The American Southwest photos

The Milky Way arching over Mesa Arch at night.
Location: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Image ID: 27827  

Hickman Bridge, Capitol Reef National Park.
Location: Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Image ID: 37015  

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: 37756  

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: 37758  

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: 37759  

Grand Canyon at sunrise, viewed from Hopi Point on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Image ID: 37766  

Natural arch formed in sandstone.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26480  

Snow geese, and one of the "crane pools" in the northern part of Bosque del Apache NWR.
Species: Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 21811  

Striated sandstone formations, layers showing eons of geologic history.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26476  

Animal tracks in sand.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26478  

Setting moon over natural sandstone arch, sunrise.
Location: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Image ID: 26481  

Sarah's Swirl, a particularly beautiful formation at White Pocket in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.
Location: White Pocket, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
Image ID: 26603  

Brilliant red striations around the base of this pinnacle are responsible for its name: the Lollipop.
Location: White Pocket, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
Image ID: 26607  

Brain rocks and clouds, sunset, White Pocket.
Location: White Pocket, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
Image ID: 26619  

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: 26676  

Brain rocks. Sandstone is curiously eroded through the forces water and wind acting over eons. Cracks and joints arise when water freezes and expands repeatedly, braking apart the soft sandstone.
Location: North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona
Image ID: 20747  

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: 26614  

Hoodoo goblin rocks at dawn.
Location: Arches National Park, Utah
Image ID: 27872  

Hoodoos, walls and sandstone spires.
Location: Red Canyon, Dixie National Forest, Utah
Image ID: 18087