Canyonlands
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Canyonlands is a place defined by scale. From the rim, the land falls away into a vast maze of cliffs, mesas, and winding rivers that stretch for miles in every direction. We began our visit in the Island in the Sky District at the visitor center, where we joined a ranger talk on the geology of the region. One of the displays illustrated the stacked sediment layers that make up the canyon walls. Each layer represents a different chapter of ancient environments, from coastal dunes to inland seas, laid down over hundreds of millions of years and later carved into the canyon country we see today.
Canyonlands National Park
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After the talk we had lunch at the picnic tables outside the visitor center. As we were leaving, I noticed a small yellow star sitting on a bench just outside the entrance. It was sealed in a plastic bag with a note attached explaining that the little star was part of a project connected to a Facebook group called Bush Boys’ Traveling Goodies. The group was created in memory of a four year old boy and his father who passed away in recent years, leaving behind the mother and another younger brother. People who find one of the small trinkets are asked to take it with them and later place it somewhere new for someone else to discover, posting a photo of where it turns up along the way. I picked up the little star, figuring we still had plenty of miles left in our trip to help it along.
From there we began exploring the park, starting with a short walk across the street from the visitor center where the views open up immediately. The plan for the day is simple. Follow the road along the rim of the Island in the Sky District and stop at the overlooks along the way, each one revealing another layer of canyon carved by the Green River and Colorado River far below.
Our first stop is Shafer Canyon Overlook. From the rim we can see the famous switchbacks of Shafer Trail Road zig-zagging down the cliff face to the canyon floor below. The road can actually be driven, which certainly sounds intriguing. But today we are in the mood for something a little more relaxed. After a long journey already behind us, tackling a steep rugged road into the canyon feels more like a grand adventure than we are looking for today. The overlooks along the rim will do just fine.
Next we stop at Mesa Arch. The short walk leads to one of the park’s most recognizable features, where the arch frames the canyon beyond like a natural window looking out across the vast landscape.
We continued along the rim with a stop at Green River Overlook, where the Green River winds quietly through the canyon floor far below.
We stretched our legs with the short but steep hike up Whale Rock. The rounded slickrock dome does not look especially intimidating at first, but the climb quickly turns into a bit of a calf burner. Thankfully the sandstone has a rough, grippy texture that makes it possible to walk up steep slopes.
We eventually make our way deeper into the park to Grand View Point Overlook. From here the canyon seems to stretch endlessly toward the horizon, with layers of mesas, cliffs, and winding river channels fading into the distance.
From there we began exploring the park, starting with a short walk across the street from the visitor center where the views open up immediately. The plan for the day is simple. Follow the road along the rim of the Island in the Sky District and stop at the overlooks along the way, each one revealing another layer of canyon carved by the Green River and Colorado River far below.
Our first stop is Shafer Canyon Overlook. From the rim we can see the famous switchbacks of Shafer Trail Road zig-zagging down the cliff face to the canyon floor below. The road can actually be driven, which certainly sounds intriguing. But today we are in the mood for something a little more relaxed. After a long journey already behind us, tackling a steep rugged road into the canyon feels more like a grand adventure than we are looking for today. The overlooks along the rim will do just fine.
Next we stop at Mesa Arch. The short walk leads to one of the park’s most recognizable features, where the arch frames the canyon beyond like a natural window looking out across the vast landscape.
We continued along the rim with a stop at Green River Overlook, where the Green River winds quietly through the canyon floor far below.
We stretched our legs with the short but steep hike up Whale Rock. The rounded slickrock dome does not look especially intimidating at first, but the climb quickly turns into a bit of a calf burner. Thankfully the sandstone has a rough, grippy texture that makes it possible to walk up steep slopes.
We eventually make our way deeper into the park to Grand View Point Overlook. From here the canyon seems to stretch endlessly toward the horizon, with layers of mesas, cliffs, and winding river channels fading into the distance.