Canyonland National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a beautiful National Park.  It is divided into 2 sections, which are about an hour drive apart, so we ended it up splitting it into 2 days.  There are many hikes you can take, all of them beautiful. We generally take every hike offered for walkers.   There are many more available for bikers, or four wheel drive vehicles.  We have not yet been to the Grand Canyon, but I know we have experienced a taste of things to come.  This park is amazing.  We had a great time hiking the paths, enjoying the vistas and exploring the beauty of this majestic park.     

Getting ready to start exploring Canyonlands Natl Park

That look says Sue just told me how long the hike is going to be.

Beautiful, both her and canyon view.

White Rim area of park, by lower ledge is a small dirt road that is a two to three day trip by any adequate vehicle, I opted out of driving on that adventure.

Another view of white rim, bet you still can't find the road in the photo.

Sue, framed by amazing canyon view and in background a snow capped mountain.

Our view hiking down to mesa arch.

I think Sue lied to me there is no where I can get a beer out here.

All views on all the hikes were breathtaking

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands

Mesa Arch 

The formation seen here, cathedral, cruise ship, what do you see?

Another view on another hike, we're headed to that mesa top area.

If you look closely you can see the winding little dirt road
down to White Rim, and no I didn't pull the trailer down it.  LOL

These canyons were amazing but wait till the next park.

Section of the Needles

"Newspaper Rock"  which is a rock wall with petroglyphs etched
into it thousands of years ago relating a story. 

Beautiful mesas adorned the area, we thought many appeared to be large cathedrals.

Around every rock or curve another view to behold.

The desert was quite warm even in May, these overhangs were
the only shady spots to stop occasionally.   We found it necessary
to buy those hiking staffs which were like having our own portable hand rail when we were hiking over what was called
slippery rock. 

Getting ready to start another hike down into a canyon.

Desert scene with the Needles in the Background.

This eroded area is what Sue insisted is a dinosaur foot print.

Rocky Mountains, Canyon, desert, what else can you put in this photo?

A small pile of rocks or a cairn were used to mark the trails,  and following them would get you in and out of the areas of interest.

Believe me at times this was a major highway in some park areas,  some were one lane with switchbacks and steep drop offs.
I got the feeling once in awhile Sue was worried about my mountain driving capabilities.  The Tundra truck and its six gears really got a work out, I'm so glad we updated to it.  Notice the kayaks still on it, we got some strange looks here in the desert.

I'm happy because I made it on our climb back out of the canyon, and boy could I use a beer. 

Sue climbing ladder on Cowboy camp trail.

My turn up the ladder, I was surprised at the number of times we would have to climb these ladders to get into or out of the canyons that we found ourselves on, when we hiked the trails.

In one of the small caves of a Mesa was this spring, which I am sure was a welcome find to desert crossers of the past.  This appeared to have been used as a camp many times, notice ceiling is blackened by smoke.  

Beautiful view from atop one of the Mesas of Canyonlands

We were hiking in red stone areas but it was beautifully surrounded in the background by the Rockies and Manti La Sal Mountains on every side of us.