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The escarpments are separated by by broad benches or terraces. These include, from south to north, The Mogollon Rim-Grand Wash Cliffs (south and west margins of the Plateau, respectively), the Mogollon Slope-Ward Terrace-Arizona Strip, the Chocolate-Vermilion-Echo Cliffs, the White Cliffs, the Gray Cliffs, and the Pink Cliffs. Collectively, the region from the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon has been termed the Grand Staircase. The Colorado River and its tributaries have incized deep, spectacular canyons into this landscape including The Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, Marble Canyon, Zion Canyon, and hundreds of others. This incredible rock wonderland, much of it without a tree to mar the view, exposes one of the finest sedimentary rock records. The nearly flat-lying sedimentary rocks dip gently northward, usually less than 2°. Successively younger strata are exposed as one proceedes northward. The graphics and photos that follow provide a general guide to these rocks.
The photos indexed on this page show the rocks from the Grand Staircase (in the broadest use of the term). The photos are listed by formation or geologic age, youngest at the top of the list.
All photos were take by me and cannot be used for any commercial purposes withuot my permission.
