City of Rocks / The Silent City

City of Rocks National Reserve covers 14,407 acres at the southern end of Idaho's Albion Mountains. Granite spires, fins, domes, and monoliths rise from the sagebrush terrain.

The reserve exposes the 28-million-year-old Almo Pluton and Green Creek Complex rocks more than 2.5 billion years old.

Emigrants described the area as “a city of tall spires,” “steeple rocks,” and “the silent city.”

Today, City of Rocks is also an internationally recognized climbing destination, with hundreds of granite routes.

Photographed on foot over multiple trips to the reserve in 2017.

City / 2017

/ ARCHIVAL PIGMENT

/ ILFORD GALERIE GOLD FIBRE SILK

/ LAUMONT PHOTOGRAPHIC, NEW YORK

Process: Archival pigment print
Paper: Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk
Printer: Laumont Photographic, New York
Edition: of 3 + 2 AP

EDITION OF 3, 2 APS

City of Rocks / Idaho, USA / 42° N

Geology: The reserve exposes the 28-million-year-old Almo Pluton alongside Green Creek Complex rocks more than 2.5 billion years old — some of the oldest stone in the American West.
Reserve: Protected since 1988, the reserve covers 14,407 acres at the southern end of Idaho's Albion Mountains, where granite spires, fins, domes, and monoliths rise from the sagebrush.
Emigrants: Travelers on the California Trail described the area as “a city of tall spires,” “steeple rocks,” and “the silent city.”
Climbing: An internationally recognized climbing destination, with hundreds of granite routes across the spires.
Field Images

01 / Geology

The reserve exposes the 28-million-year-old Almo Pluton alongside Green Creek Complex rocks more than 2.5 billion years old — some of the oldest stone in the American West.

02 / Reserve

Protected since 1988, the reserve covers 14,407 acres at the southern end of Idaho's Albion Mountains, where granite spires, fins, domes, and monoliths rise from the sagebrush.

03 / Emigrants

Travelers on the California Trail described the area as “a city of tall spires,” “steeple rocks,” and “the silent city.”

04 / Climbing

An internationally recognized climbing destination, with hundreds of granite routes across the spires.

05 / Field Images