When the sun rises over Rainbow Valley, a national conservation area located about 75 kilometers (43 miles) south of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory, it can feel like magic. Light from an early morning sun cascades over majestic rock formations, changing their colors into a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and purple. After a rainstorm, the colors stack against the sky and the dry claypans fill with water.

The southern Arrente people who have called this area home for thousands of years know it as Wurre. Since 2008, the land has been jointly managed by the Arrente (the traditional owners) and the Australian government. It is a truly special site that has been millions of years in the making. 

Rainbow Valley’s colorful name comes from its distinctive sandstone bluffs, which first formed 350 million years ago. Though today the area is mainly dry, back then it was much wetter. The vibrant red color streaking in layers of rock formed as the iron in the sandstone dissolved. As the area became dryer over the eons, the red color moved closer to the surface, creating stripes of red against the white layers of sandstone. 

Rainbow Valley is best accessed by four-wheel drive, but hiking is also a popular way to explore. The walk is another way to see the way that erosion has created a unique landscape. There are fallen rocks dotting the pathways, up-close views of the claypans, and a view of Mushroom Rock, an arching formation with a natural tunnel through it that was formed by wind and rain erosion. There are two walking trails—the Claypan Walk and a loop to Mushroom Rock.

Beyond its natural beauty, Rainbow Valley is also a sacred spot for the southern Arrernte people. There are more than 40 historically and culturally relevant sites in Rainbow Valley including petroglyphs, paintings, grinding stones, and tools. One particular rock formation known as Ewerre is a registered sacred site. As one native title holder said of the region, “Rainbow Valley has always been our country, handed down from grandfather to grandfather.” Because this is sacred land, many of the historical sites are only available to view with a permit and/or a guide.

Maybe the most important thing to remember about the landscape of Rainbow Valley is something that every visitor sees on one of the park’s interpretive signs: “When we look at the land, it’s part of us—not just a pretty sight. It’s about keeping the country alive for future generations.” Every footstep, every photograph, every campsite is another chance, not just to admire the view, but to protect the land.