Summer Breeze: CANYONLANDS NAT'L PARK

APRIL 25,26,& 27, 2012 The "Island in the Sky" portion of Canyonlands National Park is only 3 hours to the west of Durango near Moab, Utah. We drove the jeep over for three nights of tenting while driving the 100-mile long "White Rim Road" along the edge of the Green and Colorado Rivers. It's simply "GORGEOus" !!!

Elevated view of only 1/10th of "White Rim Road" from up on the "Island in the Sky" mesa.

Dropping down from the mesa into the Green River canyon.

Candlestick tent site

"Green River"

"Candlestick Tower"

Look what we poured out of our tent as we were breaking camp after the first night. This will make you check your boots every morning!

" N E V E R M O R E "

"Mussleman Arch"

Immediately after putting up our tent at Shafer Trail site, we were hit with an hour of rain, hail, & 50-60mph winds. Here Nan is trying to keep the tent from flying away, even though it's full of boulders; the wind was actually flattening the tent. We finally gave up on this wind tunnel and moved 10 miles downvalley to the banks of the Colorado River for protection.

Up in the end of this valley is the Shafer Trail as it climbs up to the mesa top named "Island in the Sky". It's almost impossible to see this trail cut into the cliffs until you're driving it. What a fun drive up!