Western Parks Trip--Day 13, Friday, August 21, 2015

"Drift wood" is used to frame the entry sign to Canyonlands NP.

Canyonlands NP is the largest of the NPs in Utah, but it also has the most backcountry territory. There are two Visitors' Centers, but we only visited the northernmost part whose Visitors Center is called Island in the Sky.  This district is a huge, level mesa.  Again after viewing the introductory video, we prepared to leave to drive the almost 20 miles of paved road.  But as has happened each day, the Ranger was giving a talk shortly, this one about the bighorn sheep.  We learned there are several species of this animal, with the ones in Canyonlands NP weighing about 200 pounds.  They have chosen and adapted to the very arid conditions here by eating any vegetation which also provides them with the fluid they need.  There are only about 300 sheep still present and that number is a recovery from near extinction decades ago.  

We were told another Ranger program would occur at the end of the paved road about 30 minutes after this one ended.  So we drove rapidly to the Grand View Overlook for the Ranger program on geology.  The Green and Colorado Rivers meet in Canyonlands although they are hard to see from most of the high points.  

Deep canyons are carved by the Green and Colorado Rivers.  Spires and fins are magical structures.  

We picnicked along the White Rim Overlook, so named because of the salt layer on some rims of the mountains.

Continuing our backtrack to the Visitors Center, we were in awe of the Orange Cliffs at this overview.

Upheaval Dome has called geologists from around the world to study this phenomenon.

We did not take the arduous trail which gives the best view of Upheaval Dome.

As we drove back from this point we observed the Whale Rock.

As we approached the Whale Rock from the left side of this pix, a hole is seen which I called an eye.  David wanted to say it was the anus.  Shows how much he knows about rock anatomy!! There are large holes in the side of the Whale Rock, probably made by VERY large confused woodpeckers!!!

We were being frustrated by not being able to see the Green River in Canyonlands. 

Beautiful pieces of drift wood abound in all the NPs.  I really wanted to pick some up to take home!!!

The last short hike we talked David into taking with us was to the Mesa Arch.  It sets right at the edge of the mesa on an "easy 1/2 mile hike"  (again they lie about what "easy" is!). 

The arch is to the right between the bushes.  We didn't go all the way to it as David was having difficulty with the uneven terrain of the "easy" hike.  We are at about 6000 feet elevation, too!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way out to the main hiway back to our camp we stopped at  Dead Horse Point State Park.  This is so named because cowboys used to herd wild mustangs into the valley with sheer cliffs on all sides and an access only 30 yards wide--the perfect horse trap.  According to legend a band of horses was left corralled on the waterless point and died of thirst. 

Dead Horse State Park has excellent views of both the Colorado and Green Rivers. 

The Green River cuts through the canyon below.

The Colorado River bends through this portion of the canyon.  Note the buttes and mesas in the background.  What's the difference between a butte and mesa?

So ends our tour of the National Parks in Utah.  We elected not to try to get to the Capitol Reef NP as it was too far from either of our camps.