Beautiful white sandstone distinctly contrasts with the red aztec sandstone at Valley of Fire in southern Nevada. The rich colors and textures make for a tasty treat for my eyes.
White Leading to Red
Beautiful white rock formations leading to Aztec Sandstone in the Valley of Fire. These formations were exposed where older rocks of Cambrian age (about 500 million years old) were pushed sideways on a thrust fault over younger rocks (Jurassic, about 160 million years old) of the Aztec Sandstone. The sandstone was originally laid down in a colossal, long-lived sandy desert much like today's Sahara. Before the area was a dry desert, it was an inland sea. The red color is from the presence of iron oxides in the sand.
Running to White Dome
Folks were hiking White Dome Loop in the Valley of Fire Park in southern Nevada. These kids were excited to see White Dome and were running down the sandstone formation leading their parents. I remember doing the same things when I was their age when my family visited national parks... I was always super excited. to tell the truth, I am still that way today.
The Dinosaurs Back
The beautiful red and white sandstone mixture in Valley of Fire Park in Nevada is awesome to witness in the golden hour. So many rock formations that wow the visitors. A desert landscape photographer's dream.
Traildog on Aztec Sandstone
Teig on a Sandstone outcrop in the Valley of Fire State Park in Southern Nevada. This park is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts... even pups.
The Cabins in Valley of Fire
These are "The Cabins" in Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park. Three small rooms were built from the local sandstone in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), who did a lot of similar work in the parks and remote regions of the country during the Great Depression (“make work” projects, like trail and road construction). These cabins were used by travelers for camping stays in Valley of the Fire, but have been abandoned.
Traildog Thru Pass in the Valley of Fire
Teig was coming through a V-notch over a small pass in some gnarled rocks in the Valley of Fire. We were sauntering south of White Dome in an area which had only a couple of hikers. This area was one of our favorites because no one was around.