Canyonlands National Park- The Confluence of Two Rivers
Before I tell you about the most beautiful places to see in Canyonlands National Park, let me introduce you to it. Canyonlands National Park is where the Green River flows into the Colorado River. Together, the rivers divide Canyonlands National Park into sections known as districts. While I was only able to visit Island in the Sky on this trip, (which is not far from Arches National Park ), know that there are two other sections- the Needles and the Maze. To read more about the Needles District, click here.
It’s important to note, however, that the sections are separated from each other by the rivers and the canyons, so it’s not easy to go from one to the other. Basically, you will have to drive for a while if you decide to visit all districts in the park.
The most beautiful places to see in Canyonlands National Park
Island in the Sky is the most frequently visited district of Canyonlands National Park. It is truly an amazing area with mesas and canyons stretching right in front of you. There are multiple overlooks from where you can admire the beautiful landscape. Grand View Point Overlook certainly offers spectacular views. You can also take a rather easy 1 mile hike along the cliff and enjoy the scenery along the way.
I particularly liked the Green River Overlook. The narrow meandering Green River in the arid landscape of the mesas and canyons looks stunning.
Another attraction in the park is the Mesa Arch. Its location is picture perfect. You can see the snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the distance whereas in the foreground you will see terrific buttes and spires rising from the mesa floor. The arch itself is beautiful serving as a little window into the world of canyon wilderness.
While there are multiple opportunities for hiking in the park, I thought that the hike to the Whale Rock was a lot of fun. You can climb onto this giant whale of a rock and explore it from “head to tail”. The vistas indeed are great and offer a different perspective of Canyonlands National Park.
Another beautiful site nearby
While we didn’t camp at Canyonlands National Park, we did camp nearby, at the Dead Horse Point State Park. The park offers spectacular views of the Colorado River. We took several short hikes along the rim and loved the scenery. If you look closely, you may even see the silhouette of a dead horse made up by the rocks. I highly recommend visiting the state park.
