Utah’s Secret “Eye” in the Desert Sky - The Eye of Sinbad

Located in Utah’s rugged San Rafael Swell lies a hidden gem you've probably never heard of - the Eye of Sinbad, also known as Wild Horse Window. This short but adventurous hike leads you up smooth slickrock, through a sandy wash, and into a massive sandstone cave with a gaping skylight that looks like a giant eye staring out at the sky. When the light hits just right, the sandstone glows in warm hues of yellow and orange, and the cave ceiling casts dramatic shadows that seem to breathe with the shifting sun. It’s quiet, surreal, and feels like walking into a secret temple carved by time.

For photographers this spot is an absolute dream. From wide-angle shots of the “eye” framing the sky above, to the glowing textures of the rock walls, to the cave's soft natural lighting, there’s no shortage of ways to get creative with your camera. Whether you're shooting with a phone or digital camera, you'll want to linger and experiment.

And as if that weren’t enough, the cave walls also feature ancient pictographs that hint at the people who sought shelter here long ago, adding a powerful human layer to the landscape. It’s a place where geology, history, and solitude collide. Just a couple of miles roundtrip and lightly trafficked, this hike is perfect for those who want a quick adventure with nice payoff. If you're exploring near Goblin Valley or the greater San Rafael Swell, don't miss this one - it feels like stepping into a secret known only to the desert itself.











Comments

Life in the Desert

  • A Date in the Desert

    A Date in the Desert

    An intimate desert rendezvous unfolds under golden twilight and open skies.

  • Beam Me Up, Nevada: Valley of Fire Is Out of This World

    A Flash of Magic on the North Rim

    A fleeting moment of magic on the North Rim - one lightning strike, a stormy night, and a reminder that the Grand Canyon’s wonder never fades.

  • Beam Me Up, Nevada: Valley of Fire Is Out of This World

    Beam Me Up, Nevada: Valley of Fire Is Out of This World

    Exploring Nevada’s Valley of Fire feels like hiking on Mars - if Mars had slot canyons, Star Trek filming locations, and the most photogenic rocks this side of the galaxy.

  • Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Mud-clogged boots turn a rainy Bryce hike into a sticky adventure.

  • Bryce Canyon: A Place That Never Stops Surprising Me

    Bryce Canyon: A Place That Never Stops Surprising Me

    Even after decades, Bryce still delivers breathtaking surprises daily.

  • Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    A plateau photo session takes an unexpectedly epic turn.

  • Cedar Mesa - Where Stillness Comes Alive

    Cedar Mesa – Where Stillness Comes Alive

    An oasis of quiet where the desert seems to hold its breath.

  • Bryce Canyon: A Place That Never Stops Surprising Me

    Chasing Shadows in the Valley of the Gods

    A peaceful afternoon in Valley of the Gods turned into a time-lapse experiment fueled by clouds, coffee, and a very patient wife.

  • Chasing Stormlight in Dinosaur Land

    Chasing Stormlight in Dinosaur Land

    Thunder-chased skies set the prehistoric landscape ablaze.

  • From Skylines to Summits

    From Skylines to Summits

    Urban horizons give way to wild mountain summits in one epic journey that ultimately led to the desert.

  • Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    Altitude and meds combine for a dizzying Cedar Breaks experience.

  • High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    A mountain hike in Nevada turns social when wildlife decides to tag along.

  • Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci‑Fi

    Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci‑Fi

    Retro sci‑fi vibes meet desert dunes on an unforgettable Joshua Tree trek.

  • Mist and Memories at Bryce

    Mist and Memories at Bryce

    Foggy moments and nostalgic echoes float through Bryce’s rimlands.

  • Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    Canyonlands buttes and my hiking boots steal the spotlight.

  • Photography Is Dead (Just Kidding)

    Photography Is Dead (Just Kidding)

    A playful poke at photography’s woes ends in heartfelt celebration.

  • Push‑Ups and Postures: Canyon Country’s Flashiest Lizards

    Push‑Ups and Postures: Canyon Country’s Flashiest Lizards

    Some desert lizards show off more than attitude on sunlit rocks.

  • Sea of Clouds, Stone Spires, and a Desert Puffball

    Sea of Clouds, Stone Spires, and a Desert Puffball

    Misty skies frame towering rocks and a lone puffball photobomb.

  • The Hidden Heart of Comb Ridge

    The Hidden Heart of Comb Ridge

    A secret desert ridge reveals its wild, rugged core.

  • The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    Even quiet desert hikes can echo with unexpected noise and wisdom.

  • Utah’s Secret “Eye” in the Desert Sky - The Eye of Sinbad

    Utah’s Secret “Eye” in the Desert Sky - The Eye of Sinbad

    A hike in Utah’s San Rafael Swell leads to a massive cave with a natural skylight shaped like an eye - offering stunning views, ancient pictographs, and incredible photo ops in a truly hidden desert gem.

  • Welcome to My Desert Lens

    Welcome to My Desert Lens

    An invitation into a world shaped by light, lens, and desert wonder.

  • When Time Is Yours: Rediscovering the Enjoyment of Photography

    When Time Is Yours: Rediscovering the Enjoyment of Photography

    Savoring slow photography brings renewed joy and discovery.

  • Willis Creek: A Gothic Journey

    Willis Creek: A Gothic Journey

    Narrow stone canyons rise like desert cathedrals in Willis Creek.

Archive: A collection of memorable posts from my old blog

  • Moving On With No Regrets

    Moving On With No Regrets

    December 2002: A reflective journey that embraces change with an open heart.

  • Sightings in the Desert

    Sightings in the Desert

    January 2000: Unexpected desert encounters spark wonder under open skies.

  • Ward J. Roylance – A Personal Remembrance

    Ward J. Roylance – A Personal Remembrance

    November 1993: A personal tribute to a life that shaped my appreciation of the desert.

The Lighter Side of Life in the Desert

The desert Southwest can be brutal - heat, bugs, cliffs, and no water in sight. So if you're not having fun, what's the point? Chasing the same bucket-list hikes that a million other people do, just to recreate what’s available as a 1973 gift shop poster misses the mark. Blaze your own trail, stumble on it, and laugh. The best thing to pack? A sense of humor. If you're looking for us out here, just follow our laughter.


  • The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    The Path to Enlightenment Can Be Loud

    A humorous and heartfelt hike turns into an unexpectedly noisy path to personal insight in the desert Southwest.

  • A Date in the Desert

    A Date in the Desert

    A sweet and cinematic desert rendezvous unfolds under the vast open sky, blending golden twilight, warm conversation, and the serene beauty of the Southwest.

  • Photography is Dead (Just Kidding)

    Photography is Dead (Just Kidding)

    A tongue-in-cheek reflection on the state of photography, ultimately celebrating its resilience and the joy of creating images in a changing world.

  • High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    High Elevations and Unexpected Guests

    A scenic mountain hike takes an unexpected turn when the local wildlife crashes the party - proving once again that even at 10,000 feet, you're never really alone.

  • Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci-Fi

    Joshua Tree: A Desert Adventure with a Side of Classic Sci-Fi

    A Joshua Tree desert adventure that’s part hike, part retro sci-fi romp—because why just explore when you can time travel and dodge cheesy monsters as well?

  • Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    Canyonlands: The Plateau with a Plot Twist

    A performance one million years in the making meets a two minute review.

  • Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    Getting High in Cedar Breaks

    A lighthearted, altitude-fueled adventure at Cedar Breaks mixes stunning high-elevation views with a dose of oxygen-deprived humor.

  • Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    Monitor, Merrimac, and My Feet

    A scenic hike at Canyonlands' Monitor and Merrimac Overlook turns into a hilarious flashback to a forgotten TV cameo - where only my ankles made the cut.

  • Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Bryce Canyon Sticks to Your Shoes

    Turns out Bryce Canyon doesn’t just stick with you emotionally - it literally clings to your shoes.