Arches National Park

Some images from our adventures today. More details tomorrow.  

However, if you want to get a feel for our excursions through Arches National Park feel free to read a blog post I published when I first visited this scenic park in July 2012.  It was this weekend adventure that prompted me to suggest our last-minute change of itinerary. I'm delighted to report that Garry was just as mesmerised by the scenery today as I was three years ago.

Now why didn't Garry want me standing on this rocky outcrop for a classic photo memory?  And just to be clear, that's not me posing for a photo.  I did try and convince Garry it would be awesome but he wasn't persuaded.

As you can see the landscape at Canyonlands National Park lives up to its billing. The photos above were taken from Dead Horse Point. Iconic scenes from the movie, Thelma & Louise, starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, were filmed less than a kilometre from this viewpoint.

For me, the view shown above is one of the park's more iconic landscapes. It's called Park Avenue.  It's also one of the first sights you encounter as you enter the park.  The view itself is accessed via a 400-metre trail from a car park along Arches Scenic Drive.  

I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask if this was taken in Utah. It really does look like the Wild West we've grown up with in Hollywood movies. One day I'll publish a post about my day trip to Monument Valley where many of John Wayne's iconic backdrops were actually filmed. 

UPDATE: I’ve finally published a retrospective post about Monument Valley.

The photos above were taken along the Windows Trail.  The bottom photo shows the North Window Arch It's one of the larger national arch formations in the park and is one of three arches along the trail.

This is a well-maintained walking track that traces a 2km loop from the main car park, up a series of rocky slopes, and on towards North Window Arch.  The trail then leads on to the South Window Arch and finally the Turret Arch. All three arches can see from the park's main road several miles away.