Trifter

As we drove down highway 191 towards Moab, Utah, the scenery around us began to change.  So far everything we had seen on our trip was beautiful but the views we were headed for were stunning.  It seemed you could see forever and everywhere you looked there were towers of rock, great cliffs with a turquiose blue hue over the reddish brown.  We couldn’t wait to get into the parks.  It was the first time for the kids and I to see Arches, well, to see Utah for that matter.  We had been in the truck for hours and wanted out. 

   In Moab we found our campground and got all set up, after a good long stretch that is.  Then we were ready to head into the park. 

Photo by Christy Tuller

  What we saw as we drove in was stunning.   I have lived near mountains my entire life but nothing could compare to these amazing rock formations.    My oldest son had done a school report on Utah so we had learned how these things were made but even seeing pictures, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.  The cliffs and rocks are made from two different types of sandstone.  One is stronger than the other.  Wind blows causing erosion of the softer sandstone, creating arches, balanced rocks and other amazing formations.  Some of these look like people or animals, but all of it is worth seeing.

photos by Christy Tuller

   Arches was amazing and we spent a day and half in there hiking and driving to see all these natural wonders.   Then we went to Canyonlands National Park.  This park is not as well known as arches and we met very little traffic in there.  We went in on the Island In The Sky side but there are two entrances.  The only way to cross the entire park from one side to the other is by a four wheel drive jeep trail and that takes at least two days to do.  The jeep trail is visible from the top of the canyons where every day visitors can go.  If you like the Grand Canyon or other similar venues then I can say that you would truly enjoy this park.  Be careful though when traveling with children, there are many un gaurded steep drop offs in this park.  There are two arches in here as well.  One is known as Washer Woman Arch, seen below.

 photo by Christy Tuller

  She can be seen from another arch on a short hiking trail.  This other arch is the one you must be extra careful near.  At first it looks like another arch that you can walk through to the other side.  It’s not, on the other side is a straight drop down thousands of feet.  If you are afraid of heights, I don’t reccomend getting too close to this one although the view is stunning.

photo by Christy Tuller

From here you can drive out to several overlooks to view the canyons below.   Enjoy the following pictures but if you ever have the chance you should get over there and see this for yourself.  It is truly amazing.

photos by Christy Tuller