Exploring the Middle States: Canyonlands National Park

May 20: Canyonlands is Utah’s largest national park. It covers 527 square miles in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. It’s probably the most rugged landscape we’ve ever seen with hundreds of canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires.

Near the center of Canyonlands, the Green River from the north meets the Colorado River from the northeast (above). Both rivers have carved out beautiful deep canyons over millions of years and their combined waters flow as the Colorado through Utah toward the Grand Canyon.

This is still a wild area with very few roads (mostly unpaved), primitive trails, free-flowing rivers, bighorn sheep, coyotes and many other wild animals. It was a nice feeling to be able to look out over miles and miles of wilderness and experience the absence of urban development, noise, signs, and cell phone service.

Can you spot Bonnie is this photo?

We visited the district of Canyonlands known as “Island in the Sky”. It’s a broad mesa wedged between the Green and Colorado Rivers at an elevation of over 6,000 ft. and 100 mile views. Most of the rivers and canyons are 2,000 feet below. A few trails and dirt roads can be seen far below and are available for those with Jeeps, mountain bikes and other suitable vehicles. The photo below shows the Shafer Canyon Trail (road), which is one of the few routes from the top to the valley below. We didn't go that way.

We took a short hike to Mesa Arch for a great view of the La Sal Mountains and canyons beyond.

Several types of flowers were in bloom while we were there. Prickly pear cactus were budding but not yet blooming. But we saw a lot of lupine, Indian paintbrush, cliff roses and other flowers. Here are a few examples . . .

Canyonlands is similar to the Grand Canyon but much larger in scale and not as deep. The impact on the visitor is similar. Both are awesome! This park was established in 1964 and, hopefully, will remain in its wild and beautiful state for a very long time.