The White Rim Overlook Trail runs along a high, thin mesa over Monument Basin with expansive views of the White Rim, Colorado River and La Sal Mountains.

Juniper contort to stabilize the trunk and optimize nutrient flow through the tree

White Rim Sandstone's bleached color is the result of a complex interaction between organic acids and iron

Potholes create microhabitats for highly specialized organisms like spadefoot toads and tadpole shrimp

View over Gooseberry Canyon, which connects with Dog Leg Canyon to form a challenging x-country route to the river

The trail runs through blackbrush flats before opening on slickrock down to the overlook

The overlook extends out to an exposed outcrop that requires sure footing to reach

Monument Canyon is named in part for the amphitheater of spires and towers that resemble Monument Valley in AZ

Cryptobiotic soil crusts are living organisms that absorb water and fix nitrogen, a vital function and resource for neighboring plants

Mount Peale (12,721') is the tallest peak in the La Sal Mountains