Sipapu Natural Bridge Panorama No. 3

The Story:     Sipapu Bridge is the largest of the three rock bridges in Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah.   Sipapu is a Hopi word describing the symbolic portal from which the first humans emerged.   I found the park was impressive as I explored these relics of deep time.

Natural Bridges National Monument features many of the world’s largest natural bridges, but upon driving into the park, its beauty remains hidden from the casual eye.  To witness this park’s grandeur, one must accept faith and descend into the park’s depths through a series of questionable ladders, knowing each step-down doubles as a strenuous climb back into the hot desert. Many on the path chose to turn around but this gallery shares the views from the bottom of the gorge.

The Rest of the Story:  I entered the park with a fair amount of trepidation.   The park sits at 6,200 feet, the temperatures were in the 90s, and the hike was rated strenuous.  For me the concerning part was the difficult 443-feet descent, through a series of stairs and wooden ladders…and I was solo.  I hate heights when its just me on a ladder, but this time I was carrying 35lbs of camera, lens, tripod and water.   I took my time and was rewarded with impressive views.  This print is a 60-image panorama from about half-way down.

If you’d like to see more scenes from the bottom of the park, check out this gallery of Natural Bridges National Monument art prints.

Sublocation:   Natural Bridges National Monument

City, State:      Lake Powell, Utah

Year:                2020