Natural Features & Ecosystems

Ephemeral pools (potholes) in the Needles District

NPS/Neal Herbert

 

To many, the most outstanding natural features of Canyonlands are the park's geologic formations. In each of the districts, visitors can see the remarkable effects that millions of years of erosion have had on a landscape of sedimentary rock.

Beyond the big rocks, many other natural features also factor into the Canyonlands landscape. From unusual components, such as biological soil crust and ephemeral pools (also known as potholes), to the rivers and streams that create riparian habitats, Canyonlands preserves a rich variety of desert ecology.