After leaving the Upheaval Dome and Whale Rock, we drive south through Canyonlands, stopping at several overlooks.
We make a quick stop at the Holman Spring Canyon Overlook.

Holman Spring Canyon Overlook
Island in the Sky sits atop a mesa overlooking two great rivers that come together, the Green River and the Colorado River. We stop at the Green River Overlook and look west over the Green River.

the trail to the Green River Overlook

Green River Overlook
We then stop for a view of the Colorado River to the east from the Buck Canyon Overlook.
The Buck Canyon Overlook also offers views of the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

Buck Canyon Overlook
Further south still, we stop briefly at the Orange Cliffs Overlook.
Finally, we reach the southernmost point at Island in the Sky, Grand View Point Overlook.Β It is quite hot today, but we hike a mile out and a mile back along the top of the canyon edge.Β The Grand View encompasses the confluence of the Colorado and the Green Rivers in the distance; in the foreground, we see Meander Canyon and The Loop of the Colorado River.

Grand View Point Overlook

Grand View Point Overlook

Mormon Tea at the Grand View Point Overlook

Grand View Point Overlook
On our way back from the end point of the trail, I change my lens, using a wide-angle to capture our last views of the canyon.

The Grand View Overlook trail

Grand View Point Overlook trail

Grand View Point Overlook trail

Grand View Point Overlook trail

Grand View Point Overlook trail

Grand View Point Overlook trail
All in all, we walk 2.19 miles over 1:16 hours.
*Thursday, May 10, 2018*
***********************
On Sundays, I plan to post various walks that I took on our Four Corners trip as well as hikes I take locally while training for the Camino de Santiago; I may also post on other unrelated subjects. I will use these posts to participate in Joβs Monday Walks or any other challenges that catch my fancy.
This post is in response to Jo’s Monday Walk: Ma Shipton’s Cave, Knaresborough.
Phenomenal is the word that comes to mind to describe those views, Cathy! Absolutely incredible landscape shots! I love them and it’s such a privilege to have you join me with this. Thank you! I’m getting nervous counting down with you, but I’m sure at this stage you’ll just want to be off on this next great adventure. Hugs, darlin! π π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Jo. It was a really hot walk, and it took my breath away standing over 1,000 feet above the canyon below. It wouldn’t take much to go tumbling off that cliff!
As for my upcoming trip, I’m almost ready now, except for a few loose ends. Those are usually the things that are the worst to do. I wish I was just leaving already. Like I said before, I should have just done it within two months after deciding.
Hugs to you, Jo. Enjoy your Sunday. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Jo, magnificent, awe inspiring views. I can imagine they would take your breath away. Departure date nearly here Cathy. Iβm excited for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pauline. It really did take my breath away standing on those sheer cliffs and seeing that view below. Yep, counting down now. I’m almost ready, just a few loose ends. It will be here before I know it. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
π€
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing! Your pictures are fabulous. I hope to return here some day. I remember sheltering in the car from a huge thunderstorm – weβd already walked the trail, but even with the wipers on full couldnβt see to drive away. I think weβd had to rush back to avoid getting caught, though as is often the way it passed quickly. I love the big skies so that you can see it coming and then moving away. So atmospheric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Anabel. Wow, I can’t imagine being caught in a thunderstorm up there. There is no shelter except your car! I can imagine seeing the storm approach across that huge expanse of sky. If I can get back to that area, I’d really like to drive Shafer Road in the canyon one day, and I’d also go to the Needles. Do you have a post you can send me of your time in Canyonlands?
LikeLike
Yes, but itβs not very informative! We visited in 2010 before I had my blog so I was writing well after the event. Mainly pictures.
https://glasgowgallivanter.com/2015/03/13/arches-and-canyonlands/
Youβve inspired me to read over all my Utah posts and I now feel quite nostalgic!
LikeLike
Aw, I’m glad I inspired you to take a trip down memory lane. It was nice to see your photos, and they made me nostalgic as well. π
LikeLike
It really is the most amazing place, S Utah.
LikeLike
Yes it is. And we didnβt even make it to the more western parks. That will be another trip one day. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous vistas, Cathy! Thanks for showing them.
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Pit
LikeLike
Thanks, Pit. You too!
LikeLike
Superb photos as usual and I can’t help but visualize convoys of hooded wagons crossing that vastness with perhaps the occasional cowboy on the horizon. A childhood spent in the cinema has left me with indelible memories like this which are easily transferred to present-day images. Why is one picture titled Mormon Tea at the Grand View Overlook? But your landscape shots are truly magnificent and I’m totally in awe of you as a photographer.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Mari. I know what you mean; it almost comes automatically – those visions of covered wagons and cowboys. Mormon Tea is another name for the plant that’s in the foreground of that photo: Ephedra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra_(plant)
Thanks so much for your kind words about my photos. It was a dramatic landscape, so it was awesome to be there. π
LikeLike
What a dramatic landscape. Though often the views start to look the same! I wouldn’t want to be wandering around out there at night though on one hand the sky must be amazingly clear. Lovely photos Cathy. Makes you wonder how anything actually manages to grow out there.
LikeLike
It is quite dramatic, Jude, but that canyon down below looks almost the same at every viewpoint along the way because the vista is so huge. I bet it is amazing at night, but I’d be afraid to fall off the 1,000 foot cliffs there. It made me a bit nervous just being at those dizzying heights all along the trail. I do wonder how anything grows in this region. It seems only a few hardy species survive out here. π Thanks, Jude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos of some dramatic views!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Theresa. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] The Grand View Overlook Trail in Canyonlands […]
LikeLike
WOW! Stunning views, just incredible. One of these days our US adventures will take in the Grand Canyon. And your photos of so many different view points inspires to me make that sooner than later. Thank you.
LikeLike
Thank you, Becky. The Grand Canyon is wonderful I think, although I just stopped there once at an overlook in 1979! Canyonlands is further east and north in Utah than the Grand Canyon. I hope you will make it there one of these days. I believe the Grand Canyon is more stunning than this one. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. π
LikeLike
Adding both to list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, these landscapes are incredible.
LikeLike
Thank you, Carol. We thought so too. π
LikeLike
Some of the rock formations look like apartment blocks in the distance,it’s such and amazing place.
LikeLike
Thanks, Gilly. It was such a grand place. π
LikeLike