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SkyWizarding t1_j8xqyng wrote

Reply to comment by Justlikecalvin in Otherworldly Landscape in Utah [1080x1350][OC] by holy-shot

Canyonlands blew my mind. If you ever want to get an idea of just how small we all are in the grand scheme of things, go to Canyonlands

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InspectorFadGadget t1_j8y2imm wrote

One of the most defining moments of my life was going into Canyonlands for the first time, up to the Grand Viewpoint, just after sunrise, after it had snowed all night, blanketing the upper altitudes of the mesa. I don't know if it was because it was so early in the morning, or if other people were scared the roads would be too bad to get up there, but our group was the only human presence up there for hours.

When people say pictures and video don't do things like that justice, it's something you hear so often that you write off as somewhat of a cliche. It's not. It affects your other senses and spatial perception in a way that is very hard to describe.

I felt like I could literally hear the "ohm" of the universe. And it was LOUD. Alongside the ambient sounds of quietly trickling water from all the snow slightly melting and draining down the rocks and cliffs.

I never thought it would have affected me in such a way. I don't think I was able to even say any words to my group for quite some time, that shit straight blasted my ass

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elianamaharani t1_j8y334c wrote

I hear you so much on this!!! I felt that way when I went to the Bisti Badlands in New Mexico. The silence was quite literally DEAFENING and brought me to my knees. The absolute stillness & lack of human presence, coupled with the majesty of nature, is mind boggling. I also definitely felt this way at Canyonlands this last year, when I went for the first time... but I wasn't as lucky as you, and shared the park with lots of other humans. Still absolutely breath-taking!!

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penywisexx t1_j8yhm56 wrote

The Bisti Badlands are amazing…I can’t wait to go back. I drove 14 hours to get there and camped in my Rooftop Tent in the parking lot. Woke up first thing in the morning and went exploring, I was so sore from driving so long the day before I could only hike for about 3 or 4 hours before I had to go back to my SUV. I’m going back next month and doing it again (probably doing a stupid long drive again to get there).

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BakedDoritos1 t1_j8yngok wrote

I have worked in that part of New Mexico on and off for several years and it has been a humbling experience to say the least. I could never convince myself to stay for a full night at the Bisti or Chaco (it creeps me out to sleep in the open desert at night) but the stars and landscape are unreal. You just feel so alone.

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Connie_Lingus6969 t1_j8zizqv wrote

I was in canyonlands during winter time and no one was around. It was so overwhelming, beautiful, gigantic that I couldn't stop crying while I was hiking around.

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MAdcock6669 t1_j903dan wrote

I feel this in my soul. We were in Canyonlands last January for 4 days and only ran across a handful of people the whole time. It was like having the world to ourselves. It was such a reboot for me.

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holy-shot OP t1_j8ydimi wrote

That‘s what I‘m always looking forward to on my photo trips besides getting a good shot. Well said!

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nope-absolutely-not t1_j903jgq wrote

I get you there. Even if you're not spiritual or religious, spending a few moments there you totally and completely understand how these places came to be sacred to the native peoples all over the Southwest.

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throwaway901617 t1_j8yig2w wrote

Yeah we recently did the "Grand Circle" in late fall and it was incredible.

Epic road trip:

  • Grand Canyon
  • Monument Valley
  • Mexican Hat
  • Arches
  • Canyonlands
  • Goblin Valley
  • Capitol Reef
  • Scenic Hwy 12 from Torrey down along the edge of Grand Staircase Escalante
  • Up through Bryce
  • Down into Zion

We previously had done Valley of Fire a few months earlier also.

Zion is stunning and was a fantastic way to end the trip. After all of that vast expanse, being cradled in the valley with the yellow leaves blowing felt mystical.

But yeah the sheer mind boggling beauty of those parks can't be put into words. Even pictures fail.

For example, in Arches at Panorama Point you are essentially surrounded with an absolutely incredible landscape painting with amazing cliffs off the left of center from the mountain. But photos at Panorama point typically only focus on the right hand view and absolutely fail to show the overwhelming sense of beauty there.

Zion is my favorite park (so far) but Panorama Point at Arches is my favorite spot.

Edit Oh shit just after writing that I did another search and someone had actually posted a true sunset panorama from Panorama Point! This is what it looked like when we were there, but again imagine seeing this all around you instead of on your tiny phone.

https://i.redd.it/jg3192b2g4l41.jpg

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hondaprobs t1_j9055yr wrote

Wow that panorama is stunning - I can see why they call it panorama point lol. It's like all the features of Utah in one spot.

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Powerpoppop t1_j90q14s wrote

We did almost the exact same trip in the other direction over two weeks in 2021. One of the best trips I've ever been on.

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Justlikecalvin t1_j8y0tv9 wrote

Definitely agree as well. A while back, a friend and I took a 1.5-month long road trip around to the national parks of the west. We hit like 8 in total (incl Zion, Tetons) and 2 monuments. Canyonlands was the unexpected highlight of the trip. Stayed extra long at Willow Flat campground - the views and scramble-hiking were unreal.

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relefos t1_j8y4y5o wrote

Canyonlands is easily my second favorite national park. We went for the first time in November and thought we'd only spend a couple days there but spent twice that and wished we'd had more time. Even just that long drive into the Needles district, understanding that for an hour or more you're just driving down what is basically a dead end road, going deeper and deeper into the canyons. It felt boundless

On a fun note, it gave me the strongest "Roadrunner" vibes of any of the Utah parks

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Bilboteabaggins00 t1_j8xt4gw wrote

Totally with you. In Utah Arches you pass next to the Colorado river and the huge carved out structures are right next to you. Makes you feel so small. Amazing feeling.

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chesterharry t1_j8y8h6b wrote

I spent a bunch of days in the Maze. Beautiful to see hard to get to and almost no water. Lots of mountain lions too.

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SkyWizarding t1_j8xtnss wrote

I've been to Arches as well. Would totally go there again, such a great park

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