Coast to Coast Grandkids Tour - Canyonlands NP (July 2011)

Canyonlands National Park provides many spectacular views looking up, down, and across a seemingly endless expanse of canyons.  I never imagined that sand, stone and rocks could be so beautiful and amazing.

We hiked the 1/2 mile Upheaval Dome Trail. The strange formation consists of a huge circular pit, about a mile in diameter and 1,100 feet deep, surrounded by rings of uplifted rock that were originally several thousand feet under the ground.

No one knows exactly what caused this phenomenon. Our video of Upheaval Dome.

After stopping at the visitor center, a ranger suggested we hike Whale Rock Trail which is one mile in length. 

 Kath and the boys pause for a photo OP on our way up the the formation.

You start out going through a short valley with plenty of trees prior to getting to the base of the

hill.

Here we are walking along the whale's belly. It is very slippery and we caution the kids to stay away from the sides. Does not look that high!

This long sandstone formation looks like a giant beached whale that came ashore on the Island in the Sky. We thoroughly enjoyed this hike.