If you like places that possess an otherworldly beauty, then read on, fellow travelers. Whether it’s tall volcanic towers or the country’s deepest craggy canyon, these formations are ruggedly stunning. It’s not hard to see that these tourist attractions rock! Here are the 12 most breathtaking rock formations in the USA.

The 12 Most Breathtaking Rock Formations In The USA

Valley Of Fire State Park, Nevada

The Valley Of Fire State Park is in Clark County not far from the town of Overton. In fact, Nevada’s first and oldest park can also serve as an easy day trip from glitzy Las Vegas. Here you will find close to 46,000 acres of red-orange Aztec sandstone from which the park’s name originates.

The landscape is 150 million years old. Highlights here include the Beehives and Pink Canyon. Don’t be surprised if this place makes you feel as if you’re on Mars. Hike the 1.5-mile round-trip trail to the fantastic Fire Wave.

It’s the kind of place you might find on your laptop’s default wallpaper. There’s also the popular Petroglyph Canyon Trail which is less than one mile and features a plethora of Puebloan rock art. A lot of it is over 2,000 years old.

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The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico

Our next stop is The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument about 40 miles southwest of Santa Fe or less than an hour out of Albuquerque. Here you can wander through and wonder about huge natural cones of ash, pumice, and tuff deposits rising out of this unique landscape created by numerous volcanic eruptions over six to seven million years ago that covered the area in approximately 1,000 feet of natural debris. The rocks here look almost like tents, and many are as tall as 90 feet. For some great views, hike the easy Cave Loop Trail or the 1.5-mile Canyon Trail to see the Jemez, Sandia, and Sangre de Cristo Mountain ranges.

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The Colorado National Monument, Colorado

The Colorado National Monument is a lot more than a mere monument. This striking smorgasbord of rugged rock formations rising from the ground near Grand Junction offers travelers the opportunity to explore a number of red-rock canyons, rough sandstone towers, and even tunnels. Some say the rock formations here are second to none in the Southwest.

Here you can bike, hike, or drive depending on how much exercise you want. In fact, if you’d prefer a scenic drive, take the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive. Be sure to stop at the nearby McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. Here you will find the world’s “second-highest” number of rock arches, as well as alcoves, hoodoos, and spires.

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The Monument Rocks, Kansas

Monument Rocks is the country’s first official National Natural Landmark. Located in Gove County, south of Oakley, these 70-foot-tall towers of chalk mysteriously stand amidst raw ranchlands. It is believed that they are what remains of an ancient body of water that once filled middle America over 80 million years ago.

It is important to remember that you should not touch the rocks. They are quite susceptible to erosion and often contain fossils too. Veteran visitors say the easiest way to get here is to take “Gove County Roads 14 and 16” ‘til you see “Stonehenge-like structures” in the distance. Try to figure out which rock formation is named “Charlie the Dog.”

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Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

Unsurprisingly, Cedar Breaks National Monument is not far from Cedar City. This natural red-rock amphitheater is smaller than Bryce Canyon, but almost 1,500 feet higher. If you want to do the type of things you can do in Bryce but want to avoid crowds, this is the place to be.

Cedar Breaks includes hoodoos, spires, painted cliffs, and fir and spruce forests too. The main road is closed to automobiles in the winter. So, unless you are into snowshoeing, you should probably visit sometime between June through October. Hike the amphitheater’s rim; see the sunset here and go on a ranger-led star party as well.

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Hells Canyon, Idaho, Oregon, And Washington

Hells Canyon is a canyon that is ten miles in width and has a depth of nearly 8,000 feet. It is deeper than the Grand Canyon. In fact, it is the deepest river gorge in the United States.  

The canyon spans land in three different states. This natural attraction was carved by the mighty Snake River a few million years ago. As of this writing, there are no bridges here and the area is generally wild and remote. Hike the popular Hells Canyon Scenic Byway along the rift’s Idaho side. Better yet, head for the river bottom and go whitewater rafting or jet boating.  

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Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, Idaho

Nestled in the Snake River Plain between the little towns of Carey and Arco, offers travelers 618 square miles of almost every form of lava possible. This includes tree molds, spatter cones, lava tubes, lava rivers, lava beds, and cinder cones ranging from between 2,000 to 15,000 years old. Here you can climb Inferno Cone, explore the easy half-mile Caves Trail through lava tubes, and check out the North Crater Flow Trail conveniently located close to the visitor center.

You can even go camping at the Lava Flow Campground. Don’t forget that the Craters of the Moon is the only dark-sky preserve in the US. Here you can enjoy truly unparalleled views of the magnificent Milky Way every single cloudless night. 

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The Garden Of The Gods, Colorado

The Garden Of The Gods is nestled on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. These 300-foot-tall, 300-million-year-old, natural sandstone rock formations thrust up out of the surrounding pinyon-juniper woodlands, arguably attracting more attention than nearby Pikes Peak. Here you can stroll the various paths just like in a normal garden.

In fact, there are 15 miles worth of hiking trails here. Each one of them leads to sturdy red giants that dwarf humans in both grandeur and size. Take the seven-mile scenic loop and get a 360-degree view of this rocky natural wonder. Visit early and beat out the crowds and enjoy a picnic lunch there too.

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The Cathedral Spires, South Dakota

The Cathedral Spires are ensconced in one of the best state parks in the US, Custer State Park in Custer. Veteran visitors can confirm that this place looks nothing like the local Great Plains. Part of the larger, well-known Needles complex, these great granite spires stand tall like a church choir, towering 500 feet above the lush greenery of the Black Hills.

This heavenly scenery can be seen up close via a surprisingly challenging 1.5-mile hiking trail that takes you amidst the tall towers of solid granite. You can access the trailhead via Needles Highway. Pack in a small picnic for the end of your hike and look for local wildlife.  

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Devils Tower, Wyoming

Devils Tower is one of the country’s most striking natural wonders and it’s just a brief stop off Interstate 90 too. Located in Crook County, this rock tower towers 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. It is not quite like anything else on the planet. It was created by the ancient intrusion of magma into underground sedimentary rock. 

Devils Tower is considered to be a sacred site to at least 25 Native American Northern Plains tribes. It was the first official national monument. Hike the 1.3-mile Tower Trail around it. Movie mavens might recognize Devils Tower from the classic, famous film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  

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Mono Lake, California

Magnificent Mono Lake is a large saltwater lake found in the Eastern Sierra. It spans an area of almost 70 square miles. Several things make it special. The lake is one of the oldest in North America.

It does not have an outlet and is reported to be saltier than the Pacific Ocean. The lake is also home to a lot of brine shrimp which makes this spot a great place for birdwatching. Ah, but it is, perhaps, most famous for its characteristic rising limestone stacks called tufta towers.  These spires of solid calcium carbonate are the result of the blend of the alkaline water of the lake and the water from the local freshwater springs. 

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The Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Utah And Arizona

The Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness near Page, Arizona is said to be a majestic maze spanning 112,500 acres. Complete with largely untouched plateaus, deserts, cliffs, and backcountry canyons it’s a great place for awesome off-grid adventures for hikers and campers alike. Highlights here include the slot canyon Buckskin Gulch, Paria Canyon, and the famous attraction known as The Wave.  

There are no facilities here so be prepared to rough it big time! Permits are required for both overnight trips and day-hiking and need to be reserved at least four months in advance. Additionally, only 20 permits are given each day. Happy trails, fellow travelers!

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