The 97,880-acre Eagletail Mountains Wilderness is about 65 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona, in Maricopa, Yuma and LaPaz counties. The wilderness includes 15 miles of the Eagletail Mountains ridgeline and Courthouse Rock to the north, Cemetary Ridge to the south, and a large desert plain area between the two ridgelines. Several different rock strata are visible in most places with natural arches, high spires, monoliths, jagged sawtooth ridges and numerous washes six to eight miles long. Recreation such as extended horseback riding and backpacking trips, sightseeing, photography, rock climbing and day hiking are enhanced by the topographic diversity, scenic character, size – as well as the botanical, wildlife, and cultural values of the area. Photo by Bob Wick. Tweeted by the U Department of the Interior, 9/8/15.
Here’s a dramatic shot of sage steppe desert at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Nicknamed the sagebrush sea, the sagebrush landscape spans 11 western states. While this landscape might look like a barren desert, the sagebrush steppe is home to more than 350 wildlife species, including elk, pronghorn, golden eagles and the sage grouse. http://on.doi.gov/1Kt9AlY Called an indicator species, the sage grouse provides biologists with an early warning about the state of other species that call the sagebrush home. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/23/15.
Sage Grouse, from the US Department of the Interior blog post about the Sage Grouse.