James Farrell
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Great Day at the Holi Festival of Color - 2013
Click on image above to enlarge it. Click on thumbnails in the left-hand column to advance to other images. Mexican Hat Rock - silhouetted against the various geologic layers of colored rock of the Raplee Ridge - located about 3 miles north of Mexican Hat, Utah on Route 163 and about 25 miles north of Monument Valley. So named for the hat-like shape of the large flat rock on top of this formation balanced on a very small rock underneath it. Its size is very deceiving; it is 60 feet across - much bigger than a house. March 5, 2012. Nikon D700 and Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 VR lens at 230mm FX.
A closer view of Mexican Hat Rock, Mexican Hat, Utah, taken from a different angle than image #1. March 5, 2012. Nikon D700 and Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 VR lens at 230mm FX.
An aerial photograph looking northwest into the Valley of the Gods. The 17-mile valley road winds through the open expanse of sagebrush and, in places, the many tall spires with interesting names in the center of this image (about half way along the valley road traveling in either direction, in the north part of the valley.) The Moki Dugway (see next image) is located at the extreme left edge of this image in the center (carved out of the side of Cedar Mesa, which the Moki Dugway ascends.) Cedar Mesa is in the upper portion of this image.
This aerial photograph was taken on February 18, 2008 by "Flickr" member Doc Searls. Rights to this photo were released in part to Wikimedia Commons and the public domain. See Wikipedia and search for the Valley of the Gods for more information about this image.
Moki Dugway - State Route 261 - San Juan County - Utah
"Moki Dugway" (a.k.a. Mokee or Moqui) on State Route 261 in San Juan County, Utah. Built in 1958 to facilitate the transport of uranium ore from a mine in Fry Canyon, UT to a processing mill in Mexican Hat, the origin of its name is from the Spanish and their reference to the Pueblo indians who were native to the area. Paved highway Route 261 from near Mexican Hat (visible in the next few images) and near the western end of the Valley of the Gods road, becomes the gravel and dirt road illustrated here and climbs 1,100 feet in just 3 miles. Carved out of the steep rock cliffs of Cedar Mesa. Eyes on the road please; no guard rails!
Image taken on July 19, 2007 by unknown photographer (although EXIF data indicates a different image date). Souce of image: Wikimedia Commons. For more image information and statement of release by image owner to the public domain, See http://en.wikipedia.org and search for Moki Dugway
A March 5, 2012 view from the top of Moki Dugway looking southeast along Utah Route 261 which joins Route 163 just north of Mexican Hat, Utah. The Valley of the Gods is located to the left of Route 261. The lone structure in the left center of this image is a "Bed and Breakfast" inn. Belle Butte stands alone in the distance (upper center.) Nikon D300 and Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 24mm DX or 36mm FX.
Another view from the top of Moki Dugway, panning left and to the east. Valley of the Gods, Utah, March 5, 2012. Nikon D300 and Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 24mm DX or 26mm FX.
Looking east to northeast into the Valley of the Gods from the top of Moki Dugway. The road in the right center of the image is the western portion of the Valley of the Gods road. The road eventually turns to the north and winds through the many spires seen in other images in this gallery. March 5, 2012. Nikon D300 and Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 24mm DX or 36mm FX.
A graphic illustration of the force of water over time: The switchback turns of the San Juan RIver meandering through rock a thousand feet below the Goosenecks State Park parking lot.
Image taken by unknown photographer. Souce of image: Wikimedia Commons. For more image information and statement of release by image owner to the public domain, See http://en.wikipedia.org and search for Goosenecks State Park.
This is the first of a series of images of various rock structures in the "Valley of the Gods". As is common in this part of the west, interesting rock formations are given fanciful names. The formation in the left center here is known as "Seven Sailors," named for what looks like sailor hats on top of seven spires (due to camera angles, one is not visible). This is located close to the east end of the Valley of the Gods 17-mile road, just off Route 163. March 5, 2012. Nikon D300 and Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 44mm DX or 66mm FX.
Castle Butte, Valley of the Gods, Utah, March 5, 2012. Nikon D300 and Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 29mm DX or 43mm FX
Battleship Rock (right), Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012. Nikon D300 and Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 lens at 66mm DX or 99mm FX.
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, March 5, 2012