Canyonlands National Park

 Sunday September 28 - 

Just outside of Moab UT and just a bit past Arches National Park is Canyonlands National Park.  Since we were here, of course we went to see it.  After walking so much yesterday, we did a lot more driving and short sightseeing today, but we did take one incredible hike along the top of one of the Canyons and watched a storm roll in. 

Canyonlands is Utah’s largest national park and it covers nearly 340,000 acres of high desert.  The park has both the Colorado River and Green River.  It has spectacular deep canyons, mesas, arches and spires.  I hope I caught some of their essence. 

We took a hike down Grand View Point Trail .  It is a 1.8 mile trail that follows the canyon rim.

Laura and I were WAY out on the edge of the rock.  

Yes, Bob is contemplating life again. (He was great on this trip)

I did not get as close to the edge as Laura! Yikes.  But there were spectacular views all along the hike. 

Above picture is a well deserved rest at the end of the outbound trail, but we did have to go back and there was a storm racing us the whole way.  By the way, we beat it. 

There was thunder and lightning in them there clouds 

More park views while we were eating lunch.  These little chipmunks were everywhere begging. 

Last but not least, we stopped at the most famous landmark in the park Mesa Arch.  It is a natural stone arch perched right on the edge of a 1,200 foot cliff.  People come to the park super early to catch the sunrise coming up behind the arch.  It is said to turn the arch a fiery orange as the sun rises. 

Onward to Rocky Mountain National Park. Tomorrow is a blog free travel day and I will pick up the blogging on Tuesday Sept 30.