After leaving Arches in the early afternoon, we zipped up UT-191 northward to the Island in the Sky. The Island is a large mesa that juts out into the Canyonlands. Along the north-west facing part of the mesa you look out over the canyon made by the Green River. Along the south-east facing part of the mesa you look out over the canyon made by the Colorado River. The canyons are not as deep as the Grand Canyon, but they are very wide. The Colorado and Green rivers join somewhat west and south of the Island and flow towards the Glen Canyon Recreational Area (where the Colorado is joined by the San Juan) and the Grand Canyon (where the Colorado is joined by the Little Colorado).

We took a series of pictures from the edge of the Island in the Sky Mesa. It was a brief road tour and then we headed back to Moab to settle down for the night.

The Green River Branch. Looking northwest into some weather from the 'Island in the Sky' mesa. The Green River cannot be seen but rather this area is just a set of erosion features cut through the various steps on the Canyonlands which lead, eventually, to the Green River.Green River View. Another view looking Northeast. You can actually just catch a glimpse of the Green River in the distant centre.Green River View. Another view of a canyon leading to the Green River (distant centre left. A little of the surface of the 'Island in the Sky' Mesa top is visible in this picture -- some good tough limestone.Chipmunk! - Canyonlands Islands. Some animal life spotted while we were touring the Islands in the Sky district in Canyonlands.The Trail to the Colorado. Looking southeast from the 'Island in the Sky' mesa, this is the Jeep/Motorcycle trail leading to the Colorado Branch of the Canyonlands.

 

Arches 2017
Moab 2017