Start of Arches and Canyonlands

Atop the mountain in Canyonlands.

Again.

Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.

In Arches Nat'l Park with Eric.

On the road to Canyonlands.

Lauren and Meera back-bending on the rocks above our campsite in Canyonlands.

Evolution of Man.

On the road again.

Chilling in the sunset of Canyonlands.

On Saturday we drove to Moab, UT to Arches National Park where we saw an overlook of Delicate Arch and stopped at  several pull-outs along the road for some excellent views.  It was really beautiful, but about 102 degrees so getting out of the car was sweltering.  We probably only spent a couple hours there before returning to Moab and getting lunch and some groceries for our trip into the Needles District of Canyonlands.  The drive there was probably about 1.5 hours but we stopped several times for some amazing photographic opportunities.  It's so much fun having Eric with us because his camera is so great.  We have taken a lot of really cool and fun pictures.

When we got to Canyonlands we were a little worried that there would be no campsites available because at all the other parks they are filled by afternoon and it was about 6 p.m.  However, as we got closer, I started to worry less - we hardly passed another soul.  On the way we also stopped at Newspaper Rock which has petroglyphs that represent 2,000 years of ancient history starting in BC and going to about 1300 AD.  Petroglyphs are essentially cave drawings.

The scenery was so gorgeous on our way into Canyonlands' Needles District and with the sun getting lower in the sky, many of the rocks were brilliant red.  We got out and got some great photos in the middle of the empty road. 

Once there, the campsite was practically empty and we got a great little spot with some shady trees and a a giant rock ridge behind us.  After setting up, we climbed up the rocks and the view was breathtaking.  We could see canyons, mountains, "needles," plateaus and plains.  We watched as the sun went down and then got ready for bed at the nearest flush toilet bathrooms, probably about .5 miles away.  Meera went to bed really early because she planned to leave by 6 am to go on an 11 mile hike.  The boys and I opted out of that one.

Jared, Eric and I sat around looking at the brilliance of the stars, finding many more shooting stars and chatting until about 11.  But, amazingly, we woke up at 6:30 am - because when I opened my eyes and saw the sunrise reflecting on the rocks in front of our tent, I couldn't go back to sleep.  I was trying to get Eric's camera out without waking him and Jarod, but Eric woke up and it's probably good because it was on a setting he said I wouldn't have known how to use. lol  So, we got up and took sunrise photos and climbed on the rocks and took a bunch up there, then walked to the bathroom again.  By the time we got back, Jarod woke up and we all had breakfast before going on our own hike.

We chose to climb  to the top of a rock mountain that didn't look too far away, but was probably about 1.5 miles or so each way.  But, since it wasn't an official trail, we had a lot of fun finding our way over all the rocks.  The view from the top was crazy beautiful and we took a bunch of silly photos. 

When we got back to the campsite, we were afraid Meera would already be back and waiting, but she was not so the three of us played charades and laid around until about 12:30 when she made it back.

After she returned, we drove around the park a bit, then headed toward Moab.