fantasy canyon

I have wanted to visit for many years, and finally made it. It is not very large, so you can easily be through it in less than an hour, but you can also take much longer if you look at all the amazing shapes. There are several 'named' features, but is fun to come up with your own names for the many other shapes you will see. Unfortunately, the most famous feature, from the Fatali photograph, is no longer there, having collapsed several years ago. But there are still a lot more unique sights to enjoy, some of which seem to defy gravity. The route was well signed, except for the last turn, which probably has the oldest sign and doesn't stand out as much as the others. Paved road up to the last few miles. In dry weather, nearly any vehicle can make it, although you'd have to be careful with something really low, like a Prius.

I have been fascinated with Fantasy Canyon for 10-15 years after seeing fantastic photos of it at the Michael Fatali Gallery. They would not reveal the location. Thanks to the internet, I was able to find out the name and location. It is only about 10-15 miles south outside of Vernal and you can drive to the spot without a problem. The area is relatively small (about an acre in size) but the formations are unlike anything I have seen. We were there for several hours in the afternoon during our October visit and the only ones there. You can see it in less than an hour but we were trying to get the right light for our award winning photograph. However, there is very little color in mid-afternoon but gets better towards sunset. We went out of our way on our vacation to see Fantasy Canyon and I am very glad to have visited. I am glad that I did but would not go out of my way again.

Fantasy Canyon is administered by the Bureau of Land Management, is in the midst of oil and gas operations, and really is not advertised. This small area is full of weird alien-like eroded sandstone where you can wander through and get up close and personal. While it does not have the spectacular colours of the red rock canyons throughout Utah, it is the shape of the eroded rocks that are really something. I got here on a late Sunday afternoon, thus avoiding all the gas trucks lumbering along the dirt roads, and stayed until after sunset. I have never seen anything quite like this site.