Buckskin Scallops

Buckskin Gulch originates in the high plateaus south of Bryce Canyon National Park.

From there, it channels its way south across Highway 89 and into the Paria Plateau where it has carved out over the millennia, a twelve-mile long “slot canyon,” regarded by many as perhaps the world’s longest. This canyon empties into the Paria which then joins the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam.

The slot section of Buckskin Gulch is a popular hike for backcountry enthusiasts and so for several years we had awaited the right timing to make this trip. In May of 2008, the conditions were right and accompanied by other family members and friends, we hiked through this extraordinary canyon, armed with one small, compact camera to try and capture the unusual beauty to be found here. At one point, high on the canyon wall, we found these “scallop-like” features that were illuminated by the light higher up “bouncing” off the canyon walls and filtering down. Though we had many shots of this canyon, this one uniquely stood out to us and reminds us of the one-of-a-kind features to be found here and in the Paria.

Photo taken April, 2008