Goblin Valley State Park, Belle Canyon, and Dead Horse State Park

Kate had planned to take us on a seven mile round trip hike to Horseshoe Canyon to see The Great Gallery, large walls of Indian pictographs.  It rained through the night which would have made the dirt road to the trailhead difficult to drive on.  So instead we headed for Goblin  Valley State Park.   The unusual goblin like landforms were fascinating. They seemed to invite visitors to climb them.   It was like we were surrounded by Martians!

Goblins at Goblin Valley State Park.
Goblins at Goblin Valley State Park.
Kate fearless and round.
Kate fearless and  proud.

Next next we headed to Belle Canyon which is a slot canyon.  it was amazing how smoothe the walls of the canyon get from the water erosion.

Close walls in a canyon where flash floods rush through to make the walls smoothe is called a slot canyon.   Belle canyon is a slot canyon.
Close walls in Belle Canyon.
A bend in the Colorado River  from Dead Horse State Park
A bend in the Colorado River from Dead Horse State Park
Dori and Frank under a cottonwood tree in the dry river  bed going into Belle Canyon.
Dori and Frank under a cottonwood tree in the dry river bed going into Belle Canyon.

Above is a scene from Dead Horse State Park Our last stop of the day.  Legend has it that at one time horses were corralled on the narrow peninsula.  The cowboys  took the best horses and left the rest trapped on the peninsula to die from lack of water.  The scenes of the bend in the Colorado River were breathtaking!

An exhausting day full of amazing sights. 0ver 14,000 steps on my Fitbit!

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