Navajo Sandstone

Natural-colour satellite image of part of the Kaiparowits Basin (a central portion of Grand Staircase-Escalante). The branch-like shapes are networks of canyons carved by rivers that dried up millions of years ago. The ridge running roughly north-south through the scene is the Cockscomb, which is surrounded by distinct rock formations deposited at different times in the geologic past. West of the Cockscomb is the Navajo Sandstone, dating from the Triassic. East of the Cockscomb are two formations from the Cretaceous: the light-toned Wahweap and darker Kaiparowits.

San Rafael Reef, Utah, looking north from near I-70. The prominent white ridge is Jurassic Navajo Sandstone that has been warped upwards.