There is a sense, when you stand at the edge of almost any overlook at this park, of otherworldliness. Your mind rebels at the idea that this vista your eye beholds, that it belongs on this earth. The scale of it all is one thing, but the sheer oddity and variety of all the formations out there on the great expanse, it easily pulls you to imagine you’re far away on some distant world.
The crowds were sparse here, at least when we visited that early morning- though I will say if you’ve plans to enjoy Mesa Arch, time your arrival well in advance and be prepared for loads of people crowded around the formation. Grand View Point Overlook was almost completely deserted when drove up, and compared to the previous day we had stopped by when there was absolutely no parking available, it was a welcome sight. We spent the better part of an hour just wandering around the edges of the overlook there, casting our eyes down down down to where we could see hints of the at times dangerous and high clearance, four-wheel-drive recommended Shafer Trail Road. I think very highly of my beloved Renegade, but that doesn’t mean i’m so foolhardy as to think we should attempt any part of that road, no matter how utterly tempting it might have been. (Definitely something i’ve bookmarked in my mind to come back to later though. )
Leaving the Grand View Point overlook was almost harder than leaving one of my favorite overlooks at the Grand Canyon, and that’s truly saying something, though I guess i’ve a thing for “grand” things.
Don’t we all though?
~m
Sleepy Coffee and Fables 
I really love arches as well (surprise, surprise). I’ve been a few times and attempted Shafer Trail Road in 2013, but we started at the bottom and when we got in Canyonlands the road was closed – mega bummer! But my parents just got back Saturday from Canyonlands and they got to do the whole thing! They said it was absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on a truly grand place! Xx
Oooh I am totally envious of your parents( which is such a weird thing to say I know lol) I really want to do that trail one day, though it will probably not be for another year or so …and I hope you get to do it one day soon too :D
I meant to say Canyonlands ^ ;)
This place is so pretty!! So vast and open and your photos really capture it!
Thank you!! This park is just incredibly beautiful and amazing and yup, definitely very vast :P
Gorgeous photos!
Thank you!! 😊
it really is “otherworldly” – i didn’t know how to feel when i was there… almost overwhelmed. did you get that feeling?
Yes exactly! It was definitely a feeling of being overwhelmed, but in a good way I think. It was almost like when I first saw the Grand Canyon except more because I didn’t know what to expect here and it was so vastly different from say, Arches. But I honestly can’t wait to go back :)