into Capitol Reef country, the tilted strata of the Waterpocket Fold comes in to view ahead.

Conical orange sandstone pillars contrast sharply with gray-white cliffs and deep green conifers at Kodachrome State Park in southern Utah.

Sandstone spires lit by the sun rise from the desert floor in Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah. The park was so named because of its brilliant red sandstone spires and formations.

The panoramic views from Boulder Mountain are incredible.

A patch of blue in stormy skies over Boulder brightens this view of a red barn and fresh-sprouted fields of winter wheat.

It is impossible to fit the panoramas on Boulder Mountain in a little lens.

Enjoy views of the rugged country surrounding Escalane Grand Staircase National Monument.

This view from the edge of the Hogsback on Scenic Byway 12 looks toward Boulder.

Undaunted by its surroundings, a pine tree stretches above the sandstone walls to catch a few rays of sunlight.

Ask questions and find information at the Escalante Multi-Agency Visitor Center.

Take a side trip on the Burr Trail Scenic Backway near Boulder.

A hiker strolls past the foot of Calf Creek Falls in Escalante Canyons.

Anasazi Indian granary nestles in a niche in Escalante Canyons, Utah.

Enjoy bursts of color on Boulder Mountain on Scenic Byway 12.

Candy-striped mesas rise up into the brilliant blue sky north of Cannonville, Utah.

A natural bridge upholds a dappled sunset.

Water gracefully cascades down the slickened rock at Calf Creek Falls in Escalante Canyons.