Another hot day today, and another bus ride. today we drove to Canyonlands National Park, then took stops in Dead Horse Canyon State Park and at an area of native pictographs along the Colorado river.

As usual today’s parks were impressive, different than the ones that have come before. Canyonlands is somewhat similar to Arches, but due to its location between the Colorado and Green Rivers it has more canyon views to go with arches. In addition we got to see the top of Shafer Trail…steep, multiple switchbacks, and sorely in need of a 4 wheel drive vehicle. We were amazed/amused to watch cyclists riding down the grade.

Our guide told us about a number of movies shot in the neighborhood. The two most interesting were done, in part, in Dead Horse Canyon. Tom Cruise dangling on the canyon wall in Mission Impossible 2 was shot here, and this was also where Thelma and Louise launched their car into the great abyss (locals are still unhappy that the movie made you believe it was the Grand Canyon).

Native artwork on canyon walls never ceases to be interesting. These were well above eye level; we were told that the natives were standing on the ground when they made their drawings, but that the Utah highway department had removed quite a lot of soil when the highway was built.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. It’s my day with a photography guide; we’ll be shooting 6-10 AM, then again in the evening. I’m excited…hope I have all my gear ready. Leila will be riding an ATV around Moab backcountry in the morning as well. I think she will have our action camera, and we hope she has some great footage to share.