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The brief window between snow and baking heat is probably the best time of year to experience a southern Utah adventure. Crowds are smaller, traffic is lighter and the weather is usually fabulous.
Delicate Arch. Mexican Hat. Rainbow Bridge. These rock formations are so iconic, all you need to hear is the name and a dazzling image of rust-colored sandstone appears in your mind. Visitors come from around the country (and the world!) for a chance to see these majestic formations.
Whether your red rock trail takes you to Moab, Kanab, St. George or somewhere else, you'll find a Maverik along the way. With refreshments, food, and some of the best soda fountains around, you won't find a better place to gear up for your adventure.
Start every adventure with Maverik
Maverik’s got you covered with great values on fuel, food, drinks and more. Check out maverik.com to find a location near you. Maverik — Adventure’s First Stop.The red rock common denominator
You might not know the one thing these rocks all have in common: iron.
Here is a look into the science behind the red dirt and rocks that gives Utah its famous national parks and landmarks.
Many mistakenly believe Utah's history began in 1847 when pioneers settled the area. But before that, Mexico had claimed parts of the state in 1821. And even earlier, Spanish explorers reached the area in 1776.
But long before any explorers, conquerors, or religious freedom seekers set foot on the land, Native Americans were there. The red rocks bear evidence of both petroglyphs and rock paintings.
Utah State University geologist Joel Pederson told Smithsonian Magazine that the painted figures in Horseshoe Canyon's famous Great Gallery are between 900-2000 years old. And according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, many of Utah's petroglyphs are even older—dating to the Archaic period, from 5000 BCE to 500 BCE.
And of course, before the people were the rocks themselves. Many red rock formations in Utah trace back to approximately 200 million years ago. The famous red slickrock in Moab is a relic of the Jurassic era.
Native American petroglyphs and rock paintings help modern Utahns understand the history and significance of the land. The stony records left behind allow historians to match different groups (Ute, Shoshone, and Fremont tribes) to the time they inhabited the area. The native peoples—and the red rock they recorded their history on—were witness to massive shifts in climate and environment that resulted in the Utah you see today.
What makes the rocks red?
Think about what happens if you leave a nail outside for a long period. It rusts! That's the iron in the nail oxidizing. So it makes sense that if soil containing various forms of iron is exposed to oxygenated water or air, it would do the same thing.
Holly Strand, speaking on Utah Public Radio's "Wild About Utah," explains this chemical reaction.
"Basically what we have in red rock country is a lot of rusting sandstones and shales," Strand says. "Hematite is an especially common mineral form of iron oxide in Utah, the name coming from the Greek word "heama" or red blood. It only takes a tiny bit of hematite make a lot of red rock."
Scientists have studied the rocks for years to understand where exactly the brilliant colors come from. It all comes down to this: the grains of rock containing iron form a crust of red that, when combined in massive quantities, results in a large red rock formation.
Since much of the rock in question is sandstone—formed out of ancient desert sand dunes—that means it was constantly exposed to air which reacted with the high amounts of hematite or other iron-rich minerals found in the sand.
In contrast, ancient rocks formed deep underwater (with less oxygen) would have a very different coloring even if hematite was present during formation. This also explains the huge variety and striations of each rock: different amounts of iron and oxygen present during the creation of each section resulted in a veritable rainbow of reds, oranges, browns, and whites.
Getting dirty
It's not just the rocks in Utah that are visually and scientifically unique. The soil is too! If you've ever gone hiking in Southern Utah you probably noticed two things: an abundance of red dusty soil, and a lumpy black crust covering that soil in some areas.
In a Visit Utah article, Kristin Pope says, "They are [a] biological soil crust composed of cyanobacteria, mosses, lichens, green algae, microfungi and bacteria. When trailhead signs say 'Don't tiptoe on the crypto,' 'Don't bust the crust,' and 'In crust we trust,' this is what they are trying to preserve."
This knobby black stuff is crucial to preserving desert ecosystems. It keeps the dirt from blowing away, which can wreak havoc on the desert environment. Basically, the dirt has nothing to hold it down in some places—no rocks or plants—so the crust has a pivotal role in preventing erosion and preserving what life is there. Large amounts of soil blowing away could destroy the ecosystem and even accelerate melting snow and ice. Visitors to the Mighty Five National Parks should always stay on the trails and use designated camping spots to prevent disturbing this important resource.
Next time you take a weekend hike in Moab, watch a cowboy film set in Monument Valley, or visit the majestic Grand Staircase, you'll know that Utah's famous red rock all comes down to a few things. Iron, sand, wind, and a few million years.
Utah Adventures with Maverik: 5 great places to view and photograph wild animals
Some of the best areas in the state to view wildlife are actually close to the metro areas. If you live along the Wasatch Front, there are likely good wildlife viewing opportunities less than 30 minutes from your home.Start every Utah Adventure with Maverik
Wherever you explore Utah's red rock areas, make sure to fuel up and grab some food at one of the Maverik locations. Maverik's Nitro Card saves you 10 cents off every gallon, every day with additional high-value benefits on its huge selection of tasty food and drinks. Maverik's premium BonFire food made fresh in every Maverik features breakfast and lunch burritos, sandwiches, pizzas, salads and more. New dishes to amp up your spring road trip feature premium hardwood smoked burnt ends including the Burnt Ends and Hatch Green Chili Mac n' Cheese; Burnt Ends Breakfast Burrito; Burnt Ends and Tots Burrito; and later this summer the Burnt Ends Pizza.
To save on every gallon of gas and get special offers inside the store download the Maverik app to join the Adventure Club and activate your Nitro Card.
