May 21, 2013
Canyonlands National Park: Islands in the Sky
Islands in the Sky is the most accessible of the three sections of Canyonlands. It is a large mesa confined by the Colorado and Green Rivers with endless views of spectacular canyons. We focused on the hikes and views in this area.
Arriving at Canyonlands NP early we watched the film in the visitor center and made our choices of hikes mostly ones recommended by Anne and Lee Sneed. Canyonlands is a very large park.
Just as we entered Canyonlands we came upon these two far buttes standing proudly in the morning sun.
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| These were named for presidents memory fails to recall the names. |
Green River Overlook: A short walk to the Green River Overlook provided some of the most spectacular canyon views. Road trails traverse a vast wasteland where visitors can take camping/off road vehicle trips into the canyon. The Green river winds its way endlessly through the canyons.
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| Green River Overlook |
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| Green River Overlook |
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| Green River Overlook |
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| Cherrie resting along the rim walk at Green River Overlook |
Video of Green River Canyon
Aztec Butte was our first hike. It rose up a slick rock mountain to Aztec ruins. On a nearby mountain we climbed to caves where the Native Americans stored their provisions.
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| Lupines were blooming in pockets where the soil provided nutrition for flowers. |
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| These pretty blooms came from succulents that I can't identify. |
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| On the climb to Aztec Butte a view of the distant Green River Canyon |
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| Danny climbing the rock face of Aztec Butte |
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| A view from Aztec Butte of another Butte that remains nameless to me. |
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| Danny at the storage butte Native Americans created. It was a long walk down Aztec Butte and up to this storage butte. |
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| A closer look into the storage area |
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| A desert rose variety |
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| Spring comes to Canyonlands |
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| More spring beauties |
Mesa Arch: This was a short mile long loop with the beautiful arch with the Rocky Mountain behind.
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| Cherrie at Mesa Arch |
Upheaval Dome:
Islands in the Sky section of Canyonlands NP is a big mesa over looking the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers hence most hikes start at the top and wind into the bottom of the canyon in steep down and up hikes. We opted to make a short hike to Upheaval Dome. Ann and Lee Sneed hiked the 8.5 mile Syncline Loop trail there to the canyon floor. Whew!
"The rim of Upheaval Dome is 3 miles across and over 1000 feet above the core floor. The central peak in the core is 3000 feet in diameter and rises 750 feet from the floor. Since the late 1990s, the origin of the Upheaval Dome structure has been considered to be either a pinched-off salt dome or a complex meteorite impact crater."
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| Upheaval Dome is the strange green peak in the crater. |
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| Interesting piles of drift wood gathered from the dry washes form fences |
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| Closer look at the fences |
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| Danny on the edge |
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| An incredible butte rises from the canyon floor |
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| The setting of the large butte seen above |
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| A final Arch |
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| A view through the arch |
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| Another view through the arch |
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| As close to the Rockies as we would be |
Our time in Moab, Utah is coming to an end and we head for Monument Valley.
Bird Notes: Few birds were seen but tiny, vocal Gray Vireos made their presence known.
Cherrie's Bird List:
eBird List for Canyonlands NP
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| Vocal Gray Vireos |
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| More Gray Vireos |
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| Juniper Titmouse |
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Ash-throated Flycatcher
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