Red Rock Canyon State Park is located in Southern California in the Mojave Desert. The canyon is composed of sandstone cliffs thousand’s of feet high, resting on ancient limestone and topped with volcanic rock. Check out these amazing formations! They reminded me of The Valley of the Kings in Egypt. (Click to enlarge).
The formations are approximately 14 million years old. The park is full of fossilized dinosaurs including elephants, extinct rhinos, three-toed horses, saber-tooth tigers and much more. It contains the richest concentrations of fossilized flora and fauna in Western North America. It is still being excavated by the Museum of Natural History.
Check out the people climbing in one area of the park. I included them so you could how massive these structures are!
The canyon sits on top of what was once an ancient inland lake. It is composed of sedimentary and igneous rock layers.
The vibrant red colors in the rock are from leeching iron oxide.
Red Rock Canyon was lifted by three seismic faults which pushed ancient rock to the surface. Wind, rain and sand erosion carved the beautiful structures in the sandstone.
This area was used as a trade route by Native Americans for thousands of years and is home to delicate desert flora and fauna.
Winter is a great time to visit! It is empty and not too hot. Cheers to you from the pristine and empty Red Rock Canyon!
Nice,Cindy.
Mil grazi Ranu!
Awesome! The canyon looks like an imaginary city populated by giants who built breathtaking monuments specifically for National Geographic. Are you sure you do not work for National Geo?
I wish I did, then I wouldn’t have to pay for all my travel!!!
Stunning! I need to make a trip down south sometime! 🙂
You won’t regret it, but don’t go the Mohave in the summer. It gets quite toasty!
Well, this may be a repeat comment Cindy. I don’t know what happened to the first one but it said how much I love your photography and the information you provide along with those awesome shots. Are you sure you don’t work for Nat’l Geo?
You are such a great blogger friend Dor! Thank you~
This is beautiful! I’d never heard of it, but it makes me want to visit. So interesting, history. 🙂
A beautiful place, Cindy….thanks for sharing
Thanks for appreciating~
Beautiful. I wish I were there right now (and not just because of the weather).
I can well imagine, especially because of the weather. The other thing great about this time of year in the canyon is that no one is there. You have the place to yourself~
The nature is magnificent. These pictures make people in the cold and snowy place envy 🙂
Oh I hope it warms them up! Besides the Mojave is an incredibly hostile place in the summer. Nice now though~
Breathtaking formations and great pictures. They reminded me of the beauty of the Dead Sea. Have you ever been to a limestone cave?.
Oh yes, limestone caves are awe inspiring. I have never been to The Dead Sea but would love to someday. So happy you stopped by~
Just absolutely incredible; something about these ancient places seem to call the to the soul of many. Thank you for sharing these absorbing photographs…
Ah, your camera makes even stone look like paradise!
I am in love with my camera…..it’s a healthy relationship! 🙂
LOL I’m so happy for the two of you.
Amazing Cindy! These look like pics of ruins from an ancient civilization. A wonderful place captured magnificently!
Grazi Resa. How is your sister? I am heading over to both your blogs today to see. I’ve been thinking of you both and hoping for good things~
Thank you Cinyd…much appreciated. Her surgery is tomorrow!
fantastic photos of a natural marvel, thank you Cindy … those climbers look minute!
Amazing how puny we are in the scope of nature isn’t it!
Beautiful! those formations look almost like pillars 🙂
Yes carved pillars! Quite amazing~
I’ve never seen the Valley of the Kings except in pics and on TV.
This looks like ancient Egypt in my imagination!
Yes! Jim thought it looked like Petra. Definitely the combination of desert and sculpture~
How fascinating, I had no idea!! Thanks for sharing!!
Interesting how many times I drove by it with no awareness of it’s existence!
Oh, how majestic and wondrous! Thank you for this tour. x
I am just very pleased you enjoyed yourself! Cheers~
Fascinating place and photos.
Magnificent! The red in the rock reminds me of when I visited Roussillon in the Provence Region of France. They too, are spectacular to see if you ever have the chance;)
Roussilon, for red I imagine! I have been to Provence but never there. I wonder if it is where red marble comes from. Will google it~
It is a beautiful area & one that I am certain your would love to photograph!
To me, the red rocks of the southwest are spectacular … especially when contrasting colors are also included. … and then the final picture caused a sheepish grin. I’m curious … what do you think of this place? http://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/on-a-wave/
Oh the wave. Jim has been uriging us to get it on the calendar for several years now. I think it looks utterly amazing and must go see for myself!
From what I understand, access is through a lottery.
We lived in the Mojave Desert and the CA coast during the 90s. These are a lovely reminder of the immense and diverse beauty. THANKS!
Who knew? You are bi-coastal!
Beautiful, as is the blue sky.
Perfect weather…too perfect! The drought here is serious~
Yes 🙁
A history lesson, a geography lesson and beautiful photos. Can’t beat it!
Don’t like being didactic but I couldn’t post the photos without some explanation because they are so unusual! Cheers to you Linda~
I love the explanations!
It is beautiful, I have seen it at least a couple hundred times and every time I have seen it, I have always though of how pretty it is, including here in these pictures. Thank you for posting the pics.
You have seen it 99 times more than I and if it weren’t for my clever husband I wouln’t have seen it either and I am a native Southern Californian! Kudos to you for knowing about it for so long~
Magnificent
It really was! Thank you~
I fell like I am the one who should be saying “thank you.”
Puts me in mind of ancient castles and palaces, Cindy. I love places like this ! Hugs.
Yes castles, specifically for me, a child’s drip sand castle magnified 10,000 times!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful place through your pictures. Ancient places have so many spirit layers you can feel them when you walk through.
Yes exactly! Thank you for putting this feeling into words~
Wow, I didn’t even know this place existed in California. Not only am I amused by your photography, but also you educating me.
Have you noticed your blog Fae? This is exactly what you do so well, and why we get along famously!!
Wow, that looks incredible. My daughter’s in-laws live in Ridgecrest. I’ll have to ask them about this. Maybe we could plan a trip there sometime. Thanks for the great photos and info!
Yes in the winter it is empty and close to Ridgecrest. You will not regret it!
When I first saw your picture I thought I was looking at Petra, in Jordan. Really fabulous shots. Ken
This s exactly what Jim said. Great minds………
🙂
Awesome rock formation. Great pictures. Thank you! Hugs! Veraiconica
Visa versa to you Veraiconica x2!
Incredible and beautiful…it reminds me of Petra in Jordan….
Now you, Jim and Ken have all said this and you are quite correct! It does indeed~
I visited Petra in the late 90’s and it was incredible….took my breath away….
Magnificent geological patterns, Cindy and I love the way you’ve taken them.
That makes me feel great! Thank you Don~
Wow!!!! very beautiful scenery. will love to visit here most definitely and thanks for posting. Happy New Year to you dear 🙂
Back to you my friend and please post about it when you go! I would be fascinated to see and hear your perception~
Most definitely. Thanks 🙂
14 million years-of-age! Makes one feel quite insignificant.
Yes! Somehow this sense of insignificance in the face of natural splendor calms me down. Feeling less important in the scope of things is freeing. Buddha of course, advised just this and if we are one with nature we never really end do we? Part of the whole. Love this feeling~
Nice perspective and philosophy, Cindy. Thank you.
So beautiful. Mother Nature is a wonderful sculptor.
I am a ridiculous fan of her work!!! lol~
really smart sequencing–and as a girl, I love the color coordination…:) From the grand, to the tiny, this place is gorgeous, and you captured its essence. Good perspective shot with the peeps, too. You need that…
Gotta have your peeps! If you notice in my pics they are often the size of ants!!! Thank you for your kindness ma deah~
Another great post Cindy. I should have visited the west.
If it makes you any better, I have never been to the Adirondacks and very much want to~
Great photos. I love desert landscapes. Have you been to the Bisti Badlands / De-Na-Zin Wilderness area in northern NM? There are whole petrified trees lying around, all kinds of interesting shaped hoodoos, and fantastic landforms in all kinds of colors. Lots of dinosaurs have been found there, as well.
No I haven’t but it sounds fantastic. I love deserts, in the spring, fall and winter! There are whole petrified logs in Mojave National Park too…..just laying there. Such wonder to behold on our small planet~
Magnificent nature cathedral These are stunning photos. Thank you, Cindy!
I love that concept! Nature’s cathedral, because it rings so true! Thank you Amy~
Cindy, I have been in that area and never seen this. I have a goal of 3 new places this year. Thanks for helping me add it.
Yay!! Then I have not blogged in vain! The more people see of our world, the more they will want to protect it. I know I’m preaching to the choir with you, but I do hope you visit and post about it!
Wow, fascinating place and great photos! Blessings, Natalie 🙂
Most appreciated Natalie! Grazi~
It looks like the inside of a cavern. Spectacular photos!
It does doesn’t it! See the comment above about limestone caverns. I hadn’t thought of this~
Very cool, looks like a great side for an old western movie. I wonder if any have been made there?
Tons of westerns were filmed here you clever one! As well as parts of Jurassic Park!
I agree with all the above. Lovely blog you have here, thank you for sharing such delights.
Thanks to you for stopping by and appreciating! This is what makes blogging fun, Cheers to you~
I love these pictures! I think we sometimes lose sight of what amazing transformations our Earth has undergone throughout its existence, but these pictures are a beautiful reminder.
Yes all the multiple extinctions and drastic climate changes from ice age, to swamp age, to ocean everywhere age, species rising and falling. The only real norm on this planet is dramatic change. We humans are simply one stage in this cycle. So happy you like the post~
Wonderful trip!
Yes indeed….when are you coming to Cali Eunice?????
If I win the house in TRUCKEE I will be closer 🙂
Truckee is gorgeous and quite near Lake Tahoe. Win! Win!
i love the desert and these photos are gorgeous. I am envious. Also, I realized I had only partially posted the Lucky story. I’ve updated if you want to read the rest of it. Thank you for posting these wonderful photographs. Makes me want to go back.
Quite frequently when I tick something off on my bucket list, I add it back because there was something I forgot to see!
The desert is always on my bucket list. I never get tired of it. I think I reblogged something about a trip into the desert. I’ll have to look again at your amazing photos and dream…
It also looks a bit like the desert in Jordan.
Yes people keep mentioning Petra. A place I long to see!
The desert is beautiful. There are some incredible places to visit that make you feel like you are in another world.
I agree completely! I am a desert rat!! I always visit your blog and like it but can’t comment or find your like button. I was just there and typed a comment which wouldn’t post. Please kinow I like your blog and appreciate the validity and stress of chemical sensitivity. Cheers to you and thank you!
Thank you for following. Thanks for letting me know about the comment problem I will try and figure it out.
Thanks for taking us to this magical place. Isn’t it amazing how the elements gave shape to such amazing rock structures that look like palaces left behind by some extinct civilization. Another site for my bucket list….
Oh you expressed that so beautifully…..”palaces left by ancient civilizations” is a wonderful description!
The rock structures are fascinating.
They really are! I was amazed. Cheers & thanks~
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🙂 🙂 Thank you! Thank you!
I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award because I think you are awesome and deserve to be recognized. Thank you for your words and your thoughts.
http://madelinescribes.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/winning-the-one-lovely-blog-award/
Oh you are so thoughtful and I so appreciate it! Mil grazi my friend!
Qué lugar mas maravilloso…
Unas fotos increibles.
Tienes un blog muy bonito.
Saludos.
Es mu amable! Muchas gracias y tiene un buen dia! Su recetas son maraviloso tan bien!
Sandstone makes such royal and magnificent structures as it weathers away! I loved these photos and your words to accompany them! Thanks for sharing this! It made my day! Wish it were the warm desert here! Smiles, Robin
Yes I wish some of the warmth would cross over the internet! Loved your post on your date that younger guy….boy he was good one to pass up wasn’t he!!! lol~
I love the title right-away! I love everything ancient, probably because I have always been “categorized” as ancient by my friends. L-O-L!!!
This place looks so beautiful. It looks as if it is not a part of this planet! It makes me imagine of some exotic creatures living in a desert-like planet. 😀
The plant in the last photo looks so cute. I wonder if the “white hairs” are flowers of needle-like leaves!
Yes the ancient places are spiritual and exude peacefulness. I love being around them. There were so many mythical creatures here long ago. So many dinosaurs including huge “bone crunching” dogs that I had never hear of. I know this will get your imagination going Hari! And yes the flower was a prickler…….the kind that sticks to your sock and itches!
Absolutely stunning! And those columns do look manmade don’t they? Good comparison between them and The Valley of the Kings. Cath.
They were always there and I never knew of them. I agree with you! They are amazing. Thank you for the appreciation and cheers to you~
You’re welcome. It’s always humbling to see such magnificent natural structures. There’s so much to see in the world. It makes me want to travel more! 🙂
Me three!!!! 🙂
Hi Cindy,these wonders are nature’s infinite architectural work no man can match.Outstanding post.Thank you for liking my recent post.jalal
The glory of our wonderful planet! Cheers Jalal~
What an astonishing place. Nice photos.
That is an appropriate word…..astonished is what I was! 🙂
Alrighty now…if I weren’t jealous before I definitely am now – beautiful!!!
Isn’t it though and quite a surprise to me as well!!
Beautiful photography, Cindy. I often share your blog with Tom as he’s passionate about fine photography.
Awww, how nice! Tell him I said Haw Do!
Beautiful shots capturing the grandeur of such unusual sights, Cindy! It looks like the ruins of an ancient city or the set of a fantasy movie. Great idea including the people for perspective of the size.
Grazi Halim & great to hear from you! Hope you have an awesome New Year my friend~
These are gorgeous.
Amazing what you can drive by and not notice! Thank you Jamie~
The sandstone rock makes such lovely castles and almost Roman columns, doesn’t it? I enjoyed your photos and the descriptions, too. Robin
So happy you did and yes they do look like classical sculpture! Cheers to you~
Red Rock Canyon state park is absolutely incredible and the rock formations are amazing ! Beautiful photos you’ve took and shows us that this gorgeous park is more than worthy to visit it 🙂 !
You are very kind ma deah and very appreciated too! Thank you~
🙂 !
Liebe Cindy ein wunderschönes Wochenende wünsche ich dir und sei ganz lieb gegrüßt in Freundschaft Klaus
Danke Klaus! Freundschaft! 🙂 🙂
Thank You for liking my art piece Cherry Bowl Display !!! 🙂 *Cynthia
🙂
Thanks for your amazing photos of this magnificant terrain.
I did not see the man till I read your text,then i could see the the scale.
It is strange how something can be close by and one never know about it. I was born in Socal. Jim was not. He is the one who found this place. Go figure…..
Stunning captures! Thank you for all the interesting information on this amazing place!
Thank you for your interest and comment! Cheers to you~
Stunning Cindy! I grew up not far from there. Have you been to Red Rock National Park just outside Las Vegas? It is very different but equally beautiful.
Yes I have been there and saw the wild horses. So gorgeous..isn’t your son a floor manager in LV?
Beautiful! Yes, Josh is the one who took me to Red Rock. He also his own financial planning practice that he is planning to go full-time with in the near future.
Smart cookie like his mom! Cheers to you from the sunny Carib!
Wow, incredible place! It is a must see! Thank you!
Mil grazi & I hope you do! Cheers to you~
Ms Cindy thank you for posting these pictures, they are beautiful.
Nice post! : )
ps. the pictures are sublime
Mil grazi & cheers to you~
I love, love, love red rock canyons. I especially love Bryce National Park
Yes, I do too, both Bryce & Zion!
I love Zion too…..
Reblogged this on Echoes in the Mist.
Thank you for your thoughtfulness Sharon and for all the good you do <3