May 18, 2013 - Canyonlands - The Needles

Canyonlands, the Needles. The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area. When visiting Islands in the Sky you are on the top of highest mesas, here you are on the valley floor. Made our first stop at Wilson Arch, the arch is a formation of Entrada Sandstone and has a span of 91 feet and height of 46 feet. Over time superficial cracks, joints, and folds of the sandstone layers were saturated with water. Ice formed in the fissures, melted...

May 17, 2013 - Canyonlands

Canyonlands has been formed over millions of years into a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River, and their respective tributaries. It was established in 1964.We are headed for the Islands in the Sky district today. Our first stop is the Visitor Center and then a stop at the Shafer Trail Overlook. When we were here in 2004 we had gotten stranded on the rim several thousand feet below this point and rode this trail out of the park. Today we looked at it from the top down....

Mar 15, 2013 - Canyonlands National Park

Day 61 (am temp 39) Canyonlands NP Canyonlands was sort of an impromptu visit. My mail had not yet caught up with me, so opted to stay one more day, and rather than just sit around, I made a day trip to Canyonlands to check things out. Naturally, there is much more to see than could be covered in one day; nonetheless, this is an exploratory venture with some sightseeing along the way. The eastern entrance to the park is roughly 36 miles from the main highway, so much country is passed through before even reaching the park. Most of it is...

Nov 2, 2012 - Canyonlands National Park

While I was staying at Arches NP I shot over to Canyonlands NP for a day trip. This is a really nice park and the biggest park in Utah. The upper park is where I explored and has an elevated view of the canyons. The other entrance is about 80 miles south and is mostly for hikers (no dogs allowed on trails). Not much else to say other than it was a great day. Visit My Canyonlands National Park Images Photo Album

Oct 20, 2012 - Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands, the first of many of the “Utah Rocks” areas we have explored, is the largest of Utah’s National Parks. The colorful cliffs and formations begin to be visible from the main north-south road in eastern Utah. The park has three land sections, plus the Green and Colorado Rivers, which converge within its boundaries. We went to Island in the Sky, the largest and most accessible area. As its name implies, it is a huge mesa, 1000-2000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Some 320 million years ago (mya), this area was a large basin...

Oct 8, 2012 - A Drive up Hwy 211 (Sept. 30th)

Sept 30th update. A Drive up Hwy 211 Getting in one last ride before leaving the Moab area. Our destination - Newspaper Rock on Hwy 211 (in a southerly direction from Moab). Newspaper Rock has the largest concentration of petroglyphs in one area that Pete & I have ever seen. On this drive we also took in the southern end of Canyonlands (which wasn't in the plan for the day, but we figured why not). We drove as far as the Elephant Hill area, which offers plenty of hiking & a 4-wheeling trail. Now to drive on the trail, you must be an...

Oct 4, 2012 - A Quick Note

We are currently in Monument Valley Utah/Arizona (we arrived on Oct. 3rd,). I am having signal issues here in the RV Park & just can't seem to update our journal. I do have an update to add (from a drive we took near Moab, Utah before leaving the area). So I'm a bit behind, but as soon as we get into a different area (with a better signal) I'll play catch up. Hope everyone is well

Sep 29, 2012 - Canyonlands National Park

Right up the road from Dead Horse Point State Park is Canyonlands National Park. Another area we have visited before. We did find attractions in the park that we had not seen before. If you love 4 wheeling or motorcycling (dirt bikes)...this is the park for you. FROM PAMPHLET; Canyonlands preserves a wilderness of rock at the heart of the Colorado Plateau. Water & gravity, this land's prime architects, cut flat layers of sedimentary rock into hundreds of canyons, mesas, buttes,arches & spires. At center stage are two canyons carved by the...

Jun 12, 2012 - Canyonlands NP

June 12, 2012 Visited Canyonlands NP First stop- Visitor's Center then drove the "Y" on the "Island in the Sky" a broad mesa wedged between the Colorado and Green Rivers, literally an island in the sky, with overlooks and trails. Originally inhabited by indigenous Indian population. In the 1900's, the area provided for ranchers of sheep and cattle where the animals would be taken down into the canyons to graze and for shelter during the winter then brought back up to graze in the Spring. In the 1950's, uranium was discovered and gave way to...

May 24, 2012 - Canyonlands et un sentier en Jeep

Aujourd'hui au programme route vers Dead Horse Point State Park et Canyonlands NP. Les paysages sont magnifiques, un peu déroutant et à perte de vue. Au bout de la route de Canyonlands, les canyons de chaque côté de la route se renjoignent pour faire un seul grand canyon. Idée de fou qui m'arrive en voyant le petit chemin qui suit la rivière Colorado tout au fond du canyon. Après informations, le retour se fera en hors-route dans le canyon par le Shafer Trail. Quelle descente le long de la paroi du canyon, chemin un peu plus large que le...

May 4, 2012 - Island in the Sky

This excursion was about 150 miles from where we are staying in Bluff, Utah. Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands is just north and west of Moab, Utah. My overall impression is that Moab and the surrounding area are youthful, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and 4-wheeling folks. There was an outdoor sporting goods store or Jeep rental on every street corner. Many of the famous sights required hiking. We had Tommy with us and pets were not even allowed on the overlooks or on any trails. We did check out most of the overlooks...

Sep 23, 2011 - Canyonlands National Park-Sep 23

Canyonlands National park, while very interesting, does not have the WOW factor of Arches NP. There were plenty of Ahh! moments, for sure. This park is part of the canyons stretching along the Colorado and Green Rivers from Yellowstone down to Arizona and the Grand Canyon. While there, we had a lovely picnic lunch at one of the campgrounds in the park. We had packed a lunch and had hoped to find somewhere to enjoy it. We actually located several campgrounds, all with individual covered areas with tables and benches. The silence was amazing,...