Island in the Sky

Moab, Utah; 26 Sept, 2017

My new home for a few days - just North of Moab

Basically, just a parking lot - but convenient to Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, and Moab.  Hard to pass up a spot with a view of these incredibly red rocks, even if it is just off the highway! The park is on SR 191 just about a mile south of the SR313 turnoff to Island in the Sky - it's right at the Gemini Bridges Road turnoff ($15 night; 35 pull-thru and back-in spots with picnic benches; also a porta-potty and a dumpster).  Getting great Verizon signal (4g 2-3 bars).

A day of looking up and then down, down, down into the canyons

Canyonlands National Park consists of 3 parts divided by the Colorado and Green River: Island in the Sky looks down into the canyons (over a 1,000 feet) from a high plateau; The Needles is an area of the valley floor that wanders through massive rock spires; and The Maze - the least developed area with no services and no roads (good for an extended backcountry experience.

I spent the day driving and hiking in Island of the Sky.  It was a lovely sunny day, with only a light breeze.  I was amazed (and a bit appalled) at the number of people there!  All the scenic view points were crowded (all parking taken and folks parked illegally on the shoulder); the visitor center was a mad house!  So different from the last time I was here - probably 25-30 years ago.

The rock layers here are much older than at Goblin State Park  The oldest layer is almost 300 million years old!

Monitor and Merrimac Buttes

The La Salle Mountains loom in the far distance - notable because the next morning I woke up and they were dusted with snow!

I love old wormy wood - such and interesting texture!

Cyanobacterial soil - this incredibly fragile crust is composed of soil and  cyanobacteria filaments.  It traps moisture and helps prevent erosion.  A critical component of desert ecology that can be destroyed with a footprint.

Looking down at the Green River as it winds its way thru the canyons.  I was reminded of rafting through this exact section so many years ago (only then I was looking up).

The famous 'Horse shoe bend' - as seen from Dead Horse Point.

At maximum zoom, I can even make out a few rafters!

Back at camp, a beautiful sunset to end the day.