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Scenic Watery Pothole Point Trail January 11, 2025
The must experience scenic watery short loop hike on Pothole Point Trail in Canyonlands National Park follows a string of cairns over slickrock. The name Pothole Point comes from the numerous "potholes" that have formed in the slickrock along the trail. The potholes trap water after a desert rain. The rainwater is mildly acidic and ever so slowly enlarges the pothole. An intricate, symbiotic animal community featuring shrimp, worms, snails, and perhaps even a Great Basin spadefoot toad gradually develops in some potholes. If you’re lucky enough to visit Pothole Point shortly after a rain, you can observe these tiny ecosystems. Over time the wind continuously blows dirt, sand, and small bits of organic material into the potholes. Eventually plants take root in the thin layer of soil. The first sign of life in a pothole is often the cryptobiotic soil, which provides the foundation for growth of larger plants. The end result is a “pothole garden,” a pocket of miniature, bonsai-like vegetation in a bowl of solid rock. Canyonlands National Park, Utah's largest national park, preserves 337,598 acres of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires in the heart of southeast Utah's high desert. Water and gravity have been the prime architects of this land, sculpting layers of rock into the rugged landscape you see today. Canyonlands preserves the natural beauty and human history throughout its four districts, which are divided by the Green and Colorado rivers. While the districts share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration and adventure. Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. National Park Service photo by Neal Herbert. More U.S. National Parks Photos | U.S. National Park Service Americans | I Am An American! | We The People | America's Destiny | Give Thanks | Love and Pride of USA | National Will God and Country | One Nation Under God | America's Symbol | Old Glory | Hooray USA! | America, My Home! Our Valiant Troops | I Am The One | Answering The Call | Brave Young | Brave Blue | Our Heroes, America's Best Veterans | Citizens Like Us | Vietnam War Veterans | Spouses Serve Too Honoring The Fallen | Don't Weep For Me | Remember The Fallen | Tears For Your Fallen | Our Wounded |
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