Canyonlands and the Colorado

Monday September 6. Today was a riding day, no hiking. The temperature dropped here by twenty degrees. Yesterday was 95+ and today was a high of 75. I rode north of Moab to get to Canyonlands National Park. The park is split into three sections: Island In The Sky, Needles and the Maze. I went to Island In The Sky. It consists of a 45 square mile mesa that towers over the floor of the canyons around it. The Green River and Colorado River have carved the canyons. From the cliffs to the floor is hundreds of feet. I spent the morning checking out various view points. Then I rode back to Moab to take the Colorado River Canyon/La Sal Mountain loop. The first half of the ride in following the Colorado as it cuts through a long narrow red cliffed canyon. Then at the end it climbs out of the canyon and begins to climb up the La Sal Mountains. At this point I became very aware that I was short on gas. I knew I would have to return about 20 miles to get gas or continue up the mountain towards Moab, which was 36 miles away and take my chances. But since the area was becoming more remote and isolated I decided that discretion being the better part of stupidity, I retraced my route and got gas. So, I had to start all over, but it wasn't exactly punishment having to ride along beside the Colorado through that canyon three times. It was great. When I finally reached where I had turned around the road became narrower and climbed steeply utilizing switchbacks and had few guardrails as it climbed up and over to get back to Moab. I used my trip meter to calculate the distance of the second half, and it looked like I could have probably have made it, but I'm glad I didn't try.

From there I rode south to get to another part of the Canyonlands Park - Needles. The park entrance is 34 miles off the highway. The road is deserted and travels through a beautiful white rock canyon and the passes more red sandstone cliffs. By the time I got there, I was almost out of gas (again), I had about another hour or so of light and I had to ride out the same road I went in. So, I didn't stay long. This part of the park didn't seem as spectacular as the road into it! When I reached the highway, I turned south and found a motel in the first town, Monticello. The temperature really dropped when the sun went down. I hope it warms up tomorrow.

These two pictures are from the ride into the Needles part of Canyonland. The third part - the Maze is not accessible, but apparently contains a vast number of confusing and inpenetrable canyons. When I see landscapes like this I can't help but think of the orginal settlers who tried to cross this continent using wagons and oxen!