One night we took a ride down the Colorado River. It was a nice, pleasant ride and another way to see the rock formations. On the way we encountered rain showers with some lightning way out in the next county. We turned around about 18 miles down the river near the potash plant (makes fertilizer). On the way back, we lucked out getting to see the beaver. He was huge.

one of a few climbing the rock

jug handle arch (few try and climb the handle)

beaver

  Following day we went to Canyonlands National Park, approx. 30 miles from Moab. Where at Arches you look up at rock formations, in Canyonlands, for the most part, you look down into deep, vast expanses. The main road is the Island in the Sky Scenic Road. There are viewpoints all along the road.  This is where the Green River meets the Colorado. Another beautiful area to explore. There is also The Needles area and The Maze (need to go with a ranger for these tours). Also need 4-wheel drive to get to some of the back trails. You could spend weeks here and not see it all.

Skip on edge

me in front of edge

upheaval Dome - meteor hit in 1988

 

 

You could spend weeks here and not see it all. We also stopped at Dead Horse State Park. Legend has it that back in 1800's, cowboys would herd wild horses out to the point because of  access being 30 yards wide and deep canyons on 3-sides (drop in 2,000 ft). Believe me, it is far down to the Colorado River that winds through. At some point, cowboys forgot to feed and water horses and they died - hence the name of the park. Forward to the 1990 and for those who have seen the movie THELMA AND LOUISE - welcome to where the final scene was filmed of going off the cliff.