Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA 25 Oct 2023

The Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is an untamed wilderness of cliffs and canyons nestled in the heart of southern Utah, United States. The Grand Staircase is a fascinating sequence of five majestic sandstone cliffs, rising approximately 5,500 metres across the expanse of the monument. Each step displays a different era in Earth"s geologic history, a showcase of time that is unrivalled by any other place on the planet. Archaeologists have found prehistoric artefacts, petrified wood and fossils dating back over 75 million years ago, from the Cretaceous Period. In human history, the Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont people mastered the art of farming in this challenging terrain. They ingeniously constructed granaries to store and preserve their bountiful harvests. Today, it is a splendid getaway for nature enthusiasts and travellers seeking adventure.

© Jeff Foott/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Park of the Monsters
25 Oct 2024Frankenstein Friday
25 Oct 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

8 Dec 2025Christmas lights on buildings of Domaso, Lake Como, Italy
Sunlight turning silver to gold
5 Feb 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
21 Nov 2025World Hello Day
24 Apr 2025Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
17 Nov 2025National Hiking Day
22 Dec 2025The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Ankara
Behold the architectural marvel
18 Aug 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
11 Aug 2024Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada
20 Oct 2023International Sloth Day
21 Apr 2026European hedgehog, France
Whats so funny?
Stop and smell the Sakura
3 Dec 2024Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
26 Oct 2023Stormont Estate, Northern Ireland
11 Dec 2025International Mountain Day
Trunks packed for the road
20 Dec 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Finding beauty in ruins
18 Jan 2025National Winnie-the-Pooh Day
13 Sep 2023Hemakuta Hill, Hampi
10 Sep 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
25 Dec 2023Christmas Day
28 Oct 2025The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia
22 Jul 2025Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
11 Oct 2023The Painted Hills, Oregon, USA
8 Nov 2023Llyn Padarn, Snowdonia, Wales
Waterfall capital of the world?
Celebrating the tropics