Canyonlands National Park and Newspaper Rock

This park was somewhat unique because the Colorado and Green Rivers converge within the park and split it into four different units. We visited two of the units, Island in the Sky and Needles. Island in the Sky is similar looking to the Grand Canyon. The unit sits upon a mesa overlooking sandstone cliffs 1,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. We explored this area by driving the scenic road and getting out at numerous overlooks to study the terrain below. This would have been a much better experience if we had the time to bike the White Rim Road, a 100-mile long backcountry road that wound into the canyons and up to its rim. The road is very popular with Jeep enthusiasts. (But I bet you could have a much better experience on it by leaving the Jeep out and just using your own two legs!!) But we didn’t have enough time to explore it properly. Plus this was the sixth National Park/Monument we saw within two weeks and we were getting a bit overwhelmed.

Island in the Sky Scenery

View from Mesa Arch

White Rim Road

Campsite Outside of Park Boundary (Why are people still paying $15/night to stay within the park when not more than ten miles away you can camp for free? This has been the case in almost every National Park we have been to. Wait ... maybe I am excited nobody is taking advantage of this. Otherwise we’d be just as cramped as the people in the park campground.)
The Needles Unit forms the southeast corner of the park and is named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa sandstone that dominate the area. This was the section of the park we were the most excited about visiting. We did two hikes here; one that went past a few alcoves in the rocks where ancient cultures and cowboys have taken refuge from the brutal desert sun and the other into the heart of the Needles themselves. The first trail, Cave Springs, was a pretty leisurely hike that required ascending a few ladders. The Needles hike was much different. It required more ups and downs that got the heart pumping but you were rewarded with outstanding views. We hiked at a pretty fast clip for 45 minutes into the Needles so we could see as much as possible before the sun forced us to return to the van and the overheated dogs. Our fast pace paid off and we made it about three miles in and had spires surrounding us. The scenery was as spectacular as we expected. It was a great experience and we can’t wait to go back and spend a few nights out there to see it properly, without the dogs of course.

Cave Springs Trail

jody on Cave Springs Trail

Needles Scenery

jody on Needles Hike

dave on Needles Hike

Just outside the Needles unit boundary was one of the best petroglyph sites in Utah, Newspaper Rock. This site spans over 2,000 years of human activity with etchings from the Basketmaker, Ancestral Publoan, Freemont, Navajo, Ute and modern cultures all contributing. It is also one of the easiest sites to access. You can literally see it from the road. For those who don’t know, I am an admirer of rock art and we have been stopping at numerous sites throughout this trip. As a result, we have seen the same type of petroglyphs again and again. But Newspaper Rock showed us some new designs including bison, six toed feet, shamans, and hoof prints.

jody at Newspaper Rock

Petroglyphs