Part 7. Painted Desert

San Juan River in Goosenecks State Park, Utah (composition of five photos).

Northwestern edge of Painted Desert, Utah.

Most of it belongs to Navajo Nation. Sometimes the name is only applied to its western edge, sometimes only to its part along Interstate Highway 40.

Northeastern edge of Painted Desert, Utah.

Monument Valley.

Monument Valley is by far the most internationally- famous part of Painted Desert, thanks to many car and cigarette commercials filmed there. It looks best at sunset. It's one of the best places in the world for horseback riding.

Monument Valley.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah/Arizona border.

Spanish Hat rock, San Juan River Canyon, Utah.

San Juan River separates it from Valley of The Gods, no less scenic, but much less known.

Spanish Hat rock, San Juan River Canyon, Utah.

Views of Valley of the Gods from the south.

Valley of the Gods, Utah.

Valley of the Gods is not really a valley, but a row of seven short valleys penetrating tall cliffs of red Navajo sandstone. The color intensity and rock shapes differ from one valley to another.

Valley of the Gods, Utah.

Views of Valley of the Gods from the north.

Lady in a Tub rock, Valley of the Gods.

Most people see the Valley from an overlook on top of the cliffs, but you can also take a dirt road closer to the most beautiful part of it, with side tracks branching off into the side valleys. Light is usually best in late morning.

Lady in a Tub rock, Valley of the Gods.

View of Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. A small Ancient Puebloan structure is hidden at the base of the tall rock in the center.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona.

Canyon de Chelly is not only scenic, but rich in ancient ruins and rock art. It's sacred for the Navajo.

Rock patterns, Canyon de Chelly.

Bisti Badlands, Bisti - De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico.

Bisti Badlands, BDNZW, New Mexico.

In the far eastern part of Painted Desert, Bisti and De-Na-Zin Badlands in New Mexico have a good collection of unusual landscapes. The famous Shiprock is also in this area.

De-Na-Zin Badlands, BDNZW.

De-Na-Zin Badlands, Bisti - De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico.

View from the rim of Meteor Crater, Arizona (composition of 4 images).

Interesting places in the southern part of Painted Desert include Petrified Forest (see previous parts) and Barringer, or Meteor, Crater, the first impact crater ever identified on Earth.

Aerial view of Meteor Crater from Delta Airlines' Albuquerque-Phoenix flight.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona.

Part 8. Cathedral Gorge
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