Canyonlands National Park, Utah - Island in the Sky

Canyonlands has to be one of the most difficult national parks to explore just based on the fact that the converging Green and Colorado Rivers divide the park into a Y, and therefore 3 districts that require you to drive outside the park and around, which can take hours, to see multiple districts. We spent most of our time exploring the Island in the Sky district on the North end of the park.

We hiked to Mesa Arch, this was my favorite hike in the park. The view was breathtaking.

This is the view from the top of the arch looking behind it. Incredible.

The Shafer Trail Overlook (yep, that's me)

The Shafer trail (below) descends down the canyon to the 100 mile White Rim trail. This would be an epic multi-day hike. Someday.

The hike to Whale Rock. I just love this lone tree growing at the crevice of these rock mountains!

Along the way we break for pushups and a nap at the top! (Not really, they were pretending.)

The top of Whale Rock. See the tail wrapping around to the left?

On the way back down Journey wanted to play in the sand awhile.

The kids love to run ahead to hide and scare the others. It's pretty cute, especially because they still believe they can't be seen when they close THEIR eyes. Here they are hiding to scare me.

Still can't see them.... (I'm actually holding the camera down but in their direction so they don't know I am taking their picture. I'm lucky I actually captured them like this, but that explains why you can barely see Journey in the last photo.)

Rrrrraaarrr! Yes, they roar like dinosaurs! 

They also like to race, like cars. Start your engines.....

Grand View Point Overlook

White Rim Overlook

Buck Canyon Overlook

As incredible as these places look in the photos, in person they are so much more amazing!