Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [87]
Historic & Man-Made Attractions
This land was once the domain of prehistoric American Indians, who constructed their buildings out of the region's rock, hunted deer and bighorn sheep, and left numerous drawings on rock walls. Most of the park's archaeological sites are in the Needles District. They include the well-preserved cliff dwelling called Tower Ruin, high on a cliff ledge in Horse Canyon, and an easy-to-reach ancient granary, near the Needles Visitor Center, that is accessible on the short self-guided Roadside Ruin Trail. Throughout the park you'll also find evidence of more modern peoples—the trappers, explorers, and cowboys of the 19th century.
In Horseshoe Canyon, a separate and remote section of the park on the west side of the Green River, you'll find the Great Gallery, one of the most fantastic rock art panels in the Southwest. More than 80 feet long, the panel contains many red-and-white paintings of what appear to be larger-than-life human figures. The paintings are believed to be at least 2,000 years old.
Day Hikes
Conditions along these trails can be tough in summer: little shade, no reliable water sources, and temperatures soaring to over 100°F (38°C). Because of this, rangers strongly advise that hikers carry at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, along with sunscreen, a hat, and all the usual hiking and emergency equipment. Ideally, if you expect to do some serious hiking, try to plan your trip for the spring or fall, when conditions are much more hospitable.
All hikers should be careful on the many trails that cross slickrock, a general term for any bare rock surface. As the name implies, it can be slippery, especially when wet. Also, because some of the trails may be confusing, hikers attempting the longer ones should take good topographical maps, available at park visitor centers and at stores in Moab.
The following are some of the park's many hiking possibilities, arranged by district; check with rangers for other suggestions.
ISLAND IN THE SKY DISTRICT
SHORTER TRAILS
Grand View Trail
1 mile one-way. Easy. Access: Grand View Point Overlook at south end of paved road.
At the trailhead, stop and read the sign that points out all the prominent features you can see, such as the Totem Pole and the confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers. Although this is a fairly flat and easy trail to hike, you should watch carefully for the cairns that mark the trail because some are on the small side. And always stay back from the cliff edge. This trail is especially beautiful at sunset, when the panorama seems to change constantly with the diminishing angle of sunlight.
Mesa Arch Trail
.5 mile RT. Easy. Access: Trailhead along paved road about 6 miles south of visitor center. This is a self-guided nature walk through an area of pinyon and juniper trees, mountain mahogany, cactus, and a plant called Mormon Tea, from which Mormon pioneers made hot drinks. The trail's main scenic attraction is the Mesa Arch, made of Navajo sandstone. It hangs precariously on the edge of a 500-foot cliff, framing a spectacular view of nearby mountains.
Upheaval Dome Overlook
.4 mile one-way. Moderate. Access: Trailhead at end of Upheaval Dome Rd.
This hike to the overlook has a few steep inclines. Upheaval Dome doesn't fit with the rest of Canyonlands' terrain— it's the result not of gradual erosion (like the rest of the park), but rather of a dramatic deformity in which rocks have been pushed into a domelike structure. At one time it was theorized that a hidden volcano formed the dome, but now experts say the cause may have been a meteorite that struck the earth some 60 million years ago. Hiking another .5 mile takes you to a second overlook, closer to the Dome but with a less panoramic view.
Whale Rock Trail
.5 mile one-way. Moderate. Access: Trailhead about 4 miles down Upheaval Dome Rd. This trail provides breathtaking 360-degree