The Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness in Arizona is a rugged and remote desert landscape featuring dramatic cliffs and canyons.
The Grand Wash Cliffs are a striking natural feature located within the wilderness area. These rugged cliffs rise hundreds of feet above the surrounding landscape, offering breathtaking views of the desert below. Visitors can hike along the cliffs and marvel at the unique rock formations and vibrant colors of the canyon walls.
Grapevine Canyon is a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers. The canyon is known for its towering sandstone walls, ancient petroglyphs, and lush vegetation. Visitors can explore the canyon on foot, taking in the beauty of the desert landscape and the rich cultural history of the area.
Spirit Mountain, also known as Avi Kwa Ame, is a sacred site for many Native American tribes. The mountain is believed to be the birthplace of the Mojave people and is considered a place of great spiritual significance. Visitors can hike to the summit of Spirit Mountain and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness.
Located adjacent to the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness, Gold Butte National Monument is a vast and diverse landscape that is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Visitors can explore the monument's rugged canyons, towering rock formations, and ancient petroglyph sites. The area is also popular for off-roading, camping, and stargazing.
Whitney Pockets is a unique rock formation located within the Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness. The area is known for its colorful sandstone formations, rock arches, and hidden caves. Visitors can hike through the pockets and take in the stunning natural beauty of the desert landscape.
Description: Cedar Mesa is a plateau in San Juan County in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It extends from Elk Ridge in the north, Comb Wash to the east, the gorge of the San Juan River to the south, and Grand Gulch to the west, an area of over 400 square miles. The center of the mesa is located at approximately at an elevation of 6,500 feet. The surrounding terrain has a typical elevation of just 4,200 feet. This large difference in elevation has led to the formation of numerous canyons, cliffs, and other erosional features on the edges of the mesa. To the east are several canyons draining into Comb Wash, including Arch, Texas, Mule, Owl, Fish, McCloyd, and Road Canyons. Scattered throughout these canyons are cliff dwellings of the Ancient Puebloans. To the southeast is an eroded area called the Valley of the Gods, and to the southwest is a deep gorge of the San Juan River, called the Goosenecks. High above, on the southern edge of Cedar Mesa, are Muley and Cedar Points. The west side of Cedar Mesa also includes large canyons, including John's and Slickhorn Canyons, and the combination of Grand Gulch and Bullet Canyon known as the Grand Gulch Primitive Area. To the northwest is the Natural Bridges National Monument. State Route 95 crosses the northern part of Cedar Mesa, while U.S. Route 163 passes to the south. Running up the center of the mesa is State Route 261. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Mesa en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_Creative_Commons_...
Image by Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA – CC BY-SA 2.0 – Wikimedia
Description: Map of Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument — northwestern Arizona.
Image by NPS Map – Public domain – Wikimedia