PART THREE:
Canyonlands National Park
Island-in-the-Sky C (continued):
More of the Grand View Point
Overlook
The Grand View Point is where the Island in the Sky terminates, and we are on a trailt o bring us to that terminus.
Along the way, we first approach and then get to look off the western edge of the southern tip of this sky island, and are looking toward the Green River:
But since we are at the very tip we can also look off the western side toward the south where the Colorado and Green rivers meet (the Confluence as it is known--it is somehwere in the maze of canyons below):
Just a bit earlier on this trail I took a slighly different picture of this view to the Henry Mountains, to look around that colossal red rockmass on the right, to see if I could see the confluence. Maybe where the canyons come from the right and left and leave together southward is the confluence? If I think so, does that count?
Some of the other views from the southern tip of the Island in the Sky are worthwhile, like the view of, and then from, this balanced rock looking north-northwestward:
So how close did I get to the very tip of the Island in the Sky? I approached it from two ends, where there was a surface to walk on. Since there was some shade on the western edge, it was full of student from a far-away college and I didn't bother them by taking photos in their faces, but walking around that tree was as close as I got to the western side (no trail no people!):
The views just kept on coming, I wore out a battery taking pictures, and am only showing a handful here. Some of the other vistas, coming back along the same trail, were these:
In this next photo, we are almost back to the starting point of Page 3. So, this is a good palce to end this visit to one of the three "untis" of Canyonlands National Park. We enjoyed ourselves and will come back some other year during a time when it is a bit cooler to do the lower units and approach the river(s). If we feel really adventurous, we may sign up for one of the river-raft expeditions that are available in Moab.
Go Back to First Canyonlands Page: Upheaval Dome
Go Back to Second Canyonlands Page: the Shafer Canyon and Green River Overlooks
Go Back to Third Canyonlands Page: the Grand View Point Overlook
Go to Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim (Arizona)
Go to Arches National Park, Utah
Go to Goblin Valley State Park, Utah