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Dave Beedon | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Moab (environs) >> Sand Flats >> Looking for Morning Glory Natural Bridge tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

Looking for Morning Glory Natural Bridge


In September 2007 I hiked among the fins and domes of Sand Flats Recreation Area with the goal of finding a place along its edge from which I could look down on Morning Glory Natural Bridge. The bridge is an impressive rock formation at the end of a side canyon of Negro Bill Canyon.

In 2006 I visited the bridge in the normal way by hiking up the trail in the canyon; the trail ends under the bridge. It’s a popular hike. But as is the case with some physical features, seeing it from one perspective made me want to see it from another. That was the motivation for this hike.

The rough terrain prevented me from seeing the bridge itself, but I was able to gaze upon a rock self near it. In spite of that disappointment I had a great time. An unexpected highlight was watching a man and woman sunbathing nude in the canyon below. Part of my hike was done on a four-wheel-drive trail called "Fins 'N Things", where I encountered only three or four Jeeps. I encountered not a single hiker.

Newest uploads are at the BOTTOM of the gallery.


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Bland landscape at trailhead conceals visual delights close by
Bland landscape at trailhead conceals visual delights close by		 My footprints were in the minority on the Fins 'N Things 4WD trail
My footprints were in the minority on the Fins 'N Things 4WD trail		 Sienna at trailhead; Moab lies in a valley at the base (hidden) of the skyline ridge
Sienna at trailhead; Moab lies in a valley at the base (hidden) of the skyline ridge		 Fins!---now the landscape is getting interesting...
Fins!---now the landscape is getting interesting...		 Pothole fin spotted from trail
Pothole fin spotted from trail
More of the Fins 'N Things 4WD Trail
More of the Fins 'N Things 4WD Trail		 Cones (not berries) of a juniper; bamboo is about one inch (2.5cm) thick
Cones (not berries) of a juniper; bamboo is about one inch (2.5cm) thick		 Morning me
Morning me		 Along the trail were a few of these signs marking places that were used illegally as trails
Along the trail were a few of these signs marking places that were used illegally as trails		 Tourist points the way at a junction
Tourist points the way at a junction
Sign posted at the junction in the previous photo
Sign posted at the junction in the previous photo		 Joe Tripod off-duty, hoping no 4WD vehicle comes speeding down the trail
Joe Tripod off-duty, hoping no 4WD vehicle comes speeding down the trail		 Fins N Things trail angles to the right; easy to get lost in this terrain
Fins N Things trail angles to the right; easy to get lost in this terrain		 Stepped drainage between fins
Stepped drainage between fins		 Evidence of recent rain
Evidence of recent rain
Follow the tire marks...
Follow the tire marks...		 Alternating layers (note the inconsiderate bike tracks in the soil at bottom)
Alternating layers (note the inconsiderate bike tracks in the soil at bottom)		 Rain's remnant: water is about one foot (30cm) wide
Rain's remnant: water is about one foot (30cm) wide		 I passed several of these bushes, which I think is birchleaf buckthron
I passed several of these bushes, which I think is birchleaf buckthron		 Reach for the sky---with your Jeep
Reach for the sky---with your Jeep
Route arrows painted on the rock
Route arrows painted on the rock		 Flow pattern in a wash (scene is about three feet [90cm] wide )
Flow pattern in a wash (scene is about three feet [90cm] wide )		 Abyss Canyon is hiding: it's straight ahead, below the cliff at center
Abyss Canyon is hiding: it's straight ahead, below the cliff at center		 Flow pattern at site of a small plunge pool
Flow pattern at site of a small plunge pool		 This wash is my trail; ahead lies the abyss
This wash is my trail; ahead lies the abyss
Dead tree
Dead tree		 I smell an abyss up ahead
I smell an abyss up ahead		 Flow pattern between fins
Flow pattern between fins		 Abyss is close
Abyss is close		 As close to the abyss that I can go here: the drop-off is about 50 feet (15m) away
As close to the abyss that I can go here: the drop-off is about 50 feet (15m) away
Trying in vain to achieve Enlightenment by becoming One with the Sandstone
Trying in vain to achieve Enlightenment by becoming One with the Sandstone		 Enlightenment arrives after I assumed the proper position in relation to the parabola
Enlightenment arrives after I assumed the proper position in relation to the parabola		 Looking up from below the previous photo
Looking up from below the previous photo		 Echo Canyon
Echo Canyon		 Confusion
Confusion
Animal paths on the canyon floor
Animal paths on the canyon floor		 Tree
Tree		 Sandstone curves (scene width is about 2 feet [0.6m])
Sandstone curves (scene width is about 2 feet [0.6m])		 Steep road (bamboo hiking stick is 6 feet [1.8m] long)
Steep "road" (bamboo hiking stick is 6 feet [1.8m] long)		 Close-up of the steep road
Close-up of the steep "road"
Turn here
"Turn here"		 Shadow on tire marks
Shadow on tire marks		 Eyes
Eyes		 Two cyclists on the practice loop of the Slickrock Bike Trail
Two cyclists on the practice loop of the Slickrock Bike Trail		 Gardens amidst the sandstone bumps
Gardens amidst the sandstone bumps
Layers of a sandstone fin
Layers of a sandstone fin		 Abyss Canyon (foreground) and Negro Bill Canyon
Abyss Canyon (foreground) and Negro Bill Canyon		 Telephoto shot of the trailhead of Negro Bill Canyon
Telephoto shot of the trailhead of Negro Bill Canyon		 Fin with warts (something I descended to reach this point)
Fin with warts (something I descended to reach this point)		 Fins and the La Sal Mountains
Fins and the La Sal Mountains
Abyss-mal self-portrait
Abyss-mal self-portrait		 Naked couple enjoying the warm day
Naked couple enjoying the warm day		 Bizarre sandstone topography includes bamboo
Bizarre sandstone topography includes bamboo		 Standing above Negro Bill Canyon, in awe of the scenery
Standing above Negro Bill Canyon, in awe of the scenery		 Exploring the sandstone fins at Sand Flats
Exploring the sandstone fins at Sand Flats
As close as I could get
As close as I could get		 Abyss and Echo canyons
Abyss and Echo canyons		 Detail of Abyss Canyon
Detail of Abyss Canyon

comment | share
joseantonio25-Jun-2014 18:53
Amazing place. Thank you for showing.V.
Jean-Luc Rollier28-Feb-2008 23:21
Very interesting job. JL V
Ali Majdfar28-Feb-2008 16:28
Spectacular gallery, excellent shots. GMV
Guest 29-Nov-2007 19:15
hey, I know how to get to MG Arch from Sand Flats Rd.
Let me know when you come back, I'll take you there (and no worries I'll get you back out too).

Rebecca
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