Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point State Park

Canyonlands National Park (established 1964) preserves a wilderness of rocks at the heart of the Colorado Plateau with canyons carved by the Green and Colorado Rivers. Years of rain and gravity have created canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches & spires. The park is divided into 3 very different regions. Island in the Sky is located in the northwest about 40 miles from Moab via UT 313, The Needles is located southwest of Moab about 80 miles via UT 211, and the Maze lies on the western park boundary which is only accessible via remote roads.

Island in the Sky

Merrimac (Left) & Monitor are seen from UT 313. The stand 600' tall and are named after Civil War battleships. They are composed of Entrada Sandstone, the same soft stone which creates arches.

Paintbrush growing from a small crack in the rock

Views into Shafer Canyon, 2000 ft deep. .

Larry would like to drive this road which descents down the canyon wall, no guardrail!!!
Road has been used to transport cattle to / from basin and during the 50's Uranium miners improved the road to allow big truck usage.

Mesa Arch - known for good sunrise photos

Looking south from Grand View Point Overlook. Abajo Mts. can be seen in the background. Colorado River. also flows in the background, but can't be seen.

These spires are created by the eroded sandstone. The tall spire, left center, is called Totem Pole and stand 305 ft.

Dead Horse Point State Park - legend has it Cowboys use the point as a corral when rounding up wild Mustangs. They put trees and brush across the 30 yard wide neck. They hand picked the healthy and left the remainder to starve without water or food, thus the name. Bike riders and Off-Roader's enjoy the park.

View from Visitor Center, looking south

Colorado River flows through the Park. The canyon views have been used as backdrops for numerous movies i.e. MacGyver 1985, Thelma & Louise 1991, Touched by an Angel 2001 to name a few. View is similar to the Grand Canyon

Solar Evaporation Ponds owned by Intrepid Potash. Potash = potassium chloride which is the main ingredient in plant fertilizer. Salt from the ancient seas lies beneath the canyon floor.