4K Canyonlands: Island in the Sky Overlooks

Описание: The Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Each overlook offers a different perspective on the park's spectacular landscape, and these are where you will experience the grandeur of this incredible place. If you're short on time, Island in the Sky is the easiest district to visit,
but the drive itself is not as scenic as some national parks. Many pullouts along the paved scenic drive offer the most spectacular views, and to immerse deeper into the canyon’s landscape, hiking trails and four-wheel-drive roads access backcountry areas for day or overnight trips.

Here are the view points we visited:

*Shafer Trail Overlook
One of the first major viewpoints after the visitor center, it offers a sense of the scale of the canyon and looks down on the thrilling switchbacks of the Shafer Trail.

*Mesa Arch Trail:
This short, 0.7-mile loop hike leads to an iconic arch framing a dramatic canyon view. It is especially popular at sunrise when the arch appears to glow from the morning sun.

*Buck Canyon Overlook:
Offers expansive, nearly 180-degree views of the eastern canyons and mesas of the park, with the Colorado River visible below. You can also see the La Sal Mountains in the distance.

*Grand View Point Overlook:
Located at the southernmost point of the scenic drive, this overlook features a 180-degree panorama of canyons, spires, and distant mountains. A short, paved path leads to the first
viewpoint, and an additional trail provides even more expansive views.

*Orange Cliffs Overlook:
This overlook is special for its panoramic, westward-facing views of the vibrant orange-red cliffs in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, which glow beautifully at sunset, and provides a spectacular vista, including views of the Green River and the remote Maze district, often with fewer crowds than the nearby Grand View Point.

*Whale Rock:
This is a large sandstone dome in Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky district that resembles a giant whale. A short, moderate hike ascends to its summit, offering panoramic views of Upheaval Dome, surrounding canyons, and distant mountains. The trail is fun for scrambling, making it a rewarding and accessible viewpoint for many visitors. 

And my favorite…
*Green River Overlook:
This southwest-facing viewpoint affords the best views of one of Canyonlands' two mighty rivers: the Green River, deep in its channel 1,300 feet (396 m) below. Visitors can also see features of The Maze district and the White Rim Road.
This spot one of the best places at Island in the Sky to watch the sun set.

This was another one of those examples of a vast landscape that just cannot be captured on camera. It looks so small, so insignificant when I am putting it all together on my phone. It is something you really need to see in person, and even though Canyonlands doesn’t have the in-your-face kind of views from the road, there is still plenty to see from behind the windshield.

It was 91* before noon, and so it wasn’t an easy trek to Mesa Arch, as the sand and rocks reflected the heat, but it was very much worth the effort. This was the most crowded I had seen a trail, so not much opportunity to film at my usual pace, but it was a fantastic sight to see!

Islands in the Sky is just a small part of why Moab is an amazing area to visit.. each and every overlook had such a unique point of view, it really is incredible.

I wish I could write more, but today I am fighting hard to get this written in time to post at my regular Friday time, so I am taking my lunch break to write this from my desk with a computer full of emails, reports and orders staring back at me while I eat lunch from a cup and thumb- type furiously on my phone…

Guess you could say I’m committed to my craft, albeit small. Well I hope you found this tour of Canyonlands National Park worthwhile, because more is coming as we drive down through Moab proper and on out the remote Needles District of Canyonlands in the next video. We’ll take a POV front seat adventure to one of the most stunning places I have ever seen. But then… it is once again so impressive, that you’ll have to imagine how big it is in reality!

Enjoy, and I’ll catch ya next time♥️