Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah20 viewsFantastic views are abundant here at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. This sprawling wilderness preserve was established in 1996 and is home to rugged canyons, scenic arches, and—in some places—what looks to be nature-made plant pots. The tree in our image is growing from an eroded cavity in the vicinity of Dance Hall Rock. The locale gets its name from its connection with 19th-century Mormon pioneers who camped here and held community gatherings in the alcove of a large rock formation nearby. The remote territory of this national monument is considered one of the last parts of the continental United States to be mapped.
