Canyon Lands National Park..or two

At first we thought, "What a cliche'd name for a park". But then on our first hike to the  Island In The Sky area we saw the difference. At the high level the Green River has carved a wide deep canyon like at Zion. But then the floor of the broad canyon is carved in to a huge network of smaller (but deep) canyons. The Green River joins the Colorado River south of here.

The next day we went to the other side of the park down into the lowest level of canyons. It was as if we were in a different park altogether. It was 11/2 hours to get to the trail head including some dirt road but it was worth it for yet another great hike. This side, called The Needles has Amazing, but different rock shapes!

No earth quakes while we hike through this passage between two cracked slabs please!

We found some shade for a break along the trail.

Canyon side table for lunch, please. 95 degrees and no shade available but the light breezes keep us comfortable.

Each layer of the rock erodes faster or slower depending on how hard it is.

Each layer can be a different color too.

When a plateau splits vertically as it erodes away, sections like this one can sometimes erode through more quickly in the center becoming an arch.

Today we're off to Mesa Verde  in Colorado to see where the cliff dwelling Pueblo Indians lived.