We now continue with our photo essay on Dead Horse Point State Park. Our feature image is a panoramic view of the bend of the lazy, muddy Colorado River and the canyon walls visible from the main view point of the park.
There are many views where one can see for miles.
Here we get a little closer view of the preceding scene.
This is a windswept area, especially in the Spring. It is windy all over the Southwest in the Spring.
There is a local potash company that has made some evaporation ponds along the river.
This is the iconic view seen in travel magazines and on post cards.
Closer now.
Zooming in. There are river boat tours that travel down the river and go past this bend in the river.
Panning to the right from the previous image, we get this view.
One can see the different colored layers of sedimentary rock layed down at different times over many millions of years. This sobers us and leads us to believe that man, as a species, will likely be long gone before these canyon walls have completely eroded away.
Closer in now, we can see the texture of the rock surfaces.
Uplift of the Colorado Plateau followed by erosion.
Zooming back out, we can see the river near the right edge of this photo.
Okay, let us show some images with people in them. For better or for worse, man is part of the natural world.
This photo shows the sheer drop off of the cliffs in the background. A visitor needs to exercise caution at the view points.
The walls along the walking trail are made of local materials (rocks).
We include these next 2 photos to give a sense of the immense vistas from the rim trail and to indicate that the “trail” is often over rock surfaces or rock steps.
A visitor is really on or very near the edge of the cliff at these various view points.
A lighter moment in the morning with the wind and clouds passing overhead.
With the winds gusting fiercely and unpredictably at various moments, I warned (begged) Lucy not to go too near the edge.
A long-lived tree clings to life at 6,000 feet.
Here is a good example of the layered rock underlying the paved walkway.
Slickrock weathered and with holes or gaps.
Visitors can drive from the visitor center to the main viewing point and thus avoid walking the whole rim trail. At the parking area, we see large boulders.
Another view.
To give some perspective on the size of these rocks, we include a tourist in the image.
Our parting shot. Long live rocks. A retreat to the desert for one’s holiday is a memorable experience.
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