The main features of Canyonlands National Park are the canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers in southeastern Utah, which meet below the rim downstream from Grandview Point.
Twenty-five years ago when I drove this road into Canyonlands it was about 30 miles of rough dirt. I saw no cars. There were no people at the turnoffs, no people at the end of the road, Grandview Point. I was completely alone for the three or four hours I was there. Now, in 1999, cars were on every turnoff, and people were abundant. I don't know which is better: the dirt road with solitude, or the paved road with lots of people.
Canyonlands has a lot of small features which are very interesting, such as these potholes which are filled with water for a while after a rain.
Canyonlands is one of the "restored" national parksthe land was previously used, often misused, but is now being allowed to restore itself. Many roads were built in this area and considerable mining took place. But gradually nature erases traces of the desecration and by the end of the 21st century evidence of man's intrusion will be faint.
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