[Prosit]

I’ve recently returned from a fun trip on the Colorado Plateau. I spent much of my time in various parts of the Escalante, Capitol Reef, and the San Rafael Swell, but I also went to an area that was new to me on this trip, which I haven’t read much about elsewhere. The Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness (BRCW) is immediately west of Colorado National Monument (CNM) and shares the strata of the CNM, with huge Wingate cliffs capped with Kayenta, and Entrada cliffs above that. The canyons drain from the high plateau at Glade Park toward the northwest into the Colorado River’s Ruby and Horsethief Canyons. These are deep, quiet, colorful canyons, every bit as good as those further southwest, and I enjoyed them very much. The Entrada layer in the BRCW is similar to the Entrada in Arches National Park and the concentration of arches here is said to be second only to Arches NP. I did a day hike through the popular Rattlesnake Canyon Arches, and then met up with an old friend of mine for a four-day loop down Mee Canyon and up Knowles Canyon. Here are some photos.

This image of the southwest rim of Rattlesnake Canyon shows the lower Wingate cliffs, with the Kayenta bench, and sculpted Entrada cliffs above. Most arches in this area are formed by tall alcoves in the Entrada like those shown here. When those features separate from the cliff, they form an arch.

Hole in the Bridge Arch

Cedar Tree Arch

Hole in the ceiling of an alcove - an arch in the making

Rattlesnake Arch from below

Rattlesnake Arch

On the way down into Mee Canyon - interesting feet!

Tafoni on the descent into Mee Canyon

The detail here was exquisite. Many of those columns and features are separated from the wall, like tiny vertical arches. It reminded me of an ornate church or cathedral.

The alcove in upper Mee Canyon is perhaps the largest on the Colorado Plateau. It’s challenging to show its scale in a photograph. It is almost unbelievably large and deep; much larger than those in Muley Twist, Fiftymile Creek, or Coyote Gulch, and very cool to see.

The upstream entrance of the alcove, with my friend standing before its dark, cavernous shadow.

Traveling down upper Mee Canyon

In upper Mee

Lair of the Abominable Sand Monster

The second Green Collared Lizard I saw on this trip

This one was very friendly and climbed up a little to greet us

I thought its striking color would look great on the red rock, so I asked if it would mind climbing up on a nearby rock. It did so readily, and proudly posed for me.

Lower Mee Canyon widens and features some nice towers

Heading up lower Knowles Canyon

An impressive tower in lower Knowles Canyon

An almost fluorescent boulder of the Chinle formation, resting on green grass.

Our last morning in Knowles Canyon, the clouds were very turbulent, but it didn’t rain.

Overhanging rock detail

Upper Knowles Canyon

A Wingate arch we found

Looking down Knowles Canyon from the rim.

[GaliWalker]

[Stefan]

cool! I never knew that place existed. thanks for sharing!

[BW]

Spectacular all around--from the canyons to the caves to the lizards and arches. Thanks!

[puzzlr]

Beautiful area and photos of it. Thanks for the post. I love wandering around the sandstone formations all over the SW. They're endless!

[cathorse]

Great pics and fascinating area - thanks for sharing! Did you link Mee and Knowles Canyons via the Colorado, on foot or via pack raft or???

[Prosit]

[cathorse]

Thanks!! i can tell I finally need to hunt down that Kelsey book...