WEST COAST OF THE USA STAGE 7: CANYONLANDS AND DEAD HORSE POINT

We were not scheduled to visit these two parks, one national and one state, but when we spent the night in Moab and have them so close, we decided to spend the day between them. Maybe they weren't the ones we liked best on our route through the western United States, but there are some sights that take the hiccups off!

So if you are planning a visit, here we tell you what to see in Canyonlands National Park (in the sector of Island in the Sky) and the Dead horse point, how to get there, how much time to spend, how to visit them and all the information to plan the visit.

If you come like us from Green River, from the Bryce area, you will have to continue on Highway 70 and turn off at Crescent Junction south on 191. Canyonlands National Park is on the right-hand turnoff and about 15 miles.

If you come from the south, from Moab and Monument Valley, the road is 191 to the detour.

On that same main road, about 5 miles after the turnoff (and before reaching the entrance of Canyonlands), start a road on the left that leads to the Dead Horse Point viewpoint 7 miles from there.

The park is divided into three zones: Island in the Sky, The Maze and The Needles, with different accesses and without being connected between them. We focus on what seems to be prettier: Island in the Sky, which is further north. The visit does not have too many interesting trekking options, so it is best to enjoy its lookouts, which most are next to the parking lots. The main road is divided into two, which goes north to Upheaval Dome and the one that reaches south to Grand View Point Overlook. In total they are about 40 miles.

Although there are some trails that are absolutely worth it, simple and short. We tell you more below.

→ Maps of the parks

In order of proximity to the entrance, these are the most interesting viewpoints and trails:

1. Shafer Canyon Overlook

It is the first viewpoint, just outside the Visitor Center, and where you can begin to understand the reason for the name of this national park. But, without wanting to do spoilers, he is not the best of all viewpoints ...

From here there is a path that we do not think is quite interesting.

2. Arch table

Leave the car in the parking lot and tie your shoes, it's the first small trekking of the day It is very short, do not worry, and you will see how it is worth it. It reaches a arc that, at first glance is not too flashy, but as you get closer it becomes a framework of authentic postcard! Climb up to the rock on the right to have the best snapshots ... and don't look too far behind the arch, the fall is brutal!

The way you can do it back and forth on the same path or in a loop, in reality it is not too interesting to return on the other side. In total they are about 800 meters and between 20 and 30 minutes.

3. Green River Overlook

To get to this viewpoint you will have to deviate from the main road a sea of ​​miles. From here you can see the super cool formations that the River Green has been creating over time, it looks like a landscape of the moon!

4. Holeman Spring Overlook

It is a small parking lot on the road on the left with interesting views. But nothing from the other world (compared to others, of course!).

5. Whale Rock

Before reaching the Upheaval Dome, this whale-shaped rock rises (with some imagination). We saw it from the road without stopping, but you can do a short trek to see it from closer (total round trip 1.6 km).

6. Upheaval Dome

Is he far north from the park and a place to stretch your legs, because from here there are several trekking options to see this crater (Yes, a crater!), although I think the best ones to take a quick look are the ones that lead to lookout point 1 (one way 400 meters) and at lookout point 2 (1,5 km one way), which pulls up enough, but they are done well. There is also another longer path that allows you to get to the bottom, but this is best left to the crazy people of the sport.

What you find from these viewpoints is something strange rare ... if you look down you will see the circular crater and in the center a mountain of Various colors bluish Several hypotheses on its origin are considered, although the one of the meteorite impact.

7. Buck Canyon Overlook

Already on the route to the south is this viewpoint, quite spectacular, perhaps because it faces the east side of the park, a small preview of what is coming ...

8. Orange Cliffs Overlook

Just before reaching the end of the road we have this viewpoint on the west side of the road, where you can make a little cinnamon ... like us:

9. Grand View Point Overlook

Is the crown jewel of Canyonlands National Park, the views from this viewpoint, high in the canyons, are simply spectacular. But don't miss a piece of the path That comes to the right because they are still better! It is a perfect place to take those photos that you then post on social networks pretending to be an adventurer, when in reality you are getting scared.

The path that runs along the side of the canyon leads to a point with spectacular views. The round trip has 3.2 km and it is done in 1 hour and a half approx.

We pass quickly and directly to the lookout over the Colorado River, at the end of the road. Although there are other viewpoints on the plateau and the canyons that have to be interesting as well.

As we have already told you, Dead Horse Point is a state park, so you will not be able to access with the annual national park pass and you will have to pay the $ 15 of the entrance fee. We did it and maybe we regret it a bit ... the views are certainly spectacular, but nothing we haven't seen in the Grand Canyon or at Horseshoe Bend ...

- Always check the official website updates about the state of the park, access roads, weather forecasts, etc.

- Download the map of the Canyonlands National Park to prepare your itinerary.

- The temperature is not extremely hot, you will not need to prepare too much, but do not forget water and sunscreen, as in all parks in this area!

- Whether you have paid this ticket or if you have the America the Beautiful pass, you will have to put the ticket (or pass) in a visible place when you leave the car in a parking lot.

- We only visit the Island in the Sky part of Canyonlands, further south are the other two parts: The Maze and The Needles, although from what we have read, the most impressive is the first.

It is best to spend the night in Moab, to visit this and other parks such as Arches. We slept the night before in the Super8, although the night we paid for it face ($ 130), it was worth it to take a break in its super rooms and its swimming pool with jacuzzi! And the same day we visited these parks we headed to Monument Valley, where we stayed in a tent in an incredible place for just over € 60. We booked it on Airbnb. You can also get a € 35 discount if you make a new account from this link.

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Video: Epic USA Roadtrip Part 4 of 4 HD, Canyonlands, Capitol reef, Goblin, Fisher towers & Las Vegas (April 2024).