Coal Mine Canyon

Coal Mine Canyon is one of many remote, little-visited sites in the Southwest where the main interest comes from the detail of the rock - the colors, forms and textures of the eroded sandstone. Coal Mine Canyon sits at the edge of the 120 mile wide Painted Desert, a sparsely settled region without many roads but covered by extensive areas of exposed, weathered rock. A permit is required to visit the canyon, cost $12 (in 2020), available from the Navajo Parks & Recreation office in Cameron, or online at navajonationparks.org. This covers access points along the rim, close to the highway, and a separate charge is due for all overnight stays. Drones are not permitted. (Tuba City, Arizona, USA)