We got up early to get in a couple of hikes before it got too hot. We were in Arches by 7:00AM! It was great with almost no people and lots of parking! We took the primitive hike around the Windows Arches and Turret Arch. Most of it was just rocky and not too hard until we got to a place where we had to climb up a rock wall that was about six feet high with not many foot holds! We scared up a couple of jackrabbits and saw a lot of lizards.
Across the parking lot from those arches is Double Arch. It has a sandy path to the arch, and you're allowed to climb up into the arch. We made it almost to the top of the base, but those last eight feet straight up the rocks were too scary for old folks!
We came back to the camper to eat breakfast and pick up the dogs. Then, we headed to Canyonlands National Park, which is on a road that's about 10 miles north of Moab. It has some buttes on the entrance road, but is mostly long distance views across plateaus and into canyons. The only hiking we did there was to some of the overlooks. You can look down on the Green River and the Colorado Rivers, which join in the distance. There are lots of hikes for the serious hikers, but it was 86 degrees, so we didn't even think about it!
We took another road into Dead Horse State Park, which reminded us of the road into Muley Point. There's a long stretch of flat land with sagebrush which ends in spectacular distance views.
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| Morning view of La Sal Mountains |
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The rangers build "cairns" to show where
the path goes. Amazingly, not many had been knocked over! |
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| Window Arches |
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| He paused just long enough for a photo! |
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He's not as big as he looks here!
...only about 10 inches long including the tail |
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This is double arch, and we climbed up
almost to the base of the second one. |
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| Fiery Furnace viewpoint |
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| Starting into Canyonlands |
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| Two lizards at once! |
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| Canyonlands viewpoint |
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This raven was sitting on the rock when we got out of the car,
and was still there when we came back.
He hopped over to our car...
probably hoping for a handout! |
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| Green River Overlook |
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| Grand View Overlook |
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People peeking over the cliff
....that's a long dropoff! |
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| View from Dead Horse Point |
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The blue ponds are solar evaporation ponds.
They are used by the Intrepid Potash Company
to extract potassium chloride from the water. |
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| Colorado River down below |
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