Discovering the lost Nautilus

Traveling through Arizona one night I happen to be sitting in the hotel researching possible sights to see. I manage to stumble on a website that mentions that there is a rock formation just near Horseshoe Bend that due to its extreme delicacy its location is kept secret. The formation is called The Nautilus and the directions are listed on how to find it.  Having a look at the very few images that are available with the meager amount of information that I can find.

The next morning we set off  to find the Nautilus, following the directions that I have printed out, the Ranger’s Station and the mile marker indicated. It turns off to a dirt road and we stop at what appears to be the correct spot. There is nothing here to mark that this natural wonder is here, just a fence line and some half dead trees lining a dry river bed.

Crossing the river bed we make our way through the dry arid land towards what we think is out possible destination, the pale grey rock formations resembling an arid moonscape. Our first attempt to locate the rock formation proves to be wrong so we head down the formation to re-evaluate the directions and start again, stopping to take some photos of funny shaped rocks along the way.

Finally on the correct path and the rock formation begins to get flourishes of yellow in the rock face. The rock opens out and it is clear to see why the formation is called The Nautilus. Resembling the shape of the sea shell it is a delicate , beautiful formation in shades of pale grey. It twists and turns in a spiral, meeting at a central vortex lower down.

We spend some time photographing the amazing phenomenon under the hot Arizona sun, the breeze-less air almost suffocating in the desert zone, glad to have witnessed a natural phenomenon that not many people have ever laid eyes on.