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(Utah Map)


All of the images below are thumbnails and can be clicked on for a larger image.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010:

Scenic Utah Highway #313 leaves U.S. 191 about ten miles north of Moab.
There are several scenic viewpoints off the highway one of which overlooks the Monitor & Merrimack Butes.
Utah highway #313 northwest of Moab Monitor & Merrimack Butes La Sal Mountains from Utah Highway #313

I stop at three of the scenic viewpoints off highway 313 in the five minute video below.

My favorite place in Utah is Dead Horse Point State Park.
Dead Horse Point is a promontory of stone surrounded by steep cliffs. Here you can stroll along the Rim Walk,
towering 2,000 feet directly above the Colorado River. The mesa that is Dead Horse Point provides breathtaking
views of the canyon country of southeastern Utah and the pinnacles and buttes of Canyonlands National Park.
Dead Horse Point State Park Dead Horse Point State Park Dead Horse Point State Park

Before the turn of the century, mustang herds ran wild on the mesas near Dead Horse Point.
The unique promontory provided a natural corral into which the horses were driven by cowboys.
The only escape was through a narrow, 30-yard neck of land controlled by fencing.
Mustangs were then roped and broken, with the better ones being kept for personal use or sold to eastern markets.
Unwanted culls of "broomtails" were left behind to find their way off the Point.
Dead Horse Point State Park Dead Horse Point State Park Dead Horse Point State Park

Millions of years of geologic activity created the spectacular views from Dead Horse Point State Park.
Deposition of sediments by ancient oceans, freshwater lakes, streams and wind blown sand dunes created the rock layers
of canyon country. Igneous activity formed the high mountains that rise like cool blue islands out of the hot, dry desert.
Dead Horse Point State Park Dead Horse Point State Park Dead Horse Point State Park

See Dead Horse Point State Park from every imaginable angle in the eleven minute video below.

Just a few miles down the road from Dead Horse point is the entrance to the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands
National Park. Canyonlands preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas and buttes by the
Colorado River and its tributaries. The rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky,
the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere,
each retains its own character and offers different opportunities for exploration.
Canyonlands National Park: Island in the Sky District Shafer Canyon in Canyonlands National Park Shafer Canyon in Canyonlands National Park

The Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain.
Every overlook offers a different perspective on Canyonlands� spectacular landscape.
Buck Canyon Overlook in Canyonlands National Park Buck Canyon Overlook in Canyonlands National Park Orange Cliffs Overlook in Canyonlands National Park

The Island is the easiest district to visit in a short period of time,
offering many pullouts with spectacular views along the paved scenic drive.
Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park

Below is the eleven minute video of Canyonlands National Park.

My afternoon adventure would give me a different perspective of both Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands.
I took a jetboat trip on the Colorado River from Moab out to the Canyonlands area.
Jetboat on the Colorado River Moab, Utah, start of my jetboat journey on the Colorado River Panhandle Arch along Colorado River

There was lots of Spectacular scenery along the way.
We passed a couple beautiful arches early in the trip.
Arch along Colorado River Arch along Colorado River Colorado River

Exploring the calm water sections down river from Moab, the river reveals spectacular remote canyons of exquisite beauty.
Colorado River Colorado River Colorado River

Midway through our trip we took a short nature hike to stretch our legs.
Nature hike along Colorado River View of balance rock during nature hike along Colorado River Nature hike along Colorado River

The two pictures on the left below are Dead Horse Point as seen from river level.
The pictures at the top of this page were taken from the top of the butte in the middle picture below.
Dead Horse Point from Colorado River Dead Horse Point from Colorado River Canyonlands National Park from Colorado River

Just past Dead Horse Point we enetered Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonlands National Park from Colorado River Canyonlands National Park from Colorado River Canyonlands National Park from Colorado River

It was at this point that we turned around and went back down the river and returned to Moab.
Canyonlands National Park from Colorado River Colorado River Colorado River

The jetboat journey lasted four hours and was great fun with outstanding scenery.
Colorado River Colorado River The La Sal Mountains from the Colorado River

I have three videos of the jetboat excursion.
Below is the complete jet boat excursion video lasting 41 minutes.

Below is the abbreviated version, part one, lasting eleven minutes.

Below is the abbreviated version, part two, lasting eleven minutes.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON JUNE 9, 2010
Howdy, Howdy!

Was another beautiful day in Utah. I started my day by driving to my favorite place in the state, Dead Horse Point.

Dead Horse Point State Park

That would be the Colorado River running through the canyon in the picture above. I will be jet boating down there later in the day. Dead Horse Point is very near the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. That is where I went next. Below is Shafer Canyon in Canyonlands NP.

Shafer Canyon in Canyonlands National Park

Below is Grand View also in the park.

Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park

Below you can see some desert plants in front of Grand View.

Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park

I had just enough time to grab a quick lunch back in Moab before starting my 4-hour jet boat trip on the Colorado River. Below is an arch we saw in the canyon wall along the river.

Arch along Colorado River

In the middle of the trip we got off the boat and took a little hike.

Nature hike along Colorado River

Two hours into the boat trip we made it down to Dead Horse Point. This is the same place as the top picture but from the river level.

Dead Horse Point from Colorado River

Below is a close-up of where the overlook is at Dead Horse Point.

Dead Horse Point from Colorado River

The river trip was great fun and very scenic. Below is Canyonlands National Park, the Needles district from the river. This is the point we turned around and headed back the same way we came.

Canyonlands National Park from Colorado River

I went back to Dead Horse Point after the cruise. When I was there this morning the sun was in the way looking east so I went back for a second look as the sun was beginning to set.

Dead Horse Point State Park

You're probably tired of looking at rock now so I'll only enclose one more picture, also from Dead Horse Point.

Dead Horse Point State Park

More adventures to come, so stay tuned.

Tim


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