The environment at Colorado National Monument can be harsh. Very hot in summer with massive thunderstorms. The process of erosion continues to sculpt the landscape. The dominate trees here are the Utah Juniper and the Pinyon Pine. These are dwarfed and deep rooted. It is referred to as a dwarf forest. There is a wide variety of fauna living in this forest. Deer, a few occasional elk, many different birds and smaller mammals. There is also the desert Big Horn Sheep. Of course where there are prey species then there must be predators. Mountain Lions and Coyotes are present throughout the park.
Below is red canyon. A canyon within a canyon. The broader canyon is carved in sandstone. The smaller V seen in the middle of the photograph shows a newer canyon forming in the oldest rock in the park. These are ancient Precambrian rock about 1.7 billion years old.
