The backcountry portions of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument can offer some almost-wilderness experiences. Like most of Utah there is always a road no more than 4 miles away and always rotting barbed wire or burned fence posts or active cattle grazing. But if you look hard enough you might be able to find areas where cows have never been. Hackberry Heights has some of those areas, if you look hard enough. These pictures are from multiple explorations of one complicated area I explored on my own but after I felt familiar with the landscape I took my friend Jennifer on a off trail, miles long loop, to explore an area of white pinnacles that looked interesting from afar. Guess what? They WERE interesting, and we even found a couple of arches.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/04Hackberry-04-722x481.jpg 722w)
It’s hard to explain what pristine, untravelled rock looks like but you can tell right away when you get to it. Everything is just crisper, more detailed and somehow looks more organized.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/10Hackberry-10-722x481.jpg 722w)
I was stunned to come across this hidden valley. Deciding to take any path here is generally a good idea.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/13Hackberry-13-722x481.jpg 722w)
Curvy terraces on the way up higher.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-480x299.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-800x498.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-768x478.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-570x355.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-370x230.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/17Hackberry-17-722x449.jpg 722w)
Nicely eroded balanced rocks were all over the place.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/11Hackberry-11-722x481.jpg 722w)
Notice the huge “V” that serves as a wall across this mountainside. This region of rock had a lot of this harder layers of silica that sometimes resulted in a serious barrier.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/21Hackberry-21-722x481.jpg 722w)
On the top of the highest ridge.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/22Hackberry-22-722x481.jpg 722w)
Another new valley to explore. I was intrigued by the whiterock formations across the valley but i didn’t’ have time that day. Notice the cow trails on the slopes to the left. Out of the pristine area and back to regular Utah.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/25Hackberry-25-722x481.jpg 722w)
Some yellow double hoodoos.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/57Hackberry-57-722x481.jpg 722w)
Another day I came back with my friend Jennifer, to tackle those distant white rock formations across the valley.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/26Hackberry-26-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/63Hackberry-63-722x481.jpg 722w)
Without knowing what the terrain had in store for us i had several different routes in my head to try out. One was to climb out of the valley and down into Hackberry Creek.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-480x302.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-800x503.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-768x483.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-1536x966.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-570x358.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-370x233.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/67Hackberry-67-722x454.jpg 722w)
Some interesting white domes ahead. Checking them out was another option.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/66Hackberry-66-722x481.jpg 722w)
We made it to the formations I wanted to see.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-scaled.jpg 1366w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/73Hackberry-73-722x1083.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-scaled.jpg 1366w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/75Hackberry-75-722x1083.jpg 722w)
We both spotted some cool arches!
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/71Hackberry-71-722x481.jpg 722w)
Jennifer saw this arch from far off and it turned out to be pretty cool!
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/72Hackberry-72-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/79Hackberry-79-722x481.jpg 722w)
Lunch Break
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/77Hackberry-77-722x481.jpg 722w)
The arch had led us high up and I wasted a good deal of time trying to find a way down without backtracking. The rocks here weren’t behaving the way I was used to in Zion, which i’m more familiar with.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-480x309.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-800x516.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-768x495.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-1536x990.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-570x367.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-370x238.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/82Hackberry-82-722x465.jpg 722w)
Some cool pinnacles. We ended up having to backtrack. Everywhere around this area ended in a layer of rock that cliffed out above the canyon bottom.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60Hackberry-60-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45Hackberry-45-722x481.jpg 722w)
Near the top of Hackberry Peak.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-480x306.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-800x509.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-768x489.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-1536x978.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-570x363.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-370x236.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/41Hackberry-41-722x460.jpg 722w)
Absolutely amazing view.Â
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-480x295.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-800x492.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-768x473.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-1536x946.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-570x351.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-370x228.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/32Hackberry-32-722x444.jpg 722w)
Amazing dragon’s backs rolling up the slopes.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/35Hackberry-35-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33Hackberry-33-722x481.jpg 722w)
These are another example of those walls of rock I mentioned earlier.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/36Hackberry-36-722x481.jpg 722w)
Above and below are a frozen wave of rock with some very delicate, pristine features. It this area you really need to watch your step as there are thin formations with low profiles covering the ground. You can see some tiny thin walls of quartz leading from the bottom of the top picture and another one behind the wave.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/37Hackberry-37-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/42Hackberry-42-722x481.jpg 722w)
On another trip I need to climb down there and figure out what it going on.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/44Hackberry-44-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/86Hackberry-86-722x481.jpg 722w)
Another angle of Hackberry Peak.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/85Hackberry-85-722x481.jpg 722w)
We spent a few hours navigating out way out of the hidden valley. The opposite wall over there, which is reminiscent of Chester Park, did not have any breaks in the cliffs over a large distance. The best place was a few miles north.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/89Hackberry-89-722x481.jpg 722w)
Again, more of those fins/walls.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-480x262.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-800x436.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-768x419.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-1536x838.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-570x311.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-370x202.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/87Hackberry-87-722x394.jpg 722w)
Near sunset we came across a group of campers from Colorado. They were purposely vague about where they were going so I was vague about where we came from.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/91Hackberry-91-722x481.jpg 722w)
Some wind eroded rocks that have been sitting in place for a very long time.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/90Hackberry-90-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/92Hackberry-92-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/48Hackberry-48-722x481.jpg 722w)
We didn’t know exactly how to get back so I was anxious to find the road before sunset.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-480x297.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-800x495.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-768x476.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-1536x951.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-570x353.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-370x229.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/51Hackberry-51-722x447.jpg 722w)
Sunset at the Paria River.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-480x257.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-800x429.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-768x412.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-1536x824.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-570x306.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-370x198.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/52Hackberry-52-722x387.jpg 722w)