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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature; Sites by State >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> Idaho >> City of Rocks National Reserve – Idaho tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

City of Rocks National Reserve – Idaho

Images of City of Rocks National Reserve – Southern Idaho, taken in June 2021.

A granite wonderland of pinnacles, spires, windows and arches tucked into the mountains of southern Idaho make up the City of Rocks National Reserve. This site was also a key stopping off point along the California Trail where emigrants marveled at the spectacular formations and left their names written on the rocks. Now, the area is well known as a mecca for climbers because of its more than 600 granite routes including some rated 5.13+ with names like Crack of Doom, Skyline, Colossus and Scream Cheese.

As one wielding a camera and lenses, rather than ropes and carabiners, I found this park to be a photographic wonderland as the landscapes and formations changed with the angle from which you were viewing them. I spent the early morning hiking above the Circle Creek Basin and later scrambled over the granite to get spectacular views of the canyon and its varied formations to include Window Arch along with a multitude of rock piles, boulders and small windows. I traversed the park road several times in an effort to see some of the more interesting formations in different light and was continually rewarded with remarkable sweeping views and landscapes.
Early morning view of the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve
Early morning view of the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve 		Granite peaks at sunrise in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite peaks at sunrise in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Direct sunlight reaches a large impressive granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
Direct sunlight reaches a large impressive granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite Peak (7,689 ft) bathed in the early morning sunlight in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite Peak (7,689 ft) bathed in the early morning sunlight in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Formations in the Circle Creek Basin in the early morning hours in City of Rocks National Reserve
Formations in the Circle Creek Basin in the early morning hours in City of Rocks National Reserve
Distant granite formations as seen from the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve
Distant granite formations as seen from the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Large granite outcroppings and formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
Large granite outcroppings and formations in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite formations in the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite formations in the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve		 View of an old ranch house among the granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of an old ranch house among the granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Emigrant names on Camp Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Emigrant names on Camp Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of granite formations in the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of granite formations in the Circle Creek Basin in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite towers rise above the landscape in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite towers rise above the landscape in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Formations near Camp Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Formations near Camp Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Window Arch backlit by morning light in City of Rocks National Reserve
Window Arch backlit by morning light in City of Rocks National Reserve
Large granite outcropping in City of Rocks National Reserve
Large granite outcropping in City of Rocks National Reserve		 The sun peaks over Window Arch in City of Rocks National Reserve
The sun peaks over Window Arch in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite outcroppings with the Bread Loaves formation in the distance in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite outcroppings with the Bread Loaves formation in the distance in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Wide view of the granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
Wide view of the granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve		 The Bread Loaves granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
The Bread Loaves granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of the weathered granite outcroppings in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of the weathered granite outcroppings in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Window Arch frames granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
Window Arch frames granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve		 The Bread Loaves and other formations are framed by Window Arch in City of Rocks National Reserve
The Bread Loaves and other formations are framed by Window Arch in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Window Arch in City of Rocks National Reserve
Window Arch in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Bath Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Bath Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Morning Glory Spire, a popular climbing destination, in City of Rocks National Reserve
Morning Glory Spire, a popular climbing destination, in City of Rocks National Reserve		 The Anteater Granite Formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
The Anteater Granite Formation in City of Rocks National Reserve		 The Twin Sisters granite formation on the south side of the City of Rocks National Reserve
The Twin Sisters granite formation on the south side of the City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite outcropping near the Twin Sisters formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite outcropping near the Twin Sisters formation in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Rugged outcropping near the Twin Sisters formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
Rugged outcropping near the Twin Sisters formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
Elephant Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Elephant Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Climber at Morning Glory Spire in City of Rocks National Reserve
Climber at Morning Glory Spire in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Crowded granite face of Elephant Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Crowded granite face of Elephant Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Morning Glory Spire climber in City of Rocks National Reserve
Morning Glory Spire climber in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Emigrant names on Register Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Emigrant names on Register Rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
Blooming prickly pear cactus in City of Rocks National Reserve
Blooming prickly pear cactus in City of Rocks National Reserve		 View of Granite Peak (7,689 ft) and Steinfells Dome (7,359 ft) in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of Granite Peak (7,689 ft) and Steinfells Dome (7,359 ft) in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite Peak and Steinfells Dome from the park road in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite Peak and Steinfells Dome from the park road in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Finger Rock silhouetted against the sky in City of Rocks National Reserve
Finger Rock silhouetted against the sky in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Finger Rock on a hillside in City of Rocks National Reserve
Finger Rock on a hillside in City of Rocks National Reserve
The lower portion of the Bread Loaves in City of Rocks National Reserve
The lower portion of the Bread Loaves in City of Rocks National Reserve		 A bumble bee takes flight in City of Rocks National Reserve
A bumble bee takes flight in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Bumble bee taking pollen from a flower in City of Rocks National Reserve
Bumble bee taking pollen from a flower in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Dead tree in granite in City of Rocks National Reserve
Dead tree in granite in City of Rocks National Reserve		 View of granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
View of granite formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
Window Arch throws afternoon shade on the landscape in City of Rocks National Reserve
Window Arch throws afternoon shade on the landscape in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite boulders and formations in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite boulders and formations in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Chipmunk poses on granite in City of Rocks National Reserve
Chipmunk poses on granite in City of Rocks National Reserve		 A tree with a large main root grows among granite boulders in City of Rocks National Reserve
A tree with a large main root grows among granite boulders in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Window Arch frames a clear deep blue sky in City of Rocks National Reserve
Window Arch frames a clear deep blue sky in City of Rocks National Reserve
A wind worn window carved in granite in City of Rocks National Reserve
A wind worn window carved in granite in City of Rocks National Reserve		 A small window frames a distant granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve
A small window frames a distant granite formation in City of Rocks National Reserve		 A velvet ant moves across granite rock in City of Rocks National Reserve
A velvet ant moves across granite rock in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Small windows carved in granite by the wind in City of Rocks National Reserve
Small windows carved in granite by the wind in City of Rocks National Reserve		 Granite canyon in City of Rocks National Reserve
Granite canyon in City of Rocks National Reserve

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Russ and Kathy 04-Jul-2021 16:34
Well, after seeing your photos , you have encouraged us to make the trip to the City df Rocks. Since we live so closed. We sure enjoyed dinner with you the other night in Rupert, ID
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