Island in the Sky
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Canyonlands National Park is an unusual park in that it consists of several parts. Some are connected geographically, but not by road. Other parts are totally disconnected. The main areas are the Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze. Horseshoe Canyon has also been added to the park to preserve the rock art there. You can easily drive to the Island in the Sky and the Needles areas, but most of the Maze requires a high-clearance four wheel drive vehicle. Horseshoe Canyon is accessed by some long dirt roads and then a hike. The Island in the Sky name never made much sense to me until I drove there and saw that it almost is an Island. There is a small neck of land just wide enough for the road that connects the plateau to the rest of the terrain. It makes for spectacular views of the Colorado River drainage to the south and east and the Green River drainage to the west.
Click on the images below to see an enlarged version.
Canon D60, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, ISO 100
Looking south from the Grandview overlook. This is the most sun I saw this evening. The Colorado River is out in the canyons in the distance. Just this side of the distant Abajo Mountains is the Needles district of the park. The lighter rock outlining the canyons is called the White Rim. There is a four wheel drive road / bike trail that follows the rim all around the Island in the Sky area. It is about 100 miles long.
Bronica ETRSi, Zenzanon PE 45-90mm f/4-5.6, Fuji Provia 100F
Here's another attempt to shoot a sunset without the sun. I like the gnarled tree in the foreground. I tried to find one closer to the edge, but this was the best I could manage.
Bronica ETRSi, Zenzanon PE 45-90mm f/4-5.6, Fuji Provia 100F
This is Mesa Arch. I got up well before sunrise to make the 40 minute drive and 1/2 mile hike the next morning. The sun is rising just to the right of the image. The sunlight reflects off the vertical cliff below the arch and lights it up. If you look carefully you can see Washer Woman Arch just in front of Airport Mesa. In the larger image you can see why they call it Washer Woman Arch. I think Mesa Arch lights up brighter when the sun has no clouds in front of it, but you take what you're given.
Canon D60, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, ISO 100
After the show was over at Mesa Arch I went back to Grandview overlook. I couldn't resist climbing down to where this branch was just on the edge of the cliff. I'm still not sure if it ended up there naturally, or if it had some outside help.
Canon D60, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, ISO 100
This is the view westward from the Green River Overlook. If you look closely in the larger image you can see the river. On the far side of the river is the Maze district of the park and even farther the Henry Mountains. Here you can see more of the White Rim trail.
For all my pictures of Canyonlands on this trip check the Image Catalog under Canyonlands 03