Photos for Canyonlands National Park and vicinity

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The Colorado River from Dead Horse Point State Park. In this photo the entire section from the late Pennsylvanian into the Jurassic can be seen. The river flows through a canyon cut into Pennsylvanian/Permian strata, and the lowermost flat area above the river is at the level of the Shafer Limestone (part of the lower Permian Cutler Formation). The next flat area (going up from the river) is at the level of the White Rim Sandstone. Between the Shafer and the White Rim are units that are equivalent to the Cedar Mesa Sandstone and Organ Rock Formation to the west. The White Rim is overlain unconformably by the Moenkopi Formation that is in turn unconformably overlain by the Chinle Formation. Above the Chinle, the cliff forming Wingate Sandstone is present and forms the prominent red-brown cliffs near the top of the photo. The uppermost unit in the photo is the Navajo Sandstone (white color) which is separated from the Wingate by the Kayenta Formation (difficult to see in this photo).


 

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The Shafer Trail (named after members of one of the earliest families to settle the town of Moab) travels down through the Navajo, Kayenta, Wingate, Chinle, Moenkopi and Cutler Formations. It is an excellent way to travel through the section, but you will see the most if you walk. You can see the trail in the farthest distance in this photo. Photo 5 looks down from the top of the trail to the major switchbacks.


 

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Green River from Island in the Sky. The prominent cliffs are topped by the White Rim Sandstone - a formation that was named for these exposures along the "White Rim" of Island in the Sky.


 

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The "Candlestick" from an overlook between the Green River overlook and Grand View Point. The "candle" is composed of Jurassic Wingate Sandstone, and the "holder" is composed of Triassic Chinle Formation.


 

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Switchbacks on the Shafer Trail as seen from near the top of the Shafer Trail.


 

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Exposures of the Jurassic Wingate Sandstone along Highway 313 near Highway 191. Here the Wingate is uncharacteristically unjointed and is lighter in color than it is in most of the Canyonlands area.


 

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Exposures of the Jurassic Kayenta Formation along Highway 313 near Highway 191. These rocks are easy to reach along the north side of the road.


 

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The Moab Fault, looking north from the road into Arches National Park. The fault has a dominant vertical component to its motion and the right (east) side is downdropped relative to the left (west) side. On the west side of the fault from top to bottom are the Wingate, Chinle, Moenkop, and Cutler Formations. On the right side of the fault, from top to bottom, the Moab Tongue, Slickrock, and Dewey Bridge Members of the Entrada, and the Navajo Sandstone are present.


 

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Cross-bedding in the eolian Navajo Sandstone at milepost 17 along Highway 313.


 

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Cross-bedding in the Navajo Sandstone.


 

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The Dewey Bridge and Slick Rock Members of the Entrada Sandstone. The Dewey Bridge Member contains large-scale wavy bedding (like that seen in the Hoskinini Formation in White Canyon). The Slick Rock Member contains the arches for which Arches National Park is known. Is there any relation between the wavy bedding and the formation of the arches?


 

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Dewey Bridge and Slick Rock Members of the Entrada Sandstone.