Utah continues to amaze!

Torrey, UT to Moab, UT (more sightseeing!)

June 8 - 10, 2016

We continued northeast to Moab, UT, mountain biking capital of the world (or was it the US?).  There are bikes for rent everywhere but we saw more ATV's for rent than bikes.  Maybe that's just because they're bigger and more obvious.  At any rate - there's something for everyone here.

View from our campground in Moab!   NICE!

Another view from our campsite.

Staying in Moab put us in a great position to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.  We've visited Arches in the past but somehow we didn't get to Canyonlands on that trip.  Both parks are wonderful.  Utah seems to have more than it's share of beautiful places!

The famous Balancing Rock in Arches N.P.!
Really looks like a good stiff wind would just blow it over.

It's hard to tell in this picture but this is a double arch.
Notice there's another arch on the left hand side of the picture.

Only a few of the 2000+ arches in the park can be seen from the road. 

Some arches are thicker than others.  I think this one has a long life ahead.

This one probably has a shorter life span.

Great example of a petrified sand dune.

This is how arches start.  The rocks split vertically and begin to weather.
This results in the creation of  'fins' (like shark fins) like you can see above.
As the weathering continues, sometimes the center portion of a
fin starts to flake off and this begins the process of forming an arch.

Quintessential west wouldn't you say?
Looks just like the backdrop of every cowboy movie ever filmed.

The next day we went to Canyonlands.  It's a HUGE National Park split into 3 areas.  The entry to the canyon section is practically right across the street from the entry to Arches.  The entry to what they call the 'Needles' section is over 50 miles south.  Both involve long drives in from the highway before you reach the visitor center.  The third section is reachable only by 4 wheel drive from Hanksville or Green River.  We visited only the canyon section but if we ever get near enough again we'll visit the 'Needles' section.  The confluence of the Green River and the Colorado River occurs in the middle of the canyons section.  It's kind of a mini-Grand Canyon only more up close and personal.

These two rock formations were called the Merrimack and the Monitor
after the two ironclad ships that fought one another in the civil war.

Another petrified sand dune.

The Green (or was it the Colorado) has cut this canyon out.

Panoramic view from a ridge.

You can't fail to be amazed at the power of water.

Stunning isn't it!

Visit Utah!  You'll love it!