Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park

Murphy Point and Soda Springs Basin from the Green River Viewpoint in 

Canyonlands National Park.

Created in 1964, Canyonlands National Park attracts recreationists from all over the world.  It's not hard to understand why.  The park is divided into three districts - Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze.  Each one is vastly different from the others and offers its own unique flavor.

Island in the Sky is the most accessible unit of the park, with a paved 34-mile scenic road leading to incredible views such as that pictured here near road end.  Grand View Point and Green River Overlook are incredible places to witness sunrise and sunset on the canyon walls overlooking the Colorado and Green rivers.

This image was taken from the Green River Viewpoint near sunset, just a short walk from my campsite in Willow Flat.  It was recently licensed for a local travel brochure promoting outdoor recreation, the area's primary industry.

You can view more images from this awe-inspiring area by visiting my Southwest Gallery.

As always, thanks for looking!

Panhandle Gap, Mount Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier from below Panhandle Gap in Mount Rainier National Park.

The highest and most desolate section of the Wonderland Trail resides on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park, above Summerland.  Panhandle Gap is the official high point at 6,750', separating Summerland from remote Ohanapecosh Park.

The trail begins at Fryingpan Creek, where parking can be challenging by mid-day.  This popular trail is gradual for the first two miles before climbing up to a crossing of the creek at 3 miles.  Then is a mile of mostly short, steep switchbacks to Summerland.  There are campsites here and a stone shelter cabin with views of the mountain.

For Panhandle Gap, continue on by descending to the creek crossing and then climbing up, first thru alpine meadows, then thru rough moraine often marked by cairns to a couple high tarns, then a further climb to Panhandle Gap.  The views are glorious all the way.

From the gap, the trail can be followed south as it gently descends into and traverses Ohanapecosh Park.  This area offers wide open wandering for the curious.

For photographers, this trail can be challenging as much of Rainier is obscured from this side, and the desolate nature of the area doesn't necessarily offer a lot of interesting foreground material to put in front of the mountain.  The image above was taken just below Panhandle Gap, and is probably the first interesting view of the mountain in my opinion.  My recommendation?  From Panhandle Gap a path can be followed east as it traverses east along a ridge and descends into parkland, where one can wander open slopes up to a high point with unobstructed views of the mountain.

Bears are commonly seen in the Summerland area in early season, and mountain goats can be encountered throughout the hiking season.  Marmots are also present in Summerland as well as Ohanapecosh Park.  The big glass could come in handy if you so choose.

For landscape photography, my preference is the 24-70mm.

To view more images from Mount Rainier National Park, please visit my Mount Rainier Gallery.

As always, thanks for looking!  Hope to see you on the trail!