Lens-Artists Challenge #295: Rock Your World
When I read about Donna’s challenge, Rock Your World, I knew exactly where I was going. Of all the places I have visited, very few hikes can compare to the exquisite beauty of the Grapevine Hills trail, especially if you like otherworldly and unusual landscapes with lots of rocks. It is located in Big Bend National Park, Texas.
If you don’t want to climb to Balanced Rock, the trail is an easy two-mile (3.2-km) roundtrip hike. Most of the trail is a flat gravel wash, but the last portion is a short and steep scramble up some formidable boulders to reach the star attraction, Balanced Rock. Although it is a short trail, you should bring plenty of water. Also, I would not recommend the hike in the summer months. Temperatures at Big Bend reach well over 100 ºF (38 ºC). To get to the trailhead, you drive a rough, 6.5-mile (10.5-km) long unpaved road. A high-clearance vehicle is required to navigate this road.
Once you get to the bottom of Balanced Rock and look up to see that first image I posted here, you will want to be photographed under Balanced Rock, as I did with my husband on our last trip to the park. Besides that, the views from up there are breathtaking. You can see the Chisos Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert for miles. You can even venture farther if you want to hike more. Just pay attention to the cairns along the way.
The last time we hiked to the Balanced Rock was in December 2022. We started the hike around 4 PM and were amazed at how quickly the skies and landscape changed at the end of the day. Cool and warm colors were all around us.
The Grapevine Hills themselves are a fascinating geologic feature. According to the National Park Service, those rock formations are laccolith, a “mushroom-shaped igneous intrusion that domed the rocks above, and was later exposed by erosion.” Essentially, molten rock pushed up underground, doming the overlying rock layers, and then over time, erosion wore away the softer surrounding rock, revealing the hardened laccolith we see today.
Returning to the parking area, we were greeted with a spectacular moonrise and sunset. We just had to turn around and look behind us.
All the photos you see here were captured between 4:30 PM and 5:45 PM on December 5, 2022. The skies are real, not replacements. Photos were shot in RAW. This is one of the trails at Big Bend National Park that rocks my world.
Last week, John asked us to share a few before-and-after images in our catalogs. Reading your processing workflow was revealing and so rewarding. It was great to see how you brought those edited images to a high level of beauty.
I look forward to your responses to Donna‘s challenge on what rocks your world. Please leave a comment on the host’s original challenge post and use the hashtag “lens-artists” in your post.
Join us next week when Ritva will introduce a new Lens-Artists challenge. We look forward to your participation. Please see this page to learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
Bonus image if you read this far.
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Writing to Freedom
cool rocks, especially the balanced rock. You certainly take full advantage of exploring TX. Kudos Egidio.
Teresa
Such great shots WOW!
Wind Kisses
Before I even clicked on your post, I knew I would love it, Egidio. Your ability to take us with you on your journeys and let us experience them with you is a gift of yours that I often speak of. This was no different. I loved our visit to Big Bend and your knowledge of the area consistently makes me want to return. This was a hike we agreed to save for another trip as the temps were unseasonably hot, that day. And not only did I enjoy your photos, I learned…as I always do with your posts. Laccolith? A new word for me too. A beautiful hike, a beautiful day, a fabulous and under-visited park ( I like that ) . Not sure I have a favorite photo, but the trail view, the reminder to turn around, and the one who rocks YOUR world are a thumbs up. Isn’t it wonderful to have someone to share these trips with?
Anne Sandler
Awesome post and images Egidio! How many years has that rock been balanced like that?
Egídio Leitão
Thank you, Brad. I do enjoy going to state parks and similar areas.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Teresa. I appreciate your compliment.
Egídio Leitão
Donna, thank you for your kind and supportive words. Like you, I do enjoy these under-visited places. You also know how to experience those places. Yes, it’s wonderful to share these places with someone who thinks like us and enjoys nature as much. Thank you.
Egídio Leitão
Anne, the articles I’ve read don’t say a specific date, but they all refer to millions of years. It appears precarious, but in reality it is very firmly set in place. Thank you for your compliment, Anne.
Marie
The balance rock is fantastic but the moon rise is sublime. Wonderful capture. Very Maxfield Parrish feeling.
Aletta - nowathome
Your photos are just amazing Egídio ☺️ The rock formations and vistas are just incredible.
ropmann
The list of places I want to visit in America is getting longer. Thank you for sharing!
restlessjo
What a stunning landscape and photos, Egidio! I knew you would deliver on this one.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Egídio these rocky views are gorgeous and you have captured them beautifully, the skies play a glorious background to the locations.
margaret21
Wonderful indeed. I guess I’ll be posting about our British equivalent in the balancing rocks department, Brimham Rocks – so thanks for the inspiration.
Tra Italia e Finlandia
Che paesaggi ‘lunari’! Belle foto e rocce pittoresche. 👏
Wind Kisses
Welcome…
Sofia Alves
Those views are breathtaking, Egídio. I was expecting an extra special post from you and you did not disappoint.
photobyjohnbo
Gorgeous scenery, Egidio! We were hoping to get to Big Bend on our fall trip last year, but we simply ran out of time. It’s still on our list, especially after seeing your photos.
Cee Neuner
Your rocks are perfectly balanced and beautiful this week. Gorgeous post!!
Toonsarah
What an amazing landscape! Not just the rock itself but also those desert views 😮 I find it interesting that these days you feel you need to assure us that the skies are real, not replacements.
Tina Schell
Looks like a truly incredible place Egidio, and you captured it beautifully. That balanced rock is amazing as are your amazing vista images. Loved the post from start to finish!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Marie, for this wonderful compliment.
Egídio Leitão
Aletta, many thanks.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you for the comment.
Egídio Leitão
Jo, your kind words are much appreciated. Thank you.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you so much, Ritva.
Egídio Leitão
Margaret, that’s a wonderful comment to read. I’ll look forward to learning about Brimham Rocks. Thank you.
Egídio Leitão
Il paragone lunare è molto appropriato. Grazie.
Egídio Leitão
Sofia, your kind words are wonderful. Thank you.
Egídio Leitão
John, thank you very much. When going to Big Bend, please make sure it’s late fall through winter. That trail can get very hot at times.
Egídio Leitão
Cee, I’m happy you liked the post and photos. Thank you.
Egídio Leitão
Isn’t it odd that one needs to make sure viewers know the photo is not a composite? Thank you for your comment, Sarah.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you kindly, Tina. I’m glad you liked the post.
I. J. Khanewala
Such a breathtaking place! And you came back with incredible photos. I’m glad you wrote that line about the skies. It’s getting so hard to believe in a scene these days.
Egídio Leitão
I.J, first of all, thanks for the compliment. About the skies, I agree with you. I have done replacements in the past, but any time I do those things, I disclose that the image is a composite.
PR
Awesome place, Egidio 😀! As I wrote on Donna’s post, I would love to see all these places in person, that you guys share from the U.S. 🤞.
Khürt Williams
These photos rock. 🤣
Brave souls! I would never stand under those rocks. The Balanced Rock formation reminds me of the shape when you curl your pointer finger towards your thumb when making “A-Ok” sign. 👌
Egídio Leitão
PR, thank you for your kind comments. Big Bend National Park is a gem in this country. Because of its remoteness (a plus in my view), it doesn’t get as many visitors as other national parks.
Egídio Leitão
Funny you should say we are brave souls. It never occurred to me that it’d be unsafe. Thanks for your comment.
sustainabilitea
Glorious photos of a fascinating place, Egidio. I haven’t been to Big Bend since I was a child. Have to think harder about getting there again, especially as we’re in Arizona these days. 🙂
janet
Leanne Cole
That looks like the type of place I would like to explore Egidio, it looks incredible. I like that first one, but the one that sticks in my mind is the 3rd last shot of the valley with the trail running through it. All gorgeous.
Egídio Leitão
Janet, you may be just as far to Big Bend as I am. It takes us 9-10 hours from Austin, depending on our stops. Thanks for your positive feedback. I appreciated that.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Leanne. There is another area/trail i Big Bend that I’ll have to feature one of these days. It’s also another geologic wonder.
carabeinsplash
Gorgeous photos Egidio! We hope to get down to Big Bend NP in the near future. It’s “just down the road” from us as we’re in central OK. The views look spectacular and I can’t help but zone in on the dirt road as we’re not much for hiking these days. You’ve definitely made it look like it’s worth visiting!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks for the feedback. There are several drives in the park that won’t require any hiking and will provide beautiful views of the park. Just don’t come between May-September. Those months can be excruciatingly and deadly hot. I love visiting the park in the winter (Dec-Feb). It allows me to do desert hikes in comfortable weather, sometimes even in t-shirts.
carabeinsplash
Thanks for the tips!
Egídio Leitão
You’re welcome.
Leya
Oh, these are incredibly beautiful, Egidio! You are truly a master of landscapes and making us long to go there to see it with our own eyes. I loved all of these – no favourites, they all are.
Egídio Leitão
Ann-Christine, I’m happy you liked the photos and nearly felt like being there. Thank you.
SoyBend
Balanced Rock is so impressive! Nice sunset at the end of your post, Egidio.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you, Siobhan. We were lucky to be there at the right time.