Scenic Drive Stop 5

Desert varnish forms brown and black streaks on sandstone cliff faces.

NPS / E. Van Ness

Quick Facts

Amenities

5 listed

Bicycle - Rack, Parking - Auto, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles

Dark streaks drape down the canyon walls like a hanging tapestry. These coatings, called desert varnish, can be as thin as a strand of hair and can take decades or even centuries to form. Black streaks are rich in manganese while red-brown sections are colored with iron. Bacteria are thought to be responsible for cementing manganese and iron onto the cliff face. The source of these elements is likely from dust and surface runoff, not the cliff itself.