Balancing Act

Hoodoos are a unique, geologic formation found in many places of the American Southwest, particularly in Utah and around Lake Powell.

Hoodoos like these are formed when there is a rock layer more resistant to erosion that has broken into pieces of various sizes, often on the edge of a cliff. The harder rocks then come to rest on a softer rock layer which tends to weather away more quickly. The harder rock pieces directly above the softer rock shield the rock directly underneath leaving behind a stone tower of sorts that supports the harder rock piece above. A process called “ice wedging” is the predominant force that sculpts these dramatic formations in Bryce Canyon, but water and wind erosion also contribute. Hoodoos also go by other names such as tent rocks, fairy chimneys, or earth pyramids. The greatest concentration of hoodoos are found in Bryce Canyon and Goblin Valley State Park.

These two hoodoos we found in an undisclosed arm of Wahweap Creek called Coyote Creek. This is an amazing area with very few visitors, fewer trails and is subject to the rules and of the Grand-Staircase-Escalante Nat’l. Monument. We’ve been rewarded every time we have visited with the discovery of even more hoodoos and exotic formations. The hoodoo shown here is the same as one shown in our photo “A Delicate Balance,” but from an angle that clearly demonstrates how the harder caprock is perched and balanced at an angle that seems to defy gravity. In addition, the camera angle allows more view of surrounding terrain.

April 2021