Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

(9/23) Today, on the way from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon, we crossed this huge (100 by 200 miles) preserve.

Approaching it on Boulder Mountain, we enjoyed our first views of brilliant fall color in the Aspen trees.

The eastern part of the monument is a striking landscape of white Navajo Sandstone hills and canyons, very popular for hiking.

In places the hills had the "Capitol dome" shape we saw in Capitol Reef.

Toward the end of our drive, we crossed an impressive badlands and looked up to have our first sight of the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon.