Moab KOA Campground (el 4,500 ft); Moab, Utah
(click pictures to enlarge)
(all pictures taken with Nokia Lumia 929 Cell Phone)
There were two National Parks that I wanted to see in this area. They were Arches NP and Canyonlands NP. I figured Arches would be the best so I went there first, which was Sunday. I was disappointed. Yesterday I went to Canyonlands and it made up for my disappointment with Arches. Every stop was a "wow moment". I took lots of pictures but they don't capture the true beauty and vastness of the sights. There were times when I just stood there for several minutes trying to soak in the view. There was so much to absorb, your sense of sight just gets overwhelmed. That was combined with a fragrance in the air brought on by the short rain. I wasn't able to idendify the smell, no one seemed to know. I liked this National Park a lot, and will be back in the future.
Some of the pictures may not have any captions because just seeing it says it all. I was glad my cell phone has the panorama app. It is very easy to use and produces pretty decent panoramic pictures. If anyone has a question about one, just comment or email me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YBTQGDfd84lJxvlvoLw3JROoEriYXzmDDyG7CS7A-F-IxLnq45QRg7UUSmQ6IXtCS3n_OFmP-zZ7__LdzWVk8dc8OzUen2mBpaMtjIPwHCPVCs5uN74XSOGsntjgfAFA_y0PwtAMAtc/s640/50.jpg) |
This is on the way to Canyonlands. I took it because that cloud over the mountains looked like an Indian smoke signal. |
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It looked like it was going to be a pretty day although the weather forecast called for scattered showers |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UIrtxUGh6ABjXgQyE3F7JdUab_Q4UBPKWfWo4yVQK4sBOm2aoRzIrvM-grA74NQ22xcPIsCyPjXQUg8_QTCWB2R1UfJe0WghKKT4x72pJnQaktNBAP02Dy57EZgu7teESvzrMlP99xc/s640/52.jpg) |
This was taken for a "pull-off" before reaching the Park. It was a nice view. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8xs9-jJ4qxRE9dtOWEIMayG5hR45QzEUVXp-L5RzDUFBkEQeNbKRo-F8asJR3vu6tQ8RHvc9S8XOLgLDvcGpfL-ub-lBheqcGwmJFavBdHO3bMFMc_mFCs65E9z-qmnUrnSGjfb0-Qc/s640/53.jpg) |
A dark cloud came up as I was getting closer to the Park entrance. Just as I pulled into the parking lot of the visitor's center, it started raining with some soft hail mixed in. I knew it wouldn't last long, so I just reclined the seat and took a nap with the rain music playing tap-tap on the roof of Freedom. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-e4l7tS8_rwaWJycebqOHugwgxLw7klRdurZbGKTusJiXJt2OWAtNZiMrTAcMntmCNIdRNzdjZQ79fuThu87oXIJb5gpHJiy5iYIyzo8fXSxCIS6Mx-9xTY5uSGoozCr9HNYyRl7FdA/s640/57.jpg) |
Panorama picture |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOaYqHJebyHaZXnmqGgauPrLQLcbssHmM7m577ue4IxjnuxgbL_tb4uEw4hCRuzPbbXfUvBG6vQ_yR4WBAtTtur020YYhUJOSs-_nrW0bI5fL26URAlURk5ewCD7JBTxukw3BEfn0IJY/s640/61.jpg) |
That's the Green River in the bottom of the canyons. It joins up with the Colorado just a little ways further south. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil69Cf1wHmTewScG8kL_QaIJD0EzZqCA8nwxoMak47CJ5SJXWuQG1_gRFoGvv1K-xO6ykH6PDtMzpPq_LkDXeCBKsm7B1Wd4pe6iCUWB9CZMV9OrZ5hefJLb9YRubJqBz2e-l5EJsS7KU/s640/71.jpg) |
This gives an idea about the view-stops. The people are on the edge, looking around. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpiE-L77gdlURwEx4TG2BOQoq0rz7VxkSiIGXwt7NYOIb8Er09ROpc1YSHlayg6IBK2xt-zY7iK_ijUtRuUi3ebqB-0IkEjfDuzqyEgpJoR-IErcSj3bB4aP1tymPrRpLLLXKX_gKZl8/s640/75.jpg) |
This was on the way out. I took it because of the balanced rock. |
Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.
Darrell, are these photos of Canyonland from the park at the north entrance? I would recommend you also do the trip in the park from the south entrance also. Actually both ends of the park are spectacular but on a ten scale I would give the north side a 9 and the south a 10. Enjoying your posts and trip as much as ever. Be safe. Happy Days, Martin
ReplyDeleteMartin, these are from the northern part,,,the island in the sky. I don't know if I will get to the southern part or not before I leave the area.
DeleteWe were very impressed with the Needles area of Canyonlands we were in last March & next time in the area plan to check out the Northern end of Canyonlands. That whole southeastern area of Utah is a marvelous scenic wonder.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I will look at some of the views and it looks fake until I remind myself its real.
DeleteBeautiful pictures Darrell ! I wonder if the smell you mentioned was ozone ?
ReplyDeleteHello Ed. I thought it smelled like the creosote bushes I smelled in west Texas and Arizona, but I haven't confirmed it yet. Not sure about Ozone, there wasn't any lightening with the storm. May remain a mystery to me.
DeleteJust curious, why were you disappointed with Arches? Now, Moab, I could see being disappointed with, but we really enjoyed Arches. Lots of other tourists, though. Hard to get a picture without a crowd in it.
ReplyDeletehello KCD, good to hear from you again. I just posted about my visit to Arches. I changed my mind a little bit and went with "semi-disappointment" instead of disappointment. Beside not feeling 100% when I visited, I got the feeling of "seen one sandstone formation, seen them all". I know that doesn't sound fair, but let's blame it on me not feeling well. :)
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