USA/UT: Valley of the Gods

The Valley of the Gods is a smaller and lesser known brother of the much more famous Monument Valley to the south, though almost equally spectacular. Located just at the edge of the Cedar Mesa, the valley is full of standalone sandstone sculpted rock towers. Eroded by water, wind and ice over millions of years, the rock was carved into unique buttes, monoliths, pinnacles and other geological features – all bright red and orange and yellow, occupying the landscape as far as the eye can see. A rough gravel road goes for 17 miles all through the formations, winding among the towers or red rock. The valley was designated a national monument in 2016 by Obama, but then rescinded by Trump in 2017.