The main thing that fascinates me about canyons in the Southwest is, of course, the remarkable colors and textures of the sandstone walls. As a “Sierra Nevada guy,” I am used to a world of mostly rather gray rocks, so the red rock shades are almost shocking. But once I’m in those canyons, especially in spring or fall, the vegetation starts to co-star with the geology.
This little vignette comes from Zion National Park, along a rather popular hiking trail. That trail has a destination that is likely on the minds of most hikers, but I always feel like there is as much to see along the route. These trees at the base of a huge red rock cliff were just barely beginning to show signs of the coming autumn color transformation.
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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
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