Some 16 miles (ca. 26 km) away from Green River, San Rafael Swell is a humongous geological feature in Utah. It’s a mix of limestone, sandstone, and shale that form a huge dome-like anticline. The story of this popular tourist sight begins a long, long time ago, in the Paleocene, some 60 to 40 million years ago. And during all that time, floods had their way with it, creating canyons, valleys, and other geological structures.
No wonder, then, that San Rafael is a very popular tourist destination, with thousands visiting it each month. It’s, in fact, present in popular culture, serving as a location for many western and sci-fi movies and TV shows. If you’re looking to visit it at some point in the future, you’ll have numerous questions. But don’t worry — that’s why we’re here. We’ll answer all your basic questions in the following few paragraphs!