Burr Trail winds its way through some of Utah’s most stunning scenery, from the small town of Boulder to Bullfrog near Lake Powell. Along the way the scenery makes me feel tiny but I also feel very much in touch with the earth and the geology of the area.

Burr Trail Winding RoadBurr Trail Winding Road – Nikon Coolpix S550, handheld, f5.6, 1/426, 6mm, natural light

The trail winds through canyons with sheer walls of Wingate sandstone, lighter colored Navajo sandstone which at one time were sand dunes that became petrified over time. The slopes are dotted with junipers, rabbitbrush and sagebrush.

Hole in a Rock on Burr TrailHole in a canyon wall on Burr Trail – Nikon D70, handheld, f11, 1/100, ISO 320, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 200mm, natural light

Narrow and majestic Long Canyon has walls that tower hundreds of feet above the road and often those walls have a dark coating of “Desert Varnish” on them which is manganese dioxide and has been used by ancient tribes to create Petroglyphs. In this image there are spots of the varnish on the canyon wall on the right side of the frame.

Burr Trail IllusionBurr Trail Illusion – Nikon D70, f11, 1/500, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 44mm, natural light

At an overlook along the trail are there hills colored by clay. This image could puzzle a person, did I take it by pointing my camera lens up or down?

Burr Trail Illusion RevealedBurr Trail Illusion Revealed – Nikon D70, f11, 1/500, ISO 320, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light

I was pointing my camera down in the last image. In the distance are the Henry Mountains and Capital Reef National Park. Part of the trail is paved and the other part is a dirt road.

I haven’t yet traveled the entire trail but I am sure the sections I haven’t seen are just as incredible as the sections I have.

Off of the beaten track, this trail is very much worth the journey.

Mia