Canyonlands preserves an immense wilderness of rock at the heart of the Colorado Plateau. Water and gravity have been the prime architects of this land, cutting flat layers of sedimentary rock into hundreds of colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches and spires. At center stage are two great canyons, those carved by the Green and Colorado rivers. Few people were familiar with these remote lands and rivers when the park was established in 1964. Prehistoric Native Americans, cowboys, river explorers and uranium prospectors had dared to enter this rugged corner of south-eastern Utah, but few others did. To a large degree, Canyonlands remains untrammeled today. Its roads are mostly unpaved, its trails primitive, its rivers free-flowing. Throughout its 527 square miles roam desert bighorn sheep, coyotes and other animals native to this land. Canyonlands is wild America. (by: http://www.national-park.com)

The Canyonland National Park stretches out forever into the horizon.  As you as you enter the park, photo opportunities are endless within the parks vast landscapes.

Mesa Arch is a perfect trail for beginners, families with small children or light hikers, and one of Canyonlands’s most iconic vistas. It takes a short half mile round trip hike to reach the Mesa Arch. Mesa Arch offers a magnificent view of Buck Canyon below and the arch frames the spectacular view of the rugged White Rim below and the La Sal Mountains in the background.

We left the hotel where we were staying around 4:30am for a 35miles (45minutes) drive to Canyonlands National Park. The hike to get to the arch takes only about 15 minutes, the reason why we are too early is beacuse if it’s popularity in photography, the space to take photos is small and there are lots of photographers and other visitors wanting to capture the sunrise.

 

 

Getting sunrise pictures likewhat we did requires some sacrifice. Most people wakes up late on vacations, but not us…

You don’t have to get up early  too, scenery here is amazing any time of day but witnessing the sunrise and beginning your day here at Mesa Arch is really amazing!