CHASING WINTER CONDITIONS IN MOAB: THE THREE GOSSIPS
The Three Gossips, Arches National Park
A Snowy Escape That Wasn't (But Still Was Great!)
A Winter Visit to Arches and Canyonlands National Park
The Three Gossips are part of a prominent group of sandstone monoliths known as the Courthouse Towers, located just a few miles into Arches National Park. Their name, fittingly, comes from their resemblance to three figures huddled together, seemingly in deep conversation. This formation is one of the first major features you encounter after passing through the park's entrance station. It’s a popular stop, and for good reason; the sheer scale is immediately humbling.
Interestingly, these spires are primarily composed of Entrada Sandstone, the same formation responsible for most of the famous arches in the park. This layer was deposited during the Jurassic Period, around 160 million years ago, when this area was part of a vast desert environment. Over millions of years, the forces of uplift, erosion, and weathering sculpted this massive deposit into the formations we see today. The slight differences in hardness and composition within the sandstone layer are what allow these intricate shapes to form under the forces of wind and water, leaving the more erosion resistant rock capping while wearing away the softer layers beneath. It’s the basic process how all hoodoos form.
Even without the snow I had hoped for at Arches, the soft, angled light of the winter sun (it was mid-afternoon when I took this shot) beautifully highlighted the deep orange and red hues of the sandstone against the stormy, overcast sky. The clouds added a layer of depth and texture that harsh, midday summer sun simply can't replicate. It's a reminder that the best photo opportunities often come from embracing the conditions you get, rather than the ones you initially wished for.
A light dusting at Canyonlands
After breaking camp at Arches, I moved over to Canyonlands to spend a couple days—there my luck improved. A dusting of snow greeted me the next morning and I was anxious to make the short drive to a nearby viewpoint for sunrise before the flakes melted, but when I climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the key my heart sank: just a few pathetic clicks as the starter battery couped its final breath. I called AAA to get a jump so I could make it into town and buy a replacement, which meant sunrise photography was a bust that morning, but the quiet, frosted landscape and the unexpected pause reminded me that sometimes life on the road has its own plans.
Finally, some great morning light at Canyonlands
On the second morning at Canyonlands there was no snow but the photography was amazing! The sky opened into soft pastels just before sunrise, and the warm light swept across the red rock, carving out texture and depth. Long shadows from the fins and buttes stretched across the canyon floor, and thin layers of morning haze added a delicate separation between foreground and distant mesas.
I parked the Sprinter where I could watch the light move, waited for the moment the sun kissed an edge, and worked through compositions that felt both intimate and vast. Without snow to augment the scene, the sandstone colors and striations became the stars of the morning — oranges and rusts warmed by gold light, punctuated by cool blue shadows. A few clouds drifted in, giving the sky just enough interest to balance the land without stealing the show.
I shared the full story previously — the choices I made, the gear I used, and a couple behind-the-scenes moments from that chilly, clear dawn.
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The Three Gossips in Arches National Park for a winter photo session. No snow, but incredible clouds and light started the trip to Moab, Utah.