Chuck Schneebeck Photography

Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness within Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona is a region of beautiful sandstone formations. The area is divided into two regions: Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South. The Wave, in Coyote Buttes North, is famous worldwide. The Coyote Buttes South is not as famous but offers a plethora of spectacular sandstone formations that are erosional masterpieces. The area is filled with fins, cones, hoodoos, ridges and ravines. The sandstones are multicolored including reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, and even greens. The colors come from sixteen forms of oxidized iron compounds. The area is large and only twenty permits per day are issued. Consequently, one can roam for long periods of time without seeing or hearing another human. Here is a small sample of the diverse formations to be found in Coyote Buttes South.