Mesa Arch Sunrise Photo
Mesa Arch is a spectacular natural sandstone arch at the edge of the Island-in-the-Sky region of Canyonlands National Park. It literally juts up and out from the mesa, hanging over the chasm with an unbroken drop many hundreds of feet below. For a few minutes at sunrise, if the horizon is clear of clouds, the underside of Mesa Arch glows a warm, deep red. I had Mesa Arch to myself one morning last week. It was -4°F, clear blue sky, new snow and not a speck of wind.
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| Mesa Arch, Utah. An exuberant hiker greets the dawning sun from atop Mesa Arch. Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. Image: 18036 Location: Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA |
The image above is a self-portrait, one that is not for the faint of heart. A simple slip or stumble while atop Mesa Arch has serious consequences. This risky maneuver should only be attempted by qualified, registered, insured, well-trained stunt photographers under highly controlled circumstances (i.e., no Moab brewery the night before). Do not attempt this at home.
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| Mesa Arch spans 90 feet and stands at the edge of a mesa precipice thousands of feet above the Colorado River gorge. For a few moments at sunrise the underside of the arch glows dramatically red and orange. Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. Image: 18037 Location: Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA |
