Growing at an elevation of 8,000 feet, a gnarled and weathered tree clings to a patch of land 2,000 feet above Crater Lake. Silhouetted against the cloud is a dragonfly…they were everywhere!
A lone hiker, unfazed by the dangers of a steep, vertical plunge, stepped out for a closeup view from the rim of Crater Lake.
Grand Canyon views never fail to impress.
The remains of Montezuma Castle, perched 90 feet up a limestone cliff, remind us of the ingenuity of ancient builders. It is believed the Sinagua people inhabited this cliff dwelling from 1100 and 1425 AD.
The Island in Time Trail winds through the floor of Blue Basin canyon in John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon.
The Painted Hills shine at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon.
Crater Lake on a sunny winter day.
A free shuttle from the Chiricahua Visitor Center provides hikers transportation to the top of the Echo Canyon Trailhead. Sign-up is required prior to the 9:00 a.m. departure, so a little advanced planning is necessary…but you won’t regret it! Once at the top, the 4.2 mile (mostly downhill) trail winds through spectacular rock formations, many of which seem to defy gravity.
