Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, November 6, 2017

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah (9/11/17)

Our first view of the deep canyon below --from the East Rim Trail
Dear Friends,  This is my 5th post from our WEST TRIP  to Utah and Arizona from Sept 6-21,  2017.     If you missed any of the posts so far  (Overall Summary,   Antelope Canyon,  Arches,  and Zion),  you can find them by going to my labels on my sidebar and clicking on  WEST TRIP 2017.  (WEST TRIP 2017 is also listed on "My Favorites" on my right side bar.)

We visited 11 National Parks or Monuments,  5  Navajo Indian areas,  took many Scenic Drives and also visited 3 state parks on that trip...   TODAY ---I'm sharing one of our favorite State Parks from this trip...

DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK is located near Moab,  Utah  (and not far from Canyonlands,  Island in the Sky National Park).    You may wonder how this park got its name...  WELL--according to legend,  the point was once used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa.   The 'neck' where the horses entered was only 30 yards wide and was fenced off with branches and brush at one end,  with all of the other outlets being high cliffs.  The horses were trapped in there. The cowboys chose the horses they wanted and for unknown reasons,  they left the other horses in that corral.  The horses died of thirst --although the Colorado River was 'only' 2000 feet below!   (Sad story,  isn't it?)

Regardless of that sad story, this park is absolutely GORGEOUS.   Hope you enjoy seeing some of my pictures today from there.


Ten million years of erosion sculpted this land of canyons,  mesas and buttes



Did you see this from a distance in the first two pictures?  What do you think it is??????  We had no idea until we read the sign.  This is a Solar Evaporation Pond owned by Intrepid Potash, Inc.  The potash is used to make plant fertilizer.    (I have never seen anything like this in my entire life.)



Check out this sign for more details.



You can only imagine how happy I was being on top of the mountain with those views from Dead Horse Point State Park.



So much beauty all around



This is the sign telling how Dead Horse Point State Park got its name.



Now we are on the south side of the canyon--heading west to the Point Overlook.  That is the Colorado River.



Look at all of these little roads down there (and in several of these photos)....  Wouldn't it be neat to be down there,  up close and personal with the landscape????   There are roads all over that area  (out of the park) --so I don't know how one would even get to those areas.




Now I am looking toward the west  late in the afternoon.  This is the POINT ---and I am looking toward Canyonlands in the distance.



Beautiful Colorado River --as it carved its path deep into the ancient rock layers



We should have taken our picture together here --but since it was late and we were tired,  we didn't...  SO---you'll just have to enjoy seeing pictures of us individually!!!!!   

A map of the park;  You can see the narrow 'neck' (where they pinned up the horses) and also the 'point' where we had a great view of the Colorado River.  ALSO---you can see 9 miles of hiking trails here.   


Finally,   here is a close up of the Colorado River taken from the Point Overlook at Dead Horse Point State Park 
I hope these pictures have peaked your interest.   IF you get to Moab and/or Canyonlands,  PLEASE visit this state park.   AND --if you enjoy biking,  check out those trails.   ALSO---if you enjoy hiking,  there are LOTS of great hiking trails here....   For more information about this state park,  click HERE.

Have a great week.

Hugs,

31 comments:

Ann said...

I was wondering how it got the name and yes that is sad. Can you imagine the field day animal rights activists would have with that today? That is a really beautiful place.

George said...

You got some great pictures in this park. I'm glad we visited here, and I wouldn't mind going back.

linda m said...

There is so much beauty there, I can't begin to imagine what it was like to actually be there. God's handiwork is certainly present. Thank you for sharing.

very_inky_fingers said...

These are such gorgeous photographs. I am an arm chair traveler..thank you for taking me with you.

Marcia said...

Betsy - great photos. One thinks that the Grand Canyon is the only place where the Colorado carved the landscape but you've corrected my thinking for sure and reminded me that one I was 7 and our family was returning east after living in the Far East we did stop at scenery like that along with the GC.

David said...

Betsy, Beautiful park and one I'd never heard of either... Looks like a can't miss place...but I'll still to views from the road...or maybe a short walk. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Arkansas Patti said...

Wonderful shots of a spectacular park. What a lovely place to have such a dreadful name. What on earth were they thinking not turning them loose? Grr.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous pictures! And yes, I did wonder about the name as soon as I saw your title. What a horrible story!! Too bad those people were not jailed for animal cruelty, but I guess it was long ago. The pond is something I have never heard about. Do you wonder if birds come there? I do! Wonder if there would be any snacks for them down there.

Fun60 said...

Fabulous scenery Betsy. Sad tale about the origin of the name.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

This is a gorgeous place which we haven't seen. The reason for it's name is just too sad. I love horses and can't imagine why such cruelty was done to them. Take care. x Cheryl

Ruth Hiebert said...

These photos are gorgeous. So,I guess my sleepy little town/city have something in common with this park. The creek running through my town is called Dead Horse Creek. I should try to find out the origin of that name. I must say that Dead Horse Point State Park is far more beautiful than Dead Horse Creek.

Barb said...

We’ve often biked from Moab to Dead Horse. It’s a pretty bike ride and seems to have less traffic than the other parks. I’m enjoying your western photos, Betsy.

The Furry Gnome said...

What a spectacular place! You must have had a marvellous trip!

Happytrails said...

What a beautiful place named from a sad story. Your pictures are beautiful but I can only imagine what it looked like in person as your eyes beheld the beauty of His creation. Thanks for sharing such a grand p;ace.

Linda said...

Wow! Spectacular views! Thanks for sharing.

Jo said...

Oh Betsy, what a sad story about the feral horses trapped in the corral. However the views are awesome and most interesting facts on the potash evaporation pond. Enjoy your day. Blessings Jo

eileeninmd said...

Hello Betsy, the story about this park is sad. But, the views are fantastic in this park. Wonderful photos. Enjoy your day!

Linda G. said...

Gorgeous photos

A Colorful World said...

First of all--Wow!!! Stunning shots. What a wonderfully beautiful place, with an interesting history. Those poor horses!
Second--a couple of questions: 1) It looks like from the map that one can only access the eastern side by car with two or three overlooks available. The western side it would take being able to hike. Is that correct? 2) How did it compare to Monument Valley in your scale of great places? 3) If we can only see it by car, do you think it would be worth it for us to make a detour on a trip to Vegas next May just to see it and also asking in reference to Moab since we would then be so close. We might be kind've limited for time, so I'm not sure we can, but your photos have made me want to--BIG TIME! :-)

Lady Fi said...

Lovely shots! I can see why you like it there.

Pam said...

Beautiful photos, Betsy! Now I wish we had gone to Utah when out there, after seeing this. And an interesting story with how the park got its name. Thanks for sharing!

Lowcarb team member said...

What great pictures you've posted here. There is so much beauty all around us, and we really should take time to enjoy it, whether it be in our own neighbourhood or further afield.
Beautiful collection of photographs Betsy, thank you.

All the best Jan

Small Kucing said...

Solar Evaporation Pond? never heard of it till now. Going to google to see how it works :)

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

When we were visiting the national parks in Utah, other park visitors told us we "must" visit Dead Horse Point State Park. But we didn't. Now, after seeing your pictures, I'm really sorry we didn't take that advice. If we're ever back in Utah, that's going to be on our itinerary!

Betsy said...

Gosh what beautiful views. Did you have any probably with getting used to the altitude? I did when I went to Colorado for a little while.
You look so good in your picture. Can see how much you enjoyed it from your smile.
betsy

diane b said...

It looks like on another planet with no trees. A beautiful, weird landscape.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

What a gorgeous place. And that solar pond is so neat!

Connie said...

Such amazing and beautiful photos, Betsy! What a wonderful place to see.

Jeevan said...

Absolutely marvellous landscape and formation of canyons… and interesting stories to hold behind and sorry for the horses those lost lives to give back the name. The solar evaporation ponds is something what I thought was lake! I really enjoyed these photos and views… I wonder how many years it would have taken to form this shape and will the river rise up to cover these layers again.

Lux G. said...

You guys know where the best places to visit to. This place is so gorgeous!

Pat Tillett said...

What a sad way to get a name! Beautiful photos of an obviously beautiful place. Great post Betsy!