Enjoy one of my favorite National Parks in Utah: Zion. Then, just down the road, there are more trails to explore at the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.
Zion National Park
Red Cliffs National Conservation Area
Archive for the ‘National Conservation Area’ Tag
Red Rocks 1 comment
Arizona’s Gila Box 1 comment
Wildflowers carpet the hillside at Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. The 23,000-acre area is truly an oasis in the desert with four perennial waterways that are the lifeline for this remarkable place. The Gila River canyon section, known as the Gila Box, is composed of patchy mesquite woodlands, mature cottonwoods, sandy beaches and grand buff-colored cliffs. Bonita Creek – popular for birdwatching, hiking and picnicking – is lined with large cottonwoods, sycamores and willows. Cliff dwellings, historic homesteads, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and over 200 species of birds make this year-round watery Arizona spot worth the drive. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/5/17.
Way Out West Leave a comment
Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Photo by Bob Wicks. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/21/16.
Orange sandstone towers stand brightly against a stormy sky at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The Needles – named for the sandstone spires – form the southeast corner of the park and offer long day hikes and overnight trips. Photo by Bryan Moore. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 11/15/16.
Capitol Reef National Park in Utah got its name from the white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble capitol building domes and the rocky cliffs – which act as a reef, creating a barrier to travel. The park is one of the best geological classrooms in the world. Rock layers in Capitol Reef reveal ancient environments as varied as rivers and swamps, Sahara-like deserts and shallow oceans, each marking an era through almost 200 million years of Earth’s history. Photo by David Long. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 11/10/16.
Rocks 2 comments
For serenity & spectacular views, you can’t beat the North Rim. Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Yan Li. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/17/16.
The Volcanic Tablelands near Bishop, California, are a vast, rugged landscape formed over 700,000 years ago by the Long Valley caldera. In this high desert environment, generations of Paiute and Shoshone Indians once resided, leaving behind an extensive collection of carefully chiseled petroglyphs in the rocks. Now a destination for rock climbers, these fragile treasures are protected by the Bureau of Land Management. Photo by Abhilash Itharaju. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/10/16.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a stunning desert landscape in Nevada. The grey limestone of the La Madre Peaks contrasts beautifully with the red sandstone in Rainbow Mountains. About the area, photographer Bob Wick says: “It’s amazing to be in a wilderness setting looking at the Las Vegas Strip just 10 miles away as the crow flies.” Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 10/17/16.
Seeing Utah 2 comments
Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah protects a unique transition zone – the meeting of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin Desert and Mojave Desert. Where these distinct landscapes overlap, unusual plants and animals have evolved, including flowers like the dwarf bearclaw poppy and Shivwits milk-vetch that grow nowhere else on earth. Explore the area’s flora, wildlife and spectacular desert scenery with more than 130 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 5/18/16.
Water and wind have carved unique shapes into the soft stone of Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Over millions of years, incredible natural sculptures have emerged and eroded away. What you see in the park now is only temporary. As the work of erosion continues, today’s geologic displays will eventually disappear, making way for future wonders. Photo by Kait Thomas, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/25/16.
Moonrise over Balanced Rock in Utah’s Arches National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 4/12/16.
A Pastel Beginning Leave a comment
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada – only 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip – entices visitors with a 13-mile scenic drive, miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, mountain biking and more. With so many recreational opportunities, there’s something for everyone. After a few straight days of rain and dark clouds, the skies cleared to create this serene sunrise over the area’s unique desert landscape. Photo courtesy of Josh Packer. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/10/16.
Sunset Leave a comment
Sunset over the Doll House at Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/26/15.
Sunset at the Kings Range National Conservation Area. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 9/17/15.
Fantastic shot of Washington’s rocky coastline and the setting sun at Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Melissa Hahn. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/17/15.
Sunset paints the sky in vibrant colors at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Venkat Kancharla. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/30/15.
The Beauty of Wilderness, II Leave a comment
Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. Photo by Moti Abramovich. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 6/14/15.
Amargosa Wild & Scenic River. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM, Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/15/15.
King Range National Conservation Area. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/15/15.
Cadiz Dunes. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/15/15.
California Coastal National Monument. Photo by Bob Wick. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 6/15/15.
The Lost Coast Leave a comment
The area is so remote, it’s referred to as “The Lost Coast.” Over 40,000 acres were designated wilderness in 2006 … where the land meets the sea. The Kings Range National Conservation Area is in northern California. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 7/16/14.
