“Devils Pole” near Joes Valley Reservoir, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: J. Buck Ehler
Frozen waterfall forms “Devils Pole” near Joes Valley Reservoir, Emery County.
Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Janice Hayden
A blanket of snow is a rare occurrence in Snow Canyon State Park in southwestern Utah. The Early Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone forms the jointed red cliffs and rounded “turtlebacks” while the 27,000-year-old Santa Clara lava flow fills the canyon, flattening out the valley floor.
Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg
Navajo Sandstone and pinyon pines, Zion NationalPark, Washington County.
Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Janice Hayden
Thanksgiving Day storm at Emerald Pools, Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah.
Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg
Snow blanketing Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah.
Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Kent D. Brown
The Towers of the Virgin include the Altar of Sacrifice (right) and The Sundial (left-center). These prominent cliffs of Early Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, which locally exceed 2000 feet, formed as the North Fork of the Virgin River carved Zion Canyon in the relatively short time span of the past 2 million years.
Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Michael Vanden Berg
Cross-bedded Navajo Sandstone in evening light, Snow Canyon State Park, Washington County, Utah
Three Canyon, Emery County, Utah
Photographer: Sonja Heuscher
Flood-sculpted Navajo Sandstone in Three Canyon, Emery County, Utah
Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Photographer: Matt Affolter
Iron oxide staining highlights cross-bedding in the Navajo Sandstone, Zion National Park, Washington County, Utah
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, Kane County, Utah
Photographer: Tyler Knudsen
Powerful and turbulent flash floods carved this convoluted slot canyon into the Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone along Willis Creek. Differential weathering of alternating weak and more resistant sandstone layers formed the horizontal grooves etched into the canyon’s walls.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) is a division of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Several specialized programs comprise the UGS: Data Management, Energy & Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Information & Outreach, Geologic Mapping, Groundwater & Wetlands, and Paleontology.
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1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
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PO BOX 146100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
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