Exploring Granite Dells

Exploring The Dells

This ridge in the Granite Dells is not easy to get to but has some wonderful rock formations that look like many things.

Granite Mountain Storm

I was photographing in the other direction when I felt the wind on my back and turned to find this storm forming over Granite Mountain.

Last Tree

This tree has managed to survive in this narrow canyon when all other have seen better days.

Sheltered

This tree has found a nice protected spot to grow with just the right balance of shade and sunlight.

Granite Clouds

The patterns of wispy clouds can take on some interesting shapes.

The Next Generation

One tree fades while another take its place.

Every Rock Tells A Story

The amazing granite patterns in the Dells can change from one formation to another.

Ancient Remnant

Each time I pass this granite formation it reminds me of some ancient eroded statue from a lost civilization.

Three Way Split

The natural erosion process slowly continues to shape the boulders in the Granite Dells.

Fractured

Over many years the forces of nature finally fractured this large boulder.

Granite Dells Shadows

The afternoon light in the Granite Dells can produce some wonderful shadows to create a amazing scene.

Low Flying

A wonderful triangle shaped cloud hovers over a remote canyon in the Granite Dells.

Checkerboard Canyon

One of my favorite canyons to explore deep in the heart of the Granite Dells.

Gateway

This granite formation looks like a gateway to another world in the afternoon light.

E.T. Rock

One of many sculptured boulders in the Granite Dells.

Cliff Dweller

Somehow this tree found a way to grow on the side of this cliff when nothing else did.

Granite Swirls

The Granite Dells has some amazing rock patterns.

Bottomless Canyon

Late afternoon shadows make a remote canyon slowly slide into the shadows.

Canyon Shadow

The late afternoon light in the Granite Dells can produce some wonderful shadows.

Slot Canyon Clouds

Another wonderful day scrambling around the Granite Dells and discovering new places.

Final Resting Place

Sometimes when I am hiking I will come across what I call one of nature's sculptures.

Lodged

During higher lake levels this tree settled into a small cove waiting to be moved again.

Holding On

This small exposed pine tree has seen many storms but it still somehow continues to hang on.

Granite Shadows

A wonderful day to rock scramble around the Granite Dells and explore hidden canyons.

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Parallel Layers

It was interesting to see rolling clouds that may last a few hours come in over granite formations that are 1.4 billion years old.

Watchtower

A late afternoon storm lights up a remote cliff face in the heart of the Dells.

Wall Of Water

The warning signs were there but I was caught up in the moment of photographing in a small canyon when I looked up to see this wall of water heading my way. It was time to seek shelter.

Granite Puzzle

Every once in a while I come across a very unusual looking granite boulder hiking in the Granite Dells. How did this rock/boulder get this way and look so different from the other boulders?

Watson Falls

Due to snow melt and spring rains it was really wonderful to have most of the streams and creeks full of water this year creating some amazing waterfalls that do not happen very often.

Granite Fortress

The Granite Dells has some wonderful slot canyons whose high walls reminds me of an ancient fortress.

Granite Colors

Hiking around a cove along Willow Lake I found this interesting display of colorful granite.

A Lucky Day

This double rainbow stayed active for some time allowing me to move around the Dells and compose different images. A lucky day indeed as this does not happen very often.

Canyon Entrance

A beautiful day to explore one of the many canyons in the Granite Dells.

Dark Matter

It had been many years since I have seen such a large dark front and as soon as the winds came upon me I knew it was time to leave. The entire scene looked like something out of a disaster movie but I did like the combination of granite patterns, trees and storm clouds.

Plateau Patterns

Some parts of the Granite Dells have these amazing patterns that will stretch over entire ridge tops and canyon walls.

Smooth Granite

The Granite Dells can be an interesting place to find some wonderful granite patterns and boulders.

Last Rock Standing

We had some amazing cloud formations in the Granite Dells with large forming thunderhead clouds combined with lower fast moving dark clouds.

Scattered Light

Sun light breaks through the storm clouds to highlight a ridge in the Granite Dells.

Flowing Granite

Some of the granite patterns in the Dells contain circles, squares and then swirls. How did it all form and how long did it take?

Balanced

It is amazing to me when I find a lone big boulder along a flat plateau. The question that comes up for me is 'How did it get there?'.