August 11
The Dead Horse Point State Park
DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK sits atop a narrow peninsula 2,000 feet above the Colorado River. At the end of the peninsula are breathtaking 270 degree views of the red-orange canyons of Canyonlands National Park and surrounding areas. Whenever we came to Denver we also "had to go" over to Utah, and the reason wasn't always the National Parks. There is a particular pretty and impressive place called the Dead Horse Point State Park.
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| Stunning views from the high plateau |
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| The Colorado River - 2000ft below |
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| Molly takes a good look and discovers a squirrel. She almost jumped over the Rock Wall. Luckily we hadher on the leash, otherwise she would have ended hundreds of feet below in the canyon. |
If you wonder about the name I can understand it, as we did too. But the story is simple:
The Legend Of Dead Horse Point
Before the turn of the century, mustang herds ran wild on the mesas near Dead Horse Point. The unique promontory provided a natural corral into which the horses were driven by cowboys. The only escape was through a narrow, 30-yard neck of land controlled by fencing. Mustangs were then roped and broken, with the better ones being kept for personal use or sold to eastern markets. Unwanted culls of "broomtails" were left behind to find their way off the Point.According to one legend, a band of broomtails was left corralled on the Point. The gate was supposedly left open so the horses could return to the open range. For some unknown reason, the mustangs remained on the Point. There they died of thirst within sight of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.
Another reason for us visiting this area of Utah has always been CASTLE VALLEY and the FISHER TOWERS.
The Fisher Towers are a remarkable piece of eroded landscape, where mother nature has carved out the most stunning rock formations.
From I-70 turn south at Cisco (rare Ghost Town) and follow Hwy 128, which will bring you down to the Colorado River. Besides of being an extremely scenic drive it is also a shortcut to Moab.
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| The Colorado along Hwy 128 |
The valley offers excellent hiking trails f.ex. through the Fisher Valley. Due to the often extensive heat it is necessary to carry a good supply of water. At times also hefty winds can occur here.
Everyone staying in the valley for a few days will fall in love with the exceptional sunsets and sunrises.
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| The Fisher Towers |
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| Campground "Hittle Bottom" which is right beside an old cabin site where a German by the name of "Hittle" once lived. |
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| Not Monument Valley... |
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| Hwy 128 towards Moab |
We definitely need to make another trip back to the Moab area. So much we didn't see.
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