Layers Along the Painted Desert Rim
Weathered sandstone ledges rise above the desert scrub along the Painted Desert in Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park. Seen across the open terrain, fractured layers of rock form a rugged natural wall beneath the clear blue sky, while sparse grasses and shrubs soften the arid foreground. The exposed strata offer a glimpse into the immense geological history that shaped this stark and beautiful Southwestern landscape.
#PetrifiedForestNationalPark #PaintedDesert #Arizona #DesertLandscape #Sandstone #RockFormations #Geology #Erosion #Desert #AmericanSouthwest #NationalPark #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #EngelPhotography
#PetrifiedForestNationalPark #PaintedDesert #Arizona #DesertLandscape #Sandstone #RockFormations #Geology #Erosion #Desert #AmericanSouthwest #NationalPark #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #EngelPhotography
Photographer
James Engel
Date & Time
Sunday, March 29th, 2026 at 9:56 AM America/Phoenix
Focal Length
300mm
Shutter Speed
1/125 sec
Aperture
ƒ/11
ISO
64
Location
North America, The United States of America, Arizona, Woodruff, Petrified Forest National Park
Keywords
Badlands, Desert Landscape, Landscapes & Nature, National Park, Painted Desert, Photography Techniques, Rock, Scenic Drive, Scenic Vista, Texture
Camera
Nikon D850
Approximate Map Location
Latitude: 34.976582
Longitude: -109.794067
Altitude: 1,615.0 meters / 5,298.6 feet
Longitude: -109.794067
Altitude: 1,615.0 meters / 5,298.6 feet