Dark Castle:

The deserts of southern Utah are wonderful places and the open solitude is enhanced more come evening time.

The stark mountains and valleys take on a mystical feel as the shadows lengthen and the light fades. On a recent trip to the Wahweap Hoodoos near Big Water, Utah I arrived late in the evening.

After I set up camp and stretched my legs from a long drive, I noticed off across the open desert floor an intriguing dark rugged shape of an outcrop of black rock in the distance. It almost appeared as the jagged remains of an alien spacecraft in the shadows from the setting sunlight.

My trip to the Wahweap Hoodoos was great and I was able to enjoy the solitude of the late fall day in the desert.  I left the area with the goal to return and visit the “crash site” and learn what I now call “Dark Castle”, is and how it looks close up. 

So I returned in February once again returning in the afternoon to capture the mystical look of the formation and to hike to it and see what it really is.  From where I parked I could only see the top portion and so its size and distance was somewhat on an illusion. The topo map indicated that it was only just over one mile way but visually it seemed much farther.  Even as I approached its full size kept hidden by low mounds of soft clay soil.

With the sun setting I was able to reach it as some of the last rays of the sun shone on the cliffy outcropping. It was indeed a dark grey/black stone material with what looked like black sand around its base.  Upon reaching the “sand” I found it to be made up of small flakes of the black stone weathered out of the craggy formation.

It truly was an alien formation surrounded by the normal sandy/clay of the desert floor.  The moon was high in the sky and added to the surreal formation. Enjoying a few fleeting moments of sun hitting the dark castle the evening shadow began its march to the east.  With the wind picking up and the air cooling significantly I headed for my vehicle. 

Little did I know that the light show was about to begin, the clouds had hampered my photos before but, now they were center stage, and boy did they light up the sky. 

  I couldn’t not stop and capture such an amazing display. It was the best treat I have ever had out in the desert when it comes to evening light and wonderful skies.  In the end the trip to Dark Castle was well worth the miles driven and the windy hike.  Just another example of the places and sights to see that are beyond the customary trails, overlooks, and viewpoints.   Keep on exploring you will always be rewarded for your efforts.