Passion 4 Travel

United States

Days 12/13-14: National Parks - More interesting than Canyonlands was Dead Horse Point State Park that gave a panorama over the Canyonlands. This wasn't really what was interesting though. It was the story behind it that caught everyone's interest. As the legend goes, it is so-called because it was once used as a corral for wild mustangs - the 30yd wide neck of the point could be fenced off with brush and branches. Cowboys took the horses they wanted and the rest died of thirst within sight of the Colorado River (2,000 ft below). Nice!

Day 13 started with Raft Floating down the Colorado River. Its a bit like White Water Rafting without the paddling (the guide did all the paddling) and without much white water (class 1 & 2 rapids only) ;-). That was a nice relaxing morning, which was good because we had a very busy afternoon. Arches National Park with its arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins and eroded monoliths was created by an unstable underground salt bed and the effects of water, ice and extreme temperatures. We did a pretty quickly walked 4 mile hike in Devil's Garden to look at Landscape Arch and Double O Arch before another quick-march 3 mile up a somewhat steep hill or two to Delicate Arch. It might not sound too exerting but I broke into a bit of a sweat so they must have been ;-) The route of the hikes however made you feel like you were on top of the world!

Day 14: We briefly stopped to look at a waterfall in Capitol Reef National Park before heading to Bryce Canyon. This is famous for its Hoodoos - pillars of rock of fantastic shapes caused by erosion. Hiking from Bryce Point to Sunrise Point we encircled the Bryce Amphitheatre of Hoodoos. I would have probably enjoyed it more if I wasn't so tired. A bit further on Rainbow Point provided views of Southern Utah. The night was spent in a tepee, which was great :-)