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CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

Part six in a series on exploring the American West with an 8 week old

By Tommy Nagle

March 16^th, 2020

The small city of Moab, with a population of just over 5000, sits on the eastern edge of Utah, not far from the national parks of Arches and Canyonlands, and north of Dead Horse Point State Park.

Not being a religious scholar*, the only time I'd seen or heard the name 'Moab' was on the DVD menu screen of that bonafide classic, Mission: Impossible II.

It was the title of this scene:

*Moab refers to an area of land located on the eastern side of the Jordan River in the Middle East.

The above was shot at Dead Horse Point State Park, only a mile from the border of Canyonlands, and from such eye-watering heights, you can really get an idea of the vastness of this deep red landscape.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

That landscape felt a world away as I sat in my bedroom watching that Mission: Impossible II DVD on a rainy evening in Glasgow, Scotland.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

But not now!

Now it was right in front of me as we stood at the Green River Overlook, a viewpoint atop Canyonlands' Island In The Sky mesa.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

In certain areas the topography resembles a giant brown blanket tossed atop the landscape, its rumples softening the edges of stony peaks and troughs.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

In others, the deep gouges in the valley floor remind you that this place has been around for a long, long time.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

We had lucked out and grabbed the last spot in the park's Willow Flat campground, and so were moments away from a spectacular evening view.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

Some enjoyed it more than others.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

After we'd eaten, and wife and child had gone to bed, I decided to walk back down to the viewpoint and get a load of those stars.

Like its sister, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands is also a certified dark sky park.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

A bright, full moon doesn't present ideal conditions for star photography, but, ever the optimist, it did mean that I saved money on head torch batteries.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

Ω

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

One of the things to do at Canyonlands is bathe in the glory of the view at Mesa Arch. Any time will do, but people are particularly fond of sunrise.

Mainly because the right in front of the arch, the sun peeks out from behind the horizon, illuminating the canyons and La Salle mountains, as well as the underside of the arch itself.

On the Canyonlands park website, they mention that: "because of this popular photo spot, Mesa Arch can be very crowded at dawn". (Emphasis theirs).

"It can't be that bad every day" I thought.

We rocked up at 7:05am, a little later than I would have liked, but all was not lost. After all, it was a Thursday morning in October.

"People have stuff to do! Lives to live! Jobs and suchlike!" I thought, as I strode down the short path, confident that there'd be plenty of space to choose from...

Oh crap.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

Luckily, the gaggle of photographers were, mostly, accommodating. With many "sorry"s and "thank you"s, I squeezed onto the left hand end of the group.

There were still 40 minutes before sunrise.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

Minutes that I spent taking multiple test shots and panoramas, stretching and wondering if there were better things I could be doing with my morning.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

Sunrise was at 7:44am.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

By 7:55 most photographers had left.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

By 8:05 we were alone.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

We took in the view at Green River Overlook one final time.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

We stopped in at the local City Market grocery store to stock up on essentials, then, since it was past noon, I figured it was high time for an ice cream.

But not just any old ice cream. A dessert fit for dying-on-the-toilet era Elvis Presley: cookie dough ice cream encased in marshmallow-soaked fruity Trix cereal from the Moab Garage Co.

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK + BABY

We made our way to Ancient Cedars Campground, just outside Mesa Verde National Park, where we stopped into the visitors center and booked a tour.

But more about that in our next installment:

Mesa Verde +Baby

⇣

And if you missed the previous story in this series, then you can find it here:

Arches National Park +Baby

Thanks for reading! If you liked this, click the 'ENJOY' button (either at the top or the bottom of the page), it tells me I'm doing something right.

Subscribe below to get updates for upcoming destinations in this photo story series, including:

Mesa Verde, Escalante, White Pocket, Coral Pink Sand Dunes and more.

Footnotes

All photographs taken with Panasonic Lumix GH4, processed in Lightroom

FootNotes

All photographs taken with Panasonic Lumix GH4, processed in Lightroom

© 2026 Tommy Nagle

THE WIRE PASS +BABY

The final part in a series about exploring the American West in an RV with an 8 week old baby

WHITE POCKET + BABY

Part 12 in a series about exploring the American West in an RV with an 8 week old baby

CORAL PINK SAND DUNES +BABY

Part 11 in a series about exploring the American West in an RV with an 8 week old baby

GRAND CANYON NORTH RIM

Part 10 in a series exploring the American West with an 8 week old baby

LAKE POWELL, ARIZONA +BABY

Part 9 in a series exploring the American West with an 8 week old baby - Canyon X and Horseshoe Bend

VALLEY OF THE GODS +BABY

Part 8 in a series about exploring the American West with an 8 week old baby

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