Green River from the White Rim

A clear morning following a stormy night in Canyonlands; this view is from the White Rim. A 4wd road tours the White Rim for nearly 100 miles, accessing remote, spectacular locations, many of which are only glimpsed (and many more of which are not seen at all) from the paved roads high above in the Island in the Sky District. This morning provided a fine illustration of what can happen very quickly in the desert when it rains. I spent the night on the White Rim as part of a trip driving the route clockwise. Thunderstorms during the night cooled things off and created a great atmosphere, and there were many scenic pools the next morning. But when I reached Upheaval Wash, not far from the park boundary, I found the normally dry wash to be a muddy torrent too swift and deep to cross by vehicle. I had to turn around and drive almost 100 rocky miles to reach pavement again. That's also a good reason to make sure you fill the tank at the nearest gas station before heading off-road. Canyonlands National Park, UT-- August 2005