bugsy running on lone rock beach with the airstream and f-150 in the background

Canyonlands National Park

We visited Canyonlands in April 2016 during Big Trip #1.

As we surveyed the vista at the first overlook at Canyonlands National Park, we said to each other “this is my new favorite park.” Canyonlands is enormous; we were in the main Island in the Sky section, with arches, domes, and the canyons, the magnificent canyons. We ran up the slickrock to see the Mesa Arch first thing before the crowds, but for some reason this park didn’t seem to get nearly as crowded as its neighbor Arches. The other hike we did was Whale Rock, and then we spent the rest of our morning driving the scenic drive and gawking at the overlooks.

Next time we visit, if we are Bug-less (shhhhh) we’ll drive the no-dogs-allowed White Rim Road, a 100-mile drive on old dirt roads along the lower rim of the canyon. What an experience it must be to spend the night down there. We also have dreams of visiting the farther-afield Needles section of the park, which we planned to do when visiting Monticello on Big Trip #2, but didn’t realize it’s still a long drive from there. Someday we’ll figure it all out.

canyonlands mesa arch
canyonlands mesa arch
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park
canyonlands national park

Comments

6 responses to “Canyonlands National Park”

  1. Uncle Jim Avatar
    Uncle Jim

    I was wondering if you guys were gonna find this “end” of the park. Really super and less visited section of Canyonlands.

  2. elizabeth Avatar

    Shame on you…poor Bugsy. I might have to tell her. How do you decide which is your favorite as they all are so beautiful?

  3. […] write separate posts for the two National Parks we visited (Arches and Canyonlands), and the one BLM hike (Negro Bill Canyon Trail) we did (twice) while in Moab. Moab famous for […]

  4. […] I will comment on it’s unbelievable gorgeousness. It’s across the eastern canyon of Canyonlands National Park, and so it shares the incredible vistas, but in a much less visited and private location, which is […]

  5. […] solitude (Mesa Verde feels isolated and unpopulated; the Utah National Parks (with the exception of Canyonlands?) are very popular). We should have toured some of the ruins for the full experience, but we still […]

  6. […] Point, overlooking a gooseneck in the Colorado River 2,000 feet below and the striped red cliffs of Canyonlands National Park beyond. The trails along the west side are more dramatic than those on the east side, but you do […]

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