Chicago Trip, Day 15, Natural Bridges National Monument

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North America » United States » Utah
May 13th 2023

Published: June 2nd 2023

Jamie and Laura

Today we had the whole day to explore Natural Bridges National Monument. We saw all three bridges, did some hiking, and checked out the Pueblo ruins. It was really interesting to learn how the bridges formed, and of course it's the scale of everything which is awe inspiring. The pictures just never do these things justice.

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Our first stop was a scenic overlook, where there were no bridges to be seen, but there is a canyon carved by the Colorado River, which seems to have a habit of carving canyons.

Our first stop was a scenic overlook, where there were no bridges to be seen, but there is a canyon carved by the Colorado River, which seems to have a habit of carving canyons.

Our first stop was a scenic overlook, where there were no bridges to be seen, but there is a canyon carved by the Colorado River, which seems to have a habit of carving canyons.

And of course I had to take a picture of a lizard

And of course I had to take a picture of a lizard

And of course I had to take a picture of a lizard

or two.

or two.

The first bridge that we came to was the Sipapu Bridge, shown here blending in with the landscape.

The first bridge that we came to was the Sipapu Bridge, shown here blending in with the landscape.

The first bridge that we came to was the Sipapu Bridge, shown here blending in with the landscape.

The trail was rather interesting

The trail was rather interesting

The trail was rather interesting

with lots of slickrock

with lots of slickrock

with lots of slickrock

and then the stairs you see here, and along the ledge between the trees and the bulging rock face.

and then the stairs you see here, and along the ledge between the trees and the bulging rock face.

and then the stairs you see here, and along the ledge between the trees and the bulging rock face.

On that ledge

On that ledge

We saw a bee the size of my thumb

We saw a bee the size of my thumb

We saw a bee the size of my thumb

some Pueblo ruins

some Pueblo ruins

some Pueblo ruins

and the usual interesting rocks.

and the usual interesting rocks.

and the usual interesting rocks.

But we didn't go all the way down to the bridge, because the trail got really tricky.

But we didn't go all the way down to the bridge, because the trail got really tricky.

But we didn't go all the way down to the bridge, because the trail got really tricky.

Our next stop was the Horsecollar Ruin overlook.

Our next stop was the Horsecollar Ruin overlook.

Our next stop was the Horsecollar Ruin overlook.

There were a lot of wildflowers

There were a lot of wildflowers

There were a lot of wildflowers

and good advice.

and good advice.

and good advice.

One of the buildings still has its wooden roof after almost a thousand years.

One of the buildings still has its wooden roof after almost a thousand years.

One of the buildings still has its wooden roof after almost a thousand years.

The powers that be believe that these ruins are well preserved

The powers that be believe that these ruins are well preserved

The powers that be believe that these ruins are well preserved

because their relative isolation discouraged visitors who would have collected artifacts and destroyed things prior to their protected status..

because their relative isolation discouraged visitors who would have collected artifacts and destroyed things prior to their protected status..

because their relative isolation discouraged visitors who would have collected artifacts and destroyed things prior to their protected status..

Next we went to Kachina Bridge

Next we went to Kachina Bridge

Next we went to Kachina Bridge

with its attendant lizard

with its attendant lizard

with its attendant lizard

and interesting rocks.

and interesting rocks.

and interesting rocks.

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