Wilson Arch
Wilson Arch was named after Joe Wilson, a
local pioneer who had a cabin nearby in
Dry Valley. This formation is known as Entrada
Sandstone. Ove time the superficial cracks,
joints, and folds of these layers were saturated
with water. Ice formed in the fissures, melted
under extreme desert heat, and winds cleaned
out the loose particles. A series of free
standing fins remained. Wind and water
attacked these fins until, in come, the cementing
material gave way and chunks of rock tumbled out.
Many damaged fins collapsed like the one
to the right of Wilson Arch. Others, with
the right degree of hardness survived despite
their missing middles, like Wilson Arch.
It is against federal regulations to intentionally
or wantonly destroy, deface ore remove any
natural feature or plant.
