I’ve lived in the Zion National Park area for the last 16 years but until recently, did not know these 2 interesting artifacts existed nearby. Less than an hours drive are some dinosaur tracks and Native American Indian rock art know as pictographs. Pictographs are painted onto the rock and petroglyphs are carved into the sandstone.
The figure of a man is on the right and on the left is a small Desert Bighorn Sheep.
The dinosaur that made these tracks is the Dilophosaurus which resided in this area about 190 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.
This is not the best photo of the white-tailed Kaibab Squirrel but he was playing hardball with me. This squirrel is endemic to the Kaibab National Forest and thinks he owns the place. Never stays still and when pressed, climbs up the tall Ponderosa Pines and behind the branches. I’ll try again this week to shoot(ahem photograph) him. He must think I’m paparazzi.
At least you have an idea why he’s camera shy. That bright white tail!
FYI. The 2nd image was an enhanced one of the first image using the AI editor feature here at WP which I won’t use ever again because that would be cheating.
You may remember the video post showing the fire damaged area of Kaibab National Forest from summer of 2025, Link . Here’s a flyover video from last week showing the area not damaged. The western part of the North Kaibab which is adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park.
Watch in HiDef at Full Screen. Music is Black Canyon by Ana Caravelle.
Recent monsoons have passed through Grand Canyon National Park the last 5 weeks, bringing much-needed rain and angry skies. Click on image for a larger view.
Monsoonal moisture passes through the Grand Canyon as seen from the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.Monsoonal moisture passes through the Grand Canyon as seen from the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
These are near Factory Butte badlands and not as stark but do have appeal. I need to explore this area more.
The Mineral rich badlands of Caineville Butte is composed of Mancos Shale while sulfur and gypsum deposits provide the yellow colort during erosion and weathering over millions of years.