We planned to stop in Arches National Park, but didn’t realize a reservation is required to enter. Instead, we decided to check out Canyonlands National Park, which does not require a reservation. Even if you have a reservation to get into Arches, don’t miss this beautiful area of canyons, mesas, buttes, and spires cut into the “High Desert” in Utah, United States. Some of the scenes look like paintings, and there is no way I could do them justice in a photo. But I took some anyway.
I started by taking a photo of the Western Slope of Colorado on our way to Canyonlands, snowcapped and beautiful as my home state always is:
Also on the way are the “Moab Giants,” appearing directly off the highway on your way to Moab:
Entering Canyonlands, you see a pull-off for these two buttes, Monitor and Merrimac:
And here is a little note about both, which I left a bit larger so you can read it better:
Directly next to the above sign was this incredible formation, which I thought looked like a turtle:
But these are just the beginning of this gorgeous area. It’s huge and would take several days to see all the places in the park. One of the places we were not close enough to is called, Island in the Sky. It is one of the places I think looks like a painting. So I used a free stock photo:
This next place was majestic! Another place that seems like a painting, with the way the distant mesas blend with the skyline. This photo was taken from the left of where we were standing:
And this was to the right:
We had our dogs with us on this trip. While no pets are allowed on the hiking trails, we only stopped at the lookouts and didn’t feel safe enough to hike. Hiking in the desert can be dangerous if you’re not in shape and prepared for it. And we were not.
We tried to take a selfie, lame as we can be sometimes, when a younger dad came by with his little boys and offered to take one of us. So here we are, our little Sophie, our big Tristan, Jay, and me:
While this is a great photo of us, it didn’t show much of the scenery, so the man offered to take a better picture. He repositioned the camera, but we couldn’t get the dogs to cooperate!
His boys loved our dogs, especially Tristan. The family was great. That’s one of the benefits of vacation. Our worries and cares go by the wayside, and we can release our best selves and send them out into the world.
Here are a few more beautiful photos of this National Park:
And this was after we got home with two tired dogs:
Just a side note, even in cooler weather, the desert is the desert. Drink plenty of water and remember to keep your pets hydrated, too. We have a no-spill bowl in our car and always have a gallon of drinking water available for them. And some treats, of course!
Next Up: Why is everyone talking about this place?
On Hummingbirds Wings 