Canyonlands National Park

I didn't realize when I planned our trip to Moab that Canyonlands NP was close by.  I didn't really look into it but left one day available in our itinerary in case we wanted to go over there (about a 40 minute drive).  Well, I ended up going there on my own and left my slightly injured husband at the hotel.  I left early to get as much nice, cool weather as I could.  Here are some pictures I took on the drive over as the sun rose.

Here is my first picture in the park, taken from the visitor center parking lot.

First I went on the Mesa Arch trail which was a short mile hike round trip that included a beautiful arch that you could walk right up to.  Heck, if I wanted to take my life into my hands I could've walked on top of it.  The Arch was beautiful.

Then I went on the 2 mile rim trail which went along the top rim of a canyon (hence the name).  I took a ton of pictures on this trail but will only share some of them with you to spare you the repetition.

Here is the view from the top of the canyon.  If you look really closely (not really because you can't actually see it) you can see the Colorado river path.  The main canyon right in front is a dry canyon.

Here is the rim that I hiked along.  I never got close to the edge to peer down it but that was fine with me.  

There was scattered vegetation that made my pictures a little prettier.  

Here I am at the end of the trail.  I assumed it was the end because if I had continued I would've been walking in air (and consequently to my death).  I used some handy rocks to take a timed picture here.  I was alone when I reached the end of the trail and it stayed that way for about twenty minutes.  It was so nice out there that I had a good communion with God and nature and thoroughly enjoyed myself, even singing a few songs to the scenery and the birds.    

A pretty view on the return trip.  

   
I went on one last hike while in Canyonlands to see Upheaval Dome.  It is a crater that was formed millions of years ago in some unknown way.  Apparently no matter how much scientists conjecture there just isn't enough information to know for sure how the crater occurred.  The pictures don't do it justice.

The right side of the crater.  

The left side of the crater.

And here are some random shots that I took within the park while I toured the scenic drive.  I like to stop at the turnouts and get scenery shots.

I love how the clouds sort of mirror this canyon.  So pretty!

This is the Green River that travels to meet the Colorado River at the Confluence which is within another part of Canyonlands.  

Whale Rock.  You can climb to the top of it but I wasn't up for it.  

Shafer Canyon.  I don't know who Shafer was...probably some early explorer.  

And so concludes my trip to Canyonlands.  I was only there for about 4 1/2 hours but it was totally worth it.  And it was totally different from Arches NP.  Utah's terrain is so vast and diverse...it's amazing!