18 PAINTING UTAH'S PHOTOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPES

This Gallery  visits a landscape extravaganza-Utah-with each of its many State & National Parks telling stories of the past in stone sculpted by the force of water.
          Near the southern border of Utah is a sight that rivals the Grand Canyon.  The Goosenecks of the San Juan River Panorama depicts THE longest entrenched meander in North America.    In 1.5 miles, the San Juan River flows a distance of 6 miles.  This state park has no fee to enter; you can walk right up to the rim day or night and marvel at nature's accomplishment.   In contrast are the sandstone spires - the Needles of Canyonlands NP near Moab.   The most photographed of all Utah's gifts is Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.  After a morning sunburst at Arches NP, head west where lies another world record holder  Capitol Reef NP a 100 mi upthrust called a waterfold.  Wandering south brings you to Natural Bridges NM  where desolation is interrupted only by giant holes and bridges in the dry landscape.  At an elevation of 6000 feet,  switchback roads near Kachina Natural Bridge are often covered in snow.
          The most iconic Natural Bridge is in Bryce Canyon NP; it spans 85 feet and is comfortably visible  from a viewpoint.   In Tropic, Utah you can see rocks literally glow in evening light.  The quintessential  array of spires at Bryce Canyon's Inspiration Point. leaves a lasting memory. Saturated with red rock? Revel in yellow aspens of Dixie National Forest west of Bryce Canyon.  The unique sights of Zion NP --- Utah's most visited National Park and first NP---include  a mountain of pancakes formed by  flash floods which deepen this valley yearly.
           Central Utah is dappled with little towns; the oldest city Salina,  nearby ranching community Emery and farming town Scipio.  Heber Valley, to the north, is a hub of high end resorts nestled beneath the Wasatch Mountains where cattle shutes are reminders of the valley's ranching past.  Bordering Great Salt Lake is Saltair III, a resort first built in 1893 and ever upgraded.
           The northeast corner of Utah shares geography with Colorado and Wyoming.  South of Vernal is the Dinosaur Museum  with its wall of bones visible from a walkpath through the quarry. This is the only preserved Dinosaur quarry in the world.  One of Utah's most popular Recreation Areas is the Flaming Gorge NRA; it is hands down one of the prettiest landscapes in Utah with red rocks set against the intense color of the Green River.   Utah IS a landscape extravaganza!