Thursday, December 29, 2016, Canyonlands National Park
This trip was centered around the “Big 5” National Parks in Southern Utah. The “Big 5” was something we had heard about only shortly before planning the trip, but it is fairly common for people to string together visits to all five on one trip, just as we did. Before hearing about the Big 5 and planning our trip, I was aware of Zion, Bryce, and Arches, but I was not familiar with Capitol Reef or Canyonlands. I wrote previously about the beauty of Capitol Reef. We were completely blown away by Canyonlands. It was the only place we visited where the crowds were sparse. Apparently we were not the only ones unfamiliar with it, but its size and beauty are stunning.
We visited the Island in the Sky section on Thursday. We hiked some trails and took in the breathtaking views. It is so vast and there are multiple layers of canyon. You can see canyons within canyons as you look out from the high elevation of the “island” over the canyons below.
Far off in the distance to the south we could see the spire rock formations called The Needles. That would be our destination for the next day.
Where Are We Going Now? 
Again, great pictures. This has to be one of your most memorable family trips due to both the scenery, the weather, the holiday and having the immediate family together.
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