Devil's Slide

Two parallel rock fins jut dramatically from the hillside at Devil's Slide, their rust and tan striped bands running nearly vertical up the face of Cinnabar Mountain, making for one of the most visually striking geological features in the Greater Yellowstone region. Pull off Highway 89 and shoot from the roadside turnout, using a medium telephoto lens in the 70-200mm range to compress the layers and emphasize the parallel lines against the sky. The formations read best in the warm, raking light of early morning or late afternoon, when shadows deepen the contrast between the alternating rock bands. Wide shots that include the surrounding hillside give context and scale, while tighter compositions isolate the striped fins for a more abstract result. The access is simple with no hiking required, and the Yellowstone River running through the valley below can add foreground interest if you position yourself carefully along the pullout. (Gardiner, Montana, United States)