The American Southwest photos

Molly's Castle, aerial view, Goblin Valley State Park.
Location: Mollys Castle, Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Image ID: 38016  

False Kiva at Sunset, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Location: False Kiva, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Image ID: 28017  

Wildflowers bloom in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, during the 2017 Superbloom.
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 33154  

Wildflowers bloom in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, during the 2017 Superbloom.
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 33179  

Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park.
Species: Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 22101  

The Great Wall, Navajo Tribal Lands, Arizona. Sandstone "fins", eroded striations that depict how sandstone -- ancient compressed sand -- was laid down in layers over time. Now exposed, the layer erode at different rates, forming delicate "fins" that stretch for long distances.
Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona
Image ID: 26643  

Soda Springs Basin from Green River Overlook, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
Location: Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Image ID: 27841  

Stone columns rising in the night sky, milky way and stars and clouds filling the night sky overhead.
Location: Arches National Park, Utah
Image ID: 27848  

The moon sets over the Fire Wave, a beautiful sandstone formation exhibiting dramatic striations, striped layers in the geologic historical record.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26511  

Sand verbena wildflowers on sand dunes, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Sand verbena, Abronia villosa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35114  

Grand Canyon at dusk, sunset, viewed from Grandeur Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Image ID: 37753  

Grand Canyon at sunrise viewed from Yavapai Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Image ID: 37760  

Belt of Venus over Grand Canyon at dusk, sunset, viewed from Mather Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Belt of Venus, or anti-twilight arch, is the shadow of the earth cast upon the atmosphere just above the horizon, and occurs a few minutes before sunrise or after sunset.
Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Image ID: 37761  

Grand Canyon at dusk, sunset, viewed from Mather Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Image ID: 37762  

Lower Antelope Canyon, a deep, narrow and spectacular slot canyon lying on Navajo Tribal lands near Page, Arizona.
Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona
Image ID: 37768  

Pedestal rock, or hoodoo, at Stud Horse Point. These hoodoos form when erosion occurs around but not underneath a more resistant caprock that sits atop of the hoodoo spire. Stud Horse Point is a spectacular viewpoint on a mesa overlooking the Arizona / Utah border.
Location: Page, Arizona
Image ID: 37778  

Pedestal rock, or hoodoo, at Stud Horse Point. These hoodoos form when erosion occurs around but not underneath a more resistant caprock that sits atop of the hoodoo spire. Stud Horse Point is a spectacular viewpoint on a mesa overlooking the Arizona / Utah border.
Location: Page, Arizona
Image ID: 37780  

Dune primrose (white) and sand verbena (purple) bloom in spring in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, mixing in a rich display of desert color.
Species: Dune evening primrose, Sand verbena, Abronia villosa, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 35198  

Natural arch formed in sandstone frames the setting moon.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26486  

The Fire Wave, a beautiful sandstone formation exhibiting dramatic striations, striped layers in the geologic historical record.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26487  

The Wave, an area of fantastic eroded sandstone featuring beautiful swirls, wild colors, countless striations, and bizarre shapes set amidst the dramatic surrounding North Coyote Buttes of Arizona and Utah. The sandstone formations of the North Coyote Buttes, including the Wave, date from the Jurassic period. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Wave is located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and is accessible on foot by permit only.
Location: North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona
Image ID: 20609  

Sunrise lights sandstone rocks, Valley of Fire.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 28444  

Sunrise lights sandstone rocks, Valley of Fire.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 28446  

Sunset at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, with sandhill cranes silhouetted in reflection in the calm pond. Spectacular sunsets at Bosque del Apache, rich in reds, oranges, yellows and purples, make for striking reflections of the thousands of cranes and geese found in the refuge each winter.
Species: Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 21804  

Hoodoos in Goblin Valley State Park, aerial panorama. The "goblins" are technically known as hoodoos, formed through the gradual erosion of Entrada sandstone deposited 170 millions years ago. Aerial panoramic photograph.
Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Image ID: 37957  

Erosion patterns in the Utah Badlands, aerial abstract photo.
Location: Hanksville, Utah
Image ID: 38017  

The Great Wall, Navajo Tribal Lands, Arizona. Sandstone "fins", eroded striations that depict how sandstone -- ancient compressed sand -- was laid down in layers over time. Now exposed, the layer erode at different rates, forming delicate "fins" that stretch for long distances.
Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona
Image ID: 26644  

Upper Antelope Canyon slot canyon.
Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona
Image ID: 26611