Canyonland National Park

 Today was the northern portion of Canyonland National Park called Island in the Sky. why is it called Island in the Sky? Because, it's the top of mesas punctuated with he canyons. One canyon contains the Green River and the other canyon is home to the Colorado River. The two rivers meet in Canyonland.  First stop was Mesa Arch (again, it is almost impossible to cover how dramatic the scenery was via these pictures).

 


Just on the other side of that arch it drops off about 3000 feet. It's scary wow close you can get to the edge. 

Next stop was Aztec Butte. Short hike but steep climb to the top (hands and knees steep) but totally worth it. You are up high on the Butte looking all the way down in the canyon (crazy high). Also on a smaller Butte was an ancient grannery build by pueblo dwellers tucked under a cliff overhang.  

Grand View Point Overlook
 
Crazy Cool Rock

Charlene just before I talked her off the ledge

Top of Whale Rock

Upheaval Dome

Grannery

Upheaval Dome

Base of Aztec Butte

Next stop, Upheaval Dome, a huge crater that you look down into from a 1000 miles up (seems like). 

Whale Rock was next, a huge rock that looks like a whale if you've had too much to drink, maybe 200-300 feet high and smooth. On the way up we saw what looked like dinosaur footprints (I'm just going today that's what they were). 

Then it was on to the highlight of the day, Grand View Point Lookout. This is where the Green and Colorado Rivers meet. You get to walk along the rim (dangerously close to death) for a mile. Absolutely stunning, beyond what my brain could understand.

We hiked so much today that I. Pretty sure I'm going to loose my big toenail on my right foot.


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