Canyonlands,
after the Colorado Canyon the next part of the Colorado river system's
attempt to carry most of Utah and Arizona to the Pacific Ocean,
is
such a vast area with limited access that we decided to visit the
nearest
section to Moab. This is known as The Island In The Sky as it is a huge
Mesa joined to the plateau by a narrow isthmus. On the way from Moab,
about 35 miles we drove through spectacular country with wonderful
views
of the La Sal Mountains. Our first stop was at Utah's Dead
Horse Point State Park, which is really a part of the Canyonlands
complex.
Here the Colorado winds through oven baked rocks and the view from the
point is breathtaking - the one of the Las Sal mountains to the
south
slightly marred by the Potash evaporation pools. One can believe the
story
of the horses dying of thirst because they couldn't get down to the
river.
We picnicked under a Juniper Tree and then walked a couple of short
trails
to the rim. The White Rim and Canyon floor can be explored on foot (if
you can stand the heat and carry enough water!) but
a 4X4 would be great fun as you can drive the old dirt Uranium roads
once
used by the big trucks. One point that interested Rol is that the Green
River, which joins the Colorado south of the Overlook, has the greater
flow. Here's a link
for more pictures, not taken by us I hasten to add! And just a
final point - Thelma and Louise launched themselves into the here-after
here thinking they had arrived at the Grand Canyon. They were justified
in being mistaken!
Click on the thumbnails for a bigger picture
