The best known, most photographed feature at the Valley of Fire State Park is the “Fire Wave”. It’s wavy bands of red and white sandstone are best captured in the late afternoon, sunset, and evening twilight. Lesser known is a small canyon and sandy wash between the park road and the Fire Wave called Pastel (or Pink) Canyon. There is no parking area where the road crosses over the wash, and it is not the a “signed” trail for the Fire Wave. As such, it is a bit of a photographer’s secret. Aptly named, during twilight and early morning before the sun hits the canyon walls and wash floor, it glows with colors and the patterns in the rocks really stand out.
The entrance to Pastel Canyon in the early morning light.
Before the sun hits the bottom of the canyon, the walls and rock formations really glow with color.
A beautiful stretch of canyon color.
Reflected light at a bend in Pastel Canyon.
Fantastic curves in the floor of the canyon.
As the morning sun creeps across the Pastel Canyon wash, interesting patterns emerged between shadow and light.
Pastel Canyon (the shaded area) as seen from the rock walls above.
Striated patterns in the early morning light at the Fire Wave area.
Layers of colors in the early morning light at the Fire Wave.
The warmth of sunset lights up the Fire Wave.
Late afternoon light really brings out the textures in the sandstone while lighting up Gilbraltar Rock.
As the land falls into shadow at sunset, the textures soften, but the patterns in the rock still pop! Gilbraltar Rock, framed by some nice clouds, was still getting some last sunset rays in contrast to the shadowed foreground.
As the last sunset rays fade away, the lighting on the Fire Wave evens out to fully reveal its striped, wavy pattern.
Twilight in the Pastel Canyon as I was walking back to the road from the Fire Wave. These canyon walls really glow wit color during the early evening twilight.