The day started with some relatively clear weather — the storms of the previous night had moved along. This was our last day in the Moab area so we were heading the Arches National Park. We left early to beat the inevitable crowds and managed to spend half of the day walking a few short trails and touring some of the various overlooks. We spent some time near the campground (Devils’ Garden), but we could only picnic in the area as the campground was closed in 2017.

By the time lunch was over, the trails to the ‘Landscape Arch’ were chock full. So was the ‘Windows’ Area, so we left the crowds an headed to the Islands in the Sky district of the Canyonlands.

Unfortunately, and this was thematic though our trip, the national parks are being invaded by day-trippers who are un-aware of park rules, have an incredible need to climb on important park features to take ‘selfies’, and are just so irritatingly ignorant of the importance of preservation, that it is difficult to tolerate the environs once the cretins have lifted themselves out of their hotel rooms and descended like locusts into the park areas. Aside from not wanting to commit homicide, it is quite difficult to actually see and photograph any of the important features of the parks without also capturing some damn fool destroying the parks for future generations. I’m damned if I’m going to take a photograph that will just serve to enrage me every time I look at it!!!

OK, with that little rant out of the way, here are some of sights we *did* get to see and some photos of same!

Park Avenue and Trail. The park avenue with the organ pipes on the right. You can see some folks setting off on the trail centre bottom.The Park Avenue formed by a rock wall on the left and the Organ Pipe fins on the right.Balanced Rock/Park Avenue. Top left is a balanced rock (of sorts) along the left side of the Park Avenue. The 'official' Balanced Rock was closed in 2017.The Courthouse. These large building like blocks are found at the end of the Park Avenue.The Three Gossips and the Tower of Babel. On the left is what appear to be three people chatting with each other. The Tower of Babel is a large free-standing fin.Sand Dunes and the Salt Valley. Centre->Right and off to the distance is the Salt Valley. You can see dunes/aeolian rocks. The Tower of Babel is off the left edge of the scene.The Fiery Furnace and Sand Dunes. On the left upper centre is a set of fins that are called the Fiery Furnace. You can hike in here, but bring an experienced guide if you don't want to get lost! Front centre are a set of Aeolian deposited rocks (aka petrified dunes). The Salt Valley extends to the right.The Sand Dune Arch. This arch is in a long valley surrounded by large fins. The valley is filled with deep sand -- presumably retained by the fins and possibly deposited by the wind.Picturesque setting along the trail to the Broken Arch. Pinyon pines, Utah Junipers, and the usual suspects from the desert vegetation line up. Backdrop of a set of fins just south of the campgrounds (closed in 2017).The Broken Arch. Note the broken parts on the ground and the obvious cleft centre left of the arch. The trail to the arch actually passes through the arch itself on the way to the campground (closed in 2017)The Delicate Arch. Viewed from across the valley containing the formation. It's quite interesting to see the arch in the context of the whole formation instead of the normal 'solitary' image. Note the crowds of idiots who have left the trail to take a 'selfie' of themselves and the arch.

 

Canyonlands - Needles 2017
Canyonlands - Island in the Sky 2017