[Mile-marker 12]
After the road turns north, we again cross the entire Chinle Formation,
then penetrate the Wingate Sandstone through the two tunnels (turn on
your lights) shown on all the maps and in figures 33 and 44. Just beyond
the highest tunnel (turn off your lights) we reach Historic Trails View,
with a sign noting the early expeditions that traversed the area. West
from the parking area, but better yet by walking to the westernmost
curve, may be seen the northern part of the Black Ridge Trail.
[Illustration: FRUITA CANYON, looking northeast from point on Rim
Rock Drive above head of canyon. Dark Proterozoic rocks floor the
canyon, above which are the slopes of the red Chinle Formation and
the cliffs of Wingate Sandstone capped by the lower resistant beds
of the Kayenta Formation. Beyond the Grand Valley are the dark Book
Cliffs and the more distant, light-colored Roan Cliffs, which are
shown more clearly in figure 48. (Fig. 45)]