Buckhorn Wash

A.k.a. Buckhorn Draw, Buckhorn Canyon. San Rafael Swell, central Utah. The wash is a tributary to the San Rafael River from the north, and a graded road (Co. Rt. 332) follows it south across the river to eventually intersect Interstate 70. What looks like a side canyon coming in here is in fact the upstream end of an incised but now cut- off meander bend, which shows up prominently in the satellite view. The inset shows the downstream end, which rejoins the main channel a quarter mile (400 m) or so to the right. The cliffs are formed by one of the Mesozoic sandstone units so common on the Colorado Plateau. The deciduous trees in the foreground are cottonwood (Populus spp., probably P. angustifola.