Chalk Basin Sunset, Owyhee Canyonlands

Owyhee River, Southeast Oregon

Oregon’s remarkable Chalk Basin is located along the shores of the Owyhee River in one of the most remote locations in the lower 48 states of the US.  The stunning geological striations which form Pruitt’s Castle tell a long geographical tale of this fascinating location.  This Basin’s geologic story starts 16 million years ago when an extension of the Yellowstone volcanic hotspot released an enormous, dense eruption in what is now southeast Oregon and western Idaho, forming the Oregon-Idaho Graben, a depression formed by the immense

Vertical spires of Chalk Basin in Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands

weight of the initial eruption. This depression formed a lakebed whose microscopic plant and animal life were condensed into sediment layers multiple times over millions of years. Alternating  with the light colored layers of marine sediment are darker, harder layers of volcanic Basalt and Rhyolite eruptions making for other-worldly striations, improbable hoodoos and vertical spires.

I experienced this journey after a long drive on remote, rugged, unmaintained ranching roads which course endlessly through BLM land. This journey is NOT for the faint of heart or the ill-prepared. High clearance 4-wheel drive, plenty of food and water, extra gas cans, a full sized spare tire and strong navigational abilities are required. During our adventure, we consistently did not have GPS coverage and had sporadic cell service.

For specific driving directions, I’ll refer you to the imitable William L. Sullivan and his guide book, 100 Hikes Eastern Oregon.

After an arduous drive from our home base of Bend, Oregon, Good friend Troy and I began the loop hike described in Sullivan’s Book. The hike was 4.3 miles, all off trail but involved an easy to follow route. Troy and I arrived at this stunning viewpoint of Chalk Basin just as the sun was setting. I had the good fortune of attractive sunset clouds hanging over much of the scene, holding the beautiful last light of our long day.

Chalk Basin Sunset, the landscape photograph

I shot this beautiful new Oregon Landscape photo with my  Sony A7r5 Mirrorless camera as it offers more depth of field for canyon scenes than my trusty 4×5 Ebony field camera. Details seen in the hoodoos and spires of this image are excellent as I was using my favorite, Really right stuff tripod. The previously mentioned clouds, holding sunset light were a blessing from mother nature. Smith Rock State Park and the Painted Hills of John Day  and Leslie Gulch are the only rock formations in the beautiful state of Oregon that rival Chalk Basin in terms of other worldly charm. It is always my goal to adequately honor the beautiful places I photograph by capturing and representing them elegantly and I believe I’ve done that with this new image fine art landscape photograph