Alcove Bog Orchid (Platanthera zothecina), Hanging Garden, Grand County, Utah

Platanthera zothecina is endemic to hanging garden environments. It is reported as rare and imperiled throughout its range.

Alcove Bog Orchid (Platanthera zothecina), Hanging Garden, Grand County, Utah

Platanthera zothecina is endemic to hanging garden environments. It is reported as rare and imperiled throughout its range.

Spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata, Garfield County, Utah

This showy species of orchid is commonly found in mountainous woodlands.

Cuvilinear petroglyph designs, Western Abstract Archaic, Utah

Western Abstract Archaic rock art is among the oldest and most geographically far-reaching—albeit rare—forms of art in North America. Similar motifs have even appeared throughout the world, as if the tenuous lines, animal prints, and curvilinear patterns are burned into our subconscious mind. While it is notoriously difficult to date a rock surface that lacks organic components or other datable materials, at least one large panel in Oregon was partially buried by ash from an eruption that occurred roughly 7700 years ago, rendering the rock art definitively older than the eruption event. Other associated artifacts and methods of dating have been employed at sites throughout the country, producing a fairly wide range of dates for different rock art locations. Regardless of the age of each individual location, it’s clear that Western Abstract Archaic rock art is very, very old.

Moonshine Wash, Emery County, Utah

During prohibition, many remote canyons, specifically those with springs or suitable sources of water, were sought as locations to produce bootleg alcohol. This particular canyon, known as Moonshine Wash, was a place of whiskey production.

Moonshine Wash bridge, Emery County, Utah

During prohibition, many remote canyons, specifically those with springs or suitable sources of water, were sought as locations to produce bootleg alcohol. This particular canyon, known as Moonshine Wash, was a place of whiskey production.

Moonshine Wash, Emery County, Utah

During prohibition, many remote canyons, specifically those with springs or suitable sources of water, were sought as locations to produce bootleg alcohol. This particular canyon, known as Moonshine Wash, was a place of whiskey production.

Fremont petroglyphs and sunset, Utah

Among the moments I have shared with these petroglyphs, this subtle show of sunlight and shadow was perhaps the most impactful. Much like these vestiges of the past, light can be delicate, fragile, and can vanish in a blink of an eye.

Fremont structure, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Fremont deer petroglyph overlaying Basketmaker anthropomorph, Grand County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Owachomo Bridge with flash flood during sunset, Natural Bridges National Monument, San Juan County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan painted handprints, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan structures, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan kiva, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Large Ancestral Puebloan painted anthropomorph, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Sipapu Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, San Juan County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Basketmaker hunting scene petroglyphs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Basketmaker mountain lion with spiral and other petroglyphs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Basketmaker petroglyph panel with atlatls, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

White Canyon, Natural Bridges National Monument, San Juan County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan structure with pictographs on interior wall, Natural Bridges National Monument, San Juan County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Basketmaker painted anthropomorphs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Geometric petroglyph, Ancestral Puebloan, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Green anthropomorphic pictographs, Basketmaker, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Densely painted Ancestral Puebloan panel, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan petroglyph macaws, San Juan County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs in a slot canyon, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs in a slot canyon, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Barrier Canyon Style gathering pictographs, Desert Archaic, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Basketmaker pictographs with white duck-headed figure, Kane County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Barrier Canyon Style gathering pictographs, Desert Archaic, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Handprint, serpentine patterns, and circle, Fremont pictographs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Anthropomorphs with burden baskets, Fremont pictographs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Virgin Ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Fremont anthropomorph petroglyph, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Barrier Canyon Style pictographs, Desert Archaic, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Fremont shields and anthropomorph with flared feather headdress, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Barrier Canyon Style pictographs, Desert Archaic, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Virgin Ancestral Puebloan petroglyph boulder, Utah (2)

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Virgin Ancestral Puebloan petroglyph boulder, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Barrier Canyon Style pictographs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Fremont petroglyphs, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Painted masks, Kane County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Fremont anthropomorph petroglyph, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Cave Valley Style pictographs, Ancestral Puebloan, Kane County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Cave Valley Style pictographs, Ancestral Puebloan, Kane County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.

Cave Valley Style anthropomorph pictograph, Ancestral Puebloan, Kane County, Utah

Utah is home to an unbelievable assortment of scenic, cultural, and scientific resources. With its rich archaeology, geology, history, paleontology, botany, and countless other natural resources, Utah’s vast public lands are virtually unmatched.