Road To Escalante

A four day trip to southern Utah and Western Colorado, with stops at the Colorado National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Four glorious sunrises and Three beautiful sunsets, thanks to a storm track just north of my route.
January 14-January 18, 2011.

Last light on the distant mountians from the rim of Colorado National Monument.

Colorado Layers

Last light on the distant mountians from the rim of Colorado National Monument. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunset view from the (closed) rim road.

Grand View

Sunset view from the (closed) rim road. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Fog creeps up the valley below the rim of the National Monument.

Grand View II

Fog creeps up the valley below the rim of the National Monument. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Spectacular sunrise from the Monument Rim on a cold January morning; fog fills the distant valley.

Oh, Colorado!

Spectacular sunrise from the Monument Rim on a cold January morning; fog fills the distant valley. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Crazy sunrise light on the rim.

Wow Sunrise

Crazy sunrise light on the rim. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Intense sunrise light on the red rocks of the Colorado National Monument Rim.

Red Morning

Intense sunrise light on the red rocks of the Colorado National Monument Rim. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Twisted pine lights up at sunrise, January from the rim of the monument.

Morning Sentinel

Twisted pine lights up at sunrise, January from the rim of the monument. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Morning fog creeps up the canyon walls.

Foggy Colorado Morn

Morning fog creeps up the canyon walls. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Formations from the Highway, on the road to Escalante, Utah

Bridges

Formations from the Highway, on the road to Escalante, Utah. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Traditional stop to photograph the Castle from the frozen river, Capitol Reef.

January Castle

Traditional stop to photograph the Castle from the frozen river, Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Highway 24 overlook of the Escalante Canyon.

Escalante Silhouette

Highway 24 overlook of the Escalante Canyon. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Distant view of the Henry Mountains at sunset in January from an overlook north of Boulder.

Pink Henrys

Distant view of the Henry Mountains at sunset in January from an overlook north of Boulder. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Another look at the Henrys at sunset.

Pink Henrys II

Another look at the Henrys at sunset. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Devil's Garden before sunrise in January.

Devil's Blues

Devil's Garden before sunrise in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Devil's Garden in Grand Staircase Escalante, at sunrise.

Pieces of the Puzzle

Devil's Garden in Grand Staircase Escalante, at sunrise. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunrise at Devil's Garden.

Devil's Sunrise

Sunrise at Devil's Garden. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

First light in Devil's Garden.

Devil's Light

First light in Devil's Garden. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

More of the odd formations at sunrise from Devil's Garden.

Devil's Sunrise

More of the odd formations at sunrise from Devil's Garden. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Hoodoo formations at Devil's Garden, sunrise

Devil's Figures

Hoodoo formations at Devil's Garden, sunrise. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Formations in Devil's Garden at sunrise.

Lined Up

Formations in Devil's Garden at sunrise. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunrise from Devil's Garden.

Devil's View

Sunrise from Devil's Garden. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Devil's Garden

Hoodoo

Devil's Garden. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Cool natural arch in Devil's Garden.

Aerodynamic

Cool natural arch in Devil's Garden. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Escalante area at surise.

Desert View

Escalante area at surise. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunday Drivers!!

Sunday Driver

Sunday Drivers!! Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

January scene from 9500 feet.

Winter 24

January scene from 9500 feet. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Highway 24 overlook of distant canyons and foregound aspen and snow.

Road to Escalante I

Highway 24 overlook of distant canyons and foregound aspen and snow. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Overview of the Escalante Canyon in late January afternoon light.

Escalante Canyon

Overview of the Escalante Canyon in late January afternoon light. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

The Castle, prominent monument in Capitol Reef.

The Castle

The Castle, prominent monument in Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

'Window' in a Capitol Reef canyon.

Sandstone Spaces

'Window' in a Capitol Reef canyon. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Slot canyon in Capitol Reef.

Tight Spaces

Slot canyon in Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sandstone walls in Cohab Canyon

Cohab Light

Sandstone walls in Cohab Canyon. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Fremont River reflects canyon walls and blue sky, in January.

Fremont Winter

Fremont River reflects canyon walls and blue sky, in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Fremont River bend in January, Capitol Reef.

Out of the Cold

Fremont River bend in January, Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Odd shadows of the "Castle" in Capitol Reef, at sunset.

Castle Shadows

Odd shadows of the "Castle" in Capitol Reef, at sunset. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Canyon view from Sunset Point in Capitol Reef.

Capitol View

Canyon view from Sunset Point in Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Mixed sky above Capitol Reef, as a WInter storm passed to the North.

Capitol sky

Mixed sky above Capitol Reef, as a WInter storm passed to the North. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

A quiet sunset from Sunset Point in Capitol Reef.

Capitol Reef Sunset

A quiet sunset from Sunset Point in Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

VIew of the Henry Mountains from Panorama Point.

Capitol View II

VIew of the Henry Mountains from Panorama Point. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Henry Mountains at sunset, Capitol Reef.

Distant Capitol View

Henry Mountains at sunset, Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunrise in Capitol Reef, January.

Capitol Reef Morning

Sunrise in Capitol Reef, January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunrise from the Hickman Bridge area, Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef Morning

Sunrise from the Hickman Bridge area, Capitol Reef. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Natural arch at sunrise in January

Hickman Arch

Natural arch at sunrise in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Frozen Sulphur Creek, Capitol Reef in January.

Frozen Sulphur

Frozen Sulphur Creek, Capitol Reef in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Distant lights of Grand Junction from the canyon rim, in January.

Colorado Sunset

Distant lights of Grand Junction from the canyon rim, in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Sunset from Grand View overlook in January.

Colorado Sunset

Sunset from Grand View overlook in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Black Canyon Walls in January.

Black Walls

Black Canyon Walls in January. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.

Looking down from Pulpit Rock, Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Pulpit View

Looking down from Pulpit Rock, Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Photo © copyright by Stan Rose.