{"id":8277,"date":"2023-09-26T22:59:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T14:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=8277"},"modified":"2024-04-23T03:09:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T19:09:39","slug":"20230926colorado-monument","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926colorado-monument\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 8 of Autumn 2023 Trip to Mountain States, Colorado National Monument"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The eighth day of my autumn 2023 trip to the mountain states. I spent the day in Colorado National Monument, among its sheer-wall canyons and impressive butte formations. <\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8862.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8862.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-major-1', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider1.sync( secondarySlider1 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-2', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:73,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:41,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider2 = new Splide( '#splide-major-2', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider2.sync( secondarySlider2 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-3', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:71,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:40,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider3 = new Splide( '#splide-major-3', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider3.sync( secondarySlider3 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-4', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider4 = new Splide( '#splide-major-4', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider4.sync( secondarySlider4 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-5', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:133,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider5 = new Splide( '#splide-major-5', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider5.sync( secondarySlider5 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-6', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider6 = new Splide( '#splide-major-6', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider6.sync( secondarySlider6 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-7', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:74,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:41,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider7 = new Splide( '#splide-major-7', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider7.sync( secondarySlider7 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-8', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:134,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider8 = new Splide( '#splide-major-8', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider8.sync( secondarySlider8 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider9 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-9', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider9 = new Splide( '#splide-major-9', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider9.sync( secondarySlider9 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider10 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-10', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:130,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:55,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider10 = new Splide( '#splide-major-10', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider10.sync( secondarySlider10 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider11 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-11', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider11 = new Splide( '#splide-major-11', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider11.sync( secondarySlider11 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider12 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-12', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider12 = new Splide( '#splide-major-12', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider12.sync( secondarySlider12 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider13 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-13', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider13 = new Splide( '#splide-major-13', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider13.sync( secondarySlider13 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider14 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-14', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider14 = new Splide( '#splide-major-14', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider14.sync( secondarySlider14 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider15 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-15', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider15 = new Splide( '#splide-major-15', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider15.sync( secondarySlider15 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider16 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-16', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider16 = new Splide( '#splide-major-16', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider16.sync( secondarySlider16 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider17 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-17', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider17 = new Splide( '#splide-major-17', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider17.sync( secondarySlider17 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider18 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-18', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:60,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:40,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider18 = new Splide( '#splide-major-18', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider18.sync( secondarySlider18 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider19 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-19', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider19 = new Splide( '#splide-major-19', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider19.sync( secondarySlider19 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>As mentioned in the previous posts, I planned to visit Grand Junction back in 2020, which due to COVID didn&#8217;t happen. After spending a few days in western South Dakota, I felt there&#8217;s an opportunity to add Grand Junction (and western Colorado as a whole) onto this trip, so I gladly did.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its name of &#8220;Colorado National Monument&#8221;, I felt the landscape in the park shared more familiarities with nearby Utah. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(That\u2019s why I originally planned to check it out alongside the national parks near Moab, Utah back in 2020.)<\/span> In particular, it\u2019s like a hybrid but miniature version of Canyonlands National Park and Monument Valley, featuring both canyons and buttes. Based on my experience visiting Canyonlands, &#8220;Colorado National Monument&#8221; was wetter with more vegetation. More importantly, it\u2019s more accessible: It\u2019s right next to a developed town, and 30 minutes to Grand Junction airport. In comparison, Canyonlands National Park was 30 minutes to the nearest town of Moab, and almost 2 hours to Grand Junction airport, the nearest major airport.<\/p>\n<p>The park featured a road (Rimrock Dr) through its entirety from northwest to southeast. In addition, multiple trails accessed the park from the northeast. My plan for the day was to hike &#8220;Monument Canyon Loop&#8221; in the morning, which was the most popular trail in the park by AllTrails. In the afternoon, I planned to check out Rimrock Dr starting from the southeast, while catching twilight in the most scenic northwestern part of the park.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Monument_Cayon_Loop_Trail\">Monument Cayon Loop Trail<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After a detour to Dinosaur National Monument, I made it to Fruita, CO late last night. After catching a good night\u2019s sleep, I started the day relatively late. After breakfast, by the time I reached the trailhead and started my hike, it&#8217;s almost 11:30am.<\/p>\n<p>On AllTrails, the loop was 7.2km long with 230m of elevation gain. I decided to take the loop in the clockwise direction, trying to keep views in front of me and sunlight behind me. This meant there was a steep section of descent in Wedding Canyon, to me that&#8217;s fine.<\/p>\n<p>Following the clockwise direction, the first 1km of trail wasn&#8217;t very remarkable. Portions of it followed the fenced boundary of the monument, beyond which was people&#8217;s backyards.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_112559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_112559.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8706.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8706.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Against the backdrop of mountains to the north of Grand Junction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8707.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8707.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8712.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8712.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_114237.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_114237.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail into Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail into Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8724.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8719C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8719C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Garfield\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mount Garfield<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8714.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8714.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Butte\" \/><\/a><\/br>Butte<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This group was called &#8220;Irishman&#8217;s Temple&#8221; on maps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_112559.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8706.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8707.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8712.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_114237.jpg\" alt=\"Trail into Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8724.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8719C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Garfield\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8714.jpg\" alt=\"Butte\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_112559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_112559.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8706.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8706.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Against the backdrop of mountains to the north of Grand Junction.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8707.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8707.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8712.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8712.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_114237.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_114237.jpg\" alt=\"Trail into Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail into Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8724.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8719C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8719C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mount Garfield\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mount Garfield<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8714.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8714.jpg\" alt=\"Butte\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Butte<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This group was called &#8220;Irishman&#8217;s Temple&#8221; on maps.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After the first 1km, the trail made a right turn and entered Monument Canyon, where the elevation gain started. But the physical efforts were constantly rewarded, with views of sheer canyon walls that were occasionally only steps away, and the city of Grand Junction in the back beyond Monument Canyon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8713.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_115319.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_115319.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_115831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_115831.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail along Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail along Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_120654.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_120654.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail along Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail along Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_121057.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_121057.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Valley View\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley View<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_120319.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_120319.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8726.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8726.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff with Alcove\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliff with Alcove<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_122450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_122450.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail along Cliffs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail along Cliffs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8713.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_115319.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_115831.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_120654.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_121057.jpg\" alt=\"Valley View\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_120319.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8726.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff with Alcove\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_122450.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Cliffs\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8713.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_115319.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_115319.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_115831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_115831.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail along Cliff<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_120654.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_120654.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail along Cliff<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_121057.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_121057.jpg\" alt=\"Valley View\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley View<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_120319.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_120319.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliff<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8726.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8726.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff with Alcove\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliff with Alcove<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_122450.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_122450.jpg\" alt=\"Trail along Cliffs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail along Cliffs<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8730_DSC_8739-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8730_DSC_8739-10.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In my opinion, the most aesthetic part of the hike was near the halfway point. It&#8217;s where three canyons met at the highest elevation point of the trail, with Monument Canyon to the east and south, and Wedding Canyon to the north. Views of the canyons were unobstructed and all around. In particular, to the south, Monument Canyon was lined with arrays of mesas that extended like peninsulas into the canyon. At the tip of many such mesas were collections of buttes. It&#8217;s only appropriate for the end of Monument Canyon to feature a throne, where the many buttes were like palace guards lining the carpet leading to it. Some of the buttes were named, though I struggle to associate the names to their shapes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_121608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_121608.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8727.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8727.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8746.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8742.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8742.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa along Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_121611.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_121611.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Western Rim of Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Western Rim of Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8749.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8749.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Buttes<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Airport Tower, Dirty Old Man and Kissing Couple.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8747.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8747.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument among Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument among Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8750.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8750.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Western Rim of Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_123617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_123617.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Buttes along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Buttes along Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_121608.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8727.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8746.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8742.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_121611.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8749.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8747.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument among Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8750.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_123617.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Monument Canyon.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_121608.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_121608.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8727.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8727.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8746.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8746.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8742.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8742.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa along Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_121611.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_121611.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Western Rim of Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8749.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8749.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Buttes<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Airport Tower, Dirty Old Man and Kissing Couple.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8747.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8747.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument among Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument among Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8750.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8750.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Western Rim of Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_123617.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_123617.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Buttes along Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At the intersection of Monument Canyon and Wedding Canyon lay Independence Monument, which was a butte \/ sandstone pillar that, unlike others in the park, was detached from nearby mesas and sort of stood on its own. The butte got such a name because John Otto, the park&#8217;s advocate and first custodian, made it a routine to climb Independence Monument and raise an American Flag on July 4, America&#8217;s Independence Day. I approached the monument from the east, where its skinny contour (p1-2 below) made it an impressive sight that drew me along the gentle uphill trail. It turned out that Independence Monument was shaped more like a slab than a tower, when viewed from other angles (p3-4 below) it didn&#8217;t feel as extraordinary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8729.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8729.jpg\" width=\"81%\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8751.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8751.jpg\" width=\"81%\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_123455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_123455.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looked pretty fat and certainly not as impressive from this angle close up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8758C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8758C11.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking from the north, felt like a rock slab and not as impressive.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8741.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8741.jpg\" width=\"81%\" alt=\"Monolith Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monolith Spire<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8752.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8752.jpg\" width=\"77.6%\" alt=\"Rock Slabs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Slabs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Opposite of Independence Monument. Like the passage for some secret rituals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8754.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8754.jpg\" width=\"77.6%\" alt=\"Grand View Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grand View Spire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Across Monument Canyon.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8729.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8751.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_123455.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8758C11.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8741.jpg\" alt=\"Monolith Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8752.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Slabs\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8754.jpg\" alt=\"Grand View Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the prominent buttes like Independence Monument.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8729.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8729.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8751.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8751.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_123455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_123455.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looked pretty fat and certainly not as impressive from this angle close up.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8758C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8758C11.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking from the north, felt like a rock slab and not as impressive.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8741.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8741.jpg\" alt=\"Monolith Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monolith Spire<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8752.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8752.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Slabs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Slabs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Opposite of Independence Monument. Like the passage for some secret rituals.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8754.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8754.jpg\" alt=\"Grand View Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grand View Spire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Across Monument Canyon.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Continuing on, I entered Wedding Canyon, which was named for the marriage ceremony of John Otto and Beatrice Farnham. Unfortunately, their marriage only lasted two months before Beatrice left John for good, due to differences in lifestyles.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_124606.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_124606.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Wedding Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_123443.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_123443.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8756.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8756.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Separated from the peninsula to its left, which was accessed by a trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_125727.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_125727.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Trail in Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail in Wedding Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_125132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_125132.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Cliff\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cliff<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8761.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cliffs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Cliffs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Multiple alcoves seemed to stack vertically, like a storage drawer?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8765C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8765C11.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel Eating Leaves\" \/><\/a><\/br>Squirrel Eating Leaves<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only animal sighting of the day.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_124606.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_123443.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8756.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_125727.jpg\" alt=\"Trail in Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_125132.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8761.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cliffs\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8765C11.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel Eating Leaves\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Wedding Canyon.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_124606.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_124606.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Wedding Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_123443.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_123443.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8756.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8756.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Separated from the peninsula to its left, which was accessed by a trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_125727.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_125727.jpg\" alt=\"Trail in Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail in Wedding Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_125132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_125132.jpg\" alt=\"Cliff\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cliff<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8761.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8761.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cliffs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Cliffs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Multiple alcoves seemed to stack vertically, like a storage drawer?<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8765C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8765C11.jpg\" alt=\"Squirrel Eating Leaves\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Squirrel Eating Leaves<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only animal sighting of the day.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>A few more mesas lined Wedding Canyon to the west. On top of those mesas were established trails and park visitor centers, that meant I would get very used to such views later in the day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8767.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8767.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of which was visitor center and campground. Sentinel Spire on the left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_130506.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_130506.jpg\" width=\"84%\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of which was visitor center and campground. Sentinel Spire on the left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8769.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8769.jpg\" alt=\"Butte\" \/><\/a><\/br>Butte<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8763.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8763.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_131313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_131313.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Western Rim of Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Western Rim of Wedding Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8775.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8775.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Fields<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8767.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_130506.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8769.jpg\" alt=\"Butte\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8763.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_131313.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8775.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8767.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8767.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of which was visitor center and campground. Sentinel Spire on the left.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_130506.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_130506.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of which was visitor center and campground. Sentinel Spire on the left.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8769.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8769.jpg\" alt=\"Butte\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Butte<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8763.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8763.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_131313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_131313.jpg\" alt=\"Western Rim of Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Western Rim of Wedding Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8775.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8775.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail through Fields<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, I finished this hike in just over 2 hours.<\/p>\n<p>A quick review of this trail. While I liked the variety of scenery it offered and enjoyed the immersive feeling of walking inside a canyon, it\u2019s a hot day and I felt the loop was sort of long. Compared to my driving tour along the canyon rims later in the day, I felt this hike wasn\u2019t as time-efficient in catching the views. Apart from the skinny angle of Independence Monument, some of the views from the trail were similar to what the overlooks along the canyon rim offered. As a result, if short on time, I felt it\u2019s definitely fine to skip this trail.<\/p>\n<p>After that, I headed to Grand Junction for lunch. After lunch, I headed to the park&#8217;s eastern entrance and took Devil&#8217;s Kitchen Trail.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Devil8217s_Kitchen_Trail\">Devil&#8217;s Kitchen Trail<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>During my trip I wasn&#8217;t completely sure what\/where was &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221;. I correctly guessed it&#8217;s a group of boulders as pictured in this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/places\/devils-kitchen-trail-colorado-national-monument.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NPS website<\/a>. I think the only way those boulders associated with the word &#8220;kitchen&#8221; is that there are near-vertical walls on three sides and an opening on one side, so if one add some firewood inside and put a giant pot on top, it could be a very primitive cooking setup (I considered this setup too uncivilized to be called a &#8220;kitchen&#8221;).<\/p>\n<p>As for the trail, it&#8217;s a 1.9km out-and-back. The AllTrails map had a spur beyond the official &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221;, which caused me some confusion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8787.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8787.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">As seen from the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161603.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161603.jpg\" width=\"96.2%\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154029.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154029.jpg\" width=\"96.2%\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154709.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154709.jpg\" width=\"89.2%\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the upper platform, in a more level sight.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8787.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_161603.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_154029.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_154709.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221;.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8787.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8787.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">As seen from the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161603.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161603.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154029.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154029.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154709.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154709.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the upper platform, in a more level sight.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154132.jpg\" width=\"94.5%\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8781C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8781C11.jpg\" width=\"94.5%\" alt=\"Balanced Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Balanced Rock<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_155049C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_155049C9.jpg\" width=\"91.05%\" alt=\"Scrambling Paths\" \/><\/a><\/br>Scrambling Paths<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some entry YDS class 3 scrambling to reach an upper platform in Devil&#8217;s Kitchen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8785.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8785.jpg\" width=\"81.3%\" alt=\"Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One that grew out of a concave that seemed particularly dug up for it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154701.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154701.jpg\" width=\"91.05%\" alt=\"Slanted Gap between Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Slanted Gap between Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">As if the boulders were cut in half.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_154132.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8781C11.jpg\" alt=\"Balanced Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_155049C9.jpg\" alt=\"Scrambling Paths\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8785.jpg\" alt=\"Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_154701.jpg\" alt=\"Slanted Gap between Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154132.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders of Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8781C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8781C11.jpg\" alt=\"Balanced Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Balanced Rock<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_155049C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_155049C9.jpg\" alt=\"Scrambling Paths\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Scrambling Paths<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some entry YDS class 3 scrambling to reach an upper platform in Devil&#8217;s Kitchen.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8785.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8785.jpg\" alt=\"Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Tree<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">One that grew out of a concave that seemed particularly dug up for it.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_154701.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_154701.jpg\" alt=\"Slanted Gap between Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Slanted Gap between Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">As if the boulders were cut in half.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Once &#8220;inside&#8221; Devil&#8217;s Kitchen, the giant walls were both an awesome sight and a test ground for sound reflections. Towards its end, it took a few steps of scrambling (p3 above) to reach an upper platform, with views of plateau and mesas to the west (slideshow below). Similar views were also available from outside &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8782.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8782.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa up Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa up Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8784.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8784.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Rock Wall\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Wall<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A rather long wall. Behind this wall Serpent\u2019s Trail climbed up the hill. The road passed through this wall in a tunnel.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8783.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8783.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Road<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Winding up the hillside.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8786.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8786.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mesas\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mesas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8782.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa up Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8784.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Wall\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8783.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8786.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mesas\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Devil&#8217;s Kitchen.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8782.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8782.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa up Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa up Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8784.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8784.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Wall\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Wall<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">A rather long wall. Behind this wall Serpent\u2019s Trail climbed up the hill. The road passed through this wall in a tunnel.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8783.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8783.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Road<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Winding up the hillside.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8786.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8786.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mesas\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mesas<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Since I wasn&#8217;t 100% sure where &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221; was during my visit, and the AllTrails map led further south than where I was, I did more exploration further south. Vegetation was sparse enough in the region that I could make my own trail on the rocks\/boulders. After some scouting, I found a narrow passage in between two rock walls that looked interesting (p1-2 below). I decided to name it &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Back Alley&#8221;, which was no doubt a more devious and attractive name than &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_155841.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_155841.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/a><\/br>Passage<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160000.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160000.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/a><\/br>Passage<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160437.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160437.jpg\" alt=\"Path between Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Path between Boulders<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160239.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160239.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Overlooking Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160245.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen among Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_155841.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_160000.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_160437.jpg\" alt=\"Path between Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_160239.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_155841.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_155841.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Passage<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160000.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160000.jpg\" alt=\"Passage\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Passage<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160437.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160437.jpg\" alt=\"Path between Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Path between Boulders<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160239.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160239.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Devil's Kitchen\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_160245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_160245.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen among Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Devil&#8217;s Kitchen<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Emerging from the narrow passage I found an established trail to the south of &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221;, together with two other hikers that, like me, weren&#8217;t sure where &#8220;Devil&#8217;s Kitchen&#8221; was. I decided I had had enough playing hide-and-seek with devil for the day, so I headed back towards the trailhead.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161055.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161055.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking towards the south. I didn&#8217;t find any obvious trails beyond this point, so I turned back.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161708.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161708.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the east of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161146.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161146.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Rock Formations\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Formations<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161245.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Rock Formations\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Formations<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A small rock stuck between two bigger spires.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8779.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8779.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Named &#8220;No Thoroughfare Canyon&#8221; for being long <del>and probably not very scenic<\/del>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_162902.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_162902.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen before Rocky Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Kitchen before Rocky Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From a distance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_163214.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_163214.jpg\" width=\"96.3%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_161055.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_161708.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_161146.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Formations\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_161245.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Formations\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8779.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_162902.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen before Rocky Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_163214.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161055.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161055.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Looking towards the south. I didn&#8217;t find any obvious trails beyond this point, so I turned back.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161708.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161708.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the east of Devil&#8217;s Kitchen.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161146.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161146.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Formations\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Formations<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_161245.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_161245.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Formations\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Formations<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A small rock stuck between two bigger spires.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8779.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8779.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Named &#8220;No Thoroughfare Canyon&#8221; for being long <del>and probably not very scenic<\/del>.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_162902.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_162902.jpg\" alt=\"Devil's Kitchen before Rocky Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Devil&#8217;s Kitchen before Rocky Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From a distance.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_163214.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_163214.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Cold_Shivers_Point\">Cold Shivers Point<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>After Devil&#8217;s Kitchen, I started driving along Rimrock Drive to the northwest. This was the first overlook along the road, with views overlooking a canyon. The actual &#8220;Cold Shivers Point&#8221; (p1-3 below) stood on top of a vertical cliff, with moderate exposure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8792.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8792.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cold Shivers Point<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8793.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8793.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cold Shivers Point<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_165657.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_165657.jpg\" width=\"83%\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cold Shivers Point<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From this angle Cold Shivers Point looked very accessible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8791.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8791.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8796.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8796.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Walls\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon Walls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8792.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8793.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_165657.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8791.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8796.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Walls\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Cold Shivers Point.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8792.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8792.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cold Shivers Point<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8793.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8793.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cold Shivers Point<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_165657.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_165657.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Shivers Point\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cold Shivers Point<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From this angle Cold Shivers Point looked very accessible.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8791.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8791.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8796.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8796.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Walls\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon Walls<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"More_Overlooks\">More Overlooks<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Then there were more overlooks along the way. It felt to me that the canyons in the southern part of the park were more narrow and less eroded, and thus featured few buttes. The ones later in the northern part were wider and more open, likely due to more erosion, and featured more buttes which were certainly the highlight of the park.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_170708.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_170708.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Red Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Red Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8799.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8799.jpg\" alt=\"Red Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Red Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8800.jpg\" alt=\"City of Grand Junction beyond Red Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>City of Grand Junction beyond Red Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_171455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_171455.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ute Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8803.jpg\" alt=\"Fallen Rock in Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fallen Rock in Ute Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8804.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8804.jpg\" alt=\"Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ute Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8805.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8805.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Wall of Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Northern Wall of Ute Canyon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_170708.jpg\" alt=\"Red Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8799.jpg\" alt=\"Red Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8800.jpg\" alt=\"City of Grand Junction beyond Red Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_171455.jpg\" alt=\"Ute Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8803.jpg\" alt=\"Fallen Rock in Ute Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8804.jpg\" alt=\"Ute Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8805.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Wall of Ute Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_170708.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_170708.jpg\" alt=\"Red Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Red Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8799.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8799.jpg\" alt=\"Red Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Red Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8800.jpg\" alt=\"City of Grand Junction beyond Red Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>City of Grand Junction beyond Red Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_171455.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_171455.jpg\" alt=\"Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ute Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8803.jpg\" alt=\"Fallen Rock in Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fallen Rock in Ute Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8804.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8804.jpg\" alt=\"Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ute Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8805.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8805.jpg\" alt=\"Northern Wall of Ute Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Northern Wall of Ute Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8808.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8808.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Canyons\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyons<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Highland View.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8809.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8809.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Buttes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8813.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8813.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon Wall<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8814.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8814.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon from Artists Point\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon from Artists Point<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8815.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8815.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon Wall<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8816.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8816.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon Wall<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Two arches forming.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8808.jpg\" alt=\"Canyons\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8809.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8813.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8814.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon from Artists Point\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8815.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8816.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-14, #splide-thumb-14 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8808.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8808.jpg\" alt=\"Canyons\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyons<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Highland View.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8809.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8809.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Buttes<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8813.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8813.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon Wall<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8814.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8814.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon from Artists Point\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon from Artists Point<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8815.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8815.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon Wall<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8816.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8816.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon Wall\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon Wall<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Two arches forming.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8820.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8820.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Monument Canyon Upper Trailhead.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8822C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8822C11.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8849.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8849.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Independence Monument View.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8846.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8846.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Independence Monument and Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument and Mesa<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Independence Monument View.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8820.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8822C11.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8849.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8846.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument and Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-15, #splide-thumb-15 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8820.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8820.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Monument Canyon Upper Trailhead.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8822C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8822C11.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8849.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8849.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Independence Monument View.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8846.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8846.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument and Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument and Mesa<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From Independence Monument View.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Grand_View\">Grand View<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Towards the north of the park there was a high density of overlooks. Among them was &#8220;Grand View&#8221;, where a butte (Grand View Spire) was just steps away from the parking area.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8831.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Buttes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8827.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8827.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8829.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8829.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The road wrapped around the canyon in the background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_175844.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_175844.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Grand View Spire before Monument Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grand View Spire before Monument Valley<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8828.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8828.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8832.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8832.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8833.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_180413.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_180413.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8825.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><\/br>Road<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Site of \u201cHalf Tunnel\u201d where during the construction of the road, where fallen work after explosion killed 9 works.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8831.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8827.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8829.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_175844.jpg\" alt=\"Grand View Spire before Monument Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8828.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8832.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8833.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_180413.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8825.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-16, #splide-thumb-16 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from &#8220;Grand View&#8221;.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8831.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8831.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Buttes<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8827.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8827.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8829.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8829.jpg\" alt=\"Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Canyon<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The road wrapped around the canyon in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_175844.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_175844.jpg\" alt=\"Grand View Spire before Monument Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grand View Spire before Monument Valley<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8828.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8828.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8832.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8832.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8833.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8833.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_180413.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_180413.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8825.jpg\" alt=\"Road\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Road<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Site of \u201cHalf Tunnel\u201d where during the construction of the road, where fallen work after explosion killed 9 works.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8835_DSC_8845-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8835_DSC_8845-11.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon from Grand View\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon from Grand View<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Otto8217s_Trail\">Otto&#8217;s Trail<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Then I checked out Otto&#8217;s Trail, named for the park&#8217;s advocate and first custodian. This was a 1.1km out-and-back with minimal elevation change, following one of the &#8220;peninsulas&#8221; into Monument Canyon. Just like previously at &#8220;Grand View&#8221;, beyond the end of the trail there were some buttes, the ones here were named &#8220;Pipe Organ&#8221;.<br \/>\nFrom the canyon rim, the end of Otto&#8217;s Trail was as close as one can get to Independence Monument. An NPS information board marked the route following which John Otto climbed this butte every Independence Day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8852.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8852.jpg\" width=\"44.5%\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8854.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8854.jpg\" width=\"44.5%\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8853.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8853.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument in Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument in Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8855.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8855.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Buttes along Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8857.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8857.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_183933.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_183933.jpg\" width=\"82.5%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the backdrop of various mountains to the north of Grand Junction.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8852.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8853.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument in Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8855.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8857.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_183933.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-17, #splide-thumb-17 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8852.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8852.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8854.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_8854.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8853.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8853.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument in Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument in Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8855.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8855.jpg\" alt=\"Buttes along Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Buttes along Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8857.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8857.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_183933.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_183933.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the backdrop of various mountains to the north of Grand Junction.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Book_Cliffs_View_Surroundings\">Book Cliffs View Surroundings<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I reached Book Cliffs View minutes before sunset, when most of the canyons and buttes had retreated into shadows in their soft and approachable colors. Walking a short distance towards the south, I got arguably the best view of the day, on top of a cliff near the mouth of Monument Canyon. From there a series of buttes scattered around in Monument Canyon, as if casually posing for a group photo, under the vibrant colors of twilight. It showcased the best and most wonderous landscapes of the park in a single shot, of its sheer canyon walls, ubiquitous mesas, and rugged buttes. No wonder the park\u2019s visitor center and campgrounds were nearby.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8861.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8861.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8860.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8860.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_185913.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_185913.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_185945.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_185945.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Wedding Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_190002.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_190002.jpg\" width=\"83%\" alt=\"Mesa and Sentinel Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mesa and Sentinel Spire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The trail I hiked this morning wrapped around the mesa in the background.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8863.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8863.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8864.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8864.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><\/br>Independence Monument<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8861.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8860.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_185913.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_185945.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/20230926_190002.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa and Sentinel Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8863.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8864.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-18, #splide-thumb-18 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Monument Canyon.<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8861.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8861.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8860.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8860.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_185913.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_185913.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_185945.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_185945.jpg\" alt=\"Wedding Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Wedding Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/20230926_190002.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/20230926_190002.jpg\" alt=\"Mesa and Sentinel Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mesa and Sentinel Spire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The trail I hiked this morning wrapped around the mesa in the background.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8863.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8863.jpg\" alt=\"Pipe Organ\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pipe Organ<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8864.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8864.jpg\" alt=\"Independence Monument\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Independence Monument<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8866_DSC_8874-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8866_DSC_8874-9.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div>\n<p>To the north of Book Cliffs View, the opening of Wedding Canyon brought into view the town of Fruita, and a distant line of mountains shaped like books on a shelf (hence the name of the overlook). The meandering Colorado River made its shiny presence reflecting the still-glowing skies, among farmland and suburbs that were slipping into darkness.<br \/>\nOh, there&#8217;s also an interestingly shaped Window Rock (p1 below). Honestly, I thought &#8220;bridge rock&#8221; was a more appropriate (but less aesthetic) name as a butte seemed connected to a nearby mesa by a rock bridge. Unlike Cold Shivers, due to the popularity here, NPS fenced the rock off.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8881.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8881.jpg\" alt=\"Window Rock\" \/><\/a><\/br>Window Rock<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8879.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8879.jpg\" width=\"44.5%\" alt=\"Sentinel Spire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sentinel Spire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Felt like two prayer hands to me.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8883.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8883.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8878.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8878.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado River beyond Mesa in Twilight\" \/><\/a><\/br>Colorado River beyond Mesa in Twilight<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8882.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8882.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Grand Mesa\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Grand Mesa<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8886.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8886.jpg\" alt=\"Town of Fruita before Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Town of Fruita before Mountains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8881.jpg\" alt=\"Window Rock\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8879.jpg\" alt=\"Sentinel Spire\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8883.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8878.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado River beyond Mesa in Twilight\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8882.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Grand Mesa\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8886.jpg\" alt=\"Town of Fruita before Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-19, #splide-thumb-19 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8881.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8881.jpg\" alt=\"Window Rock\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Window Rock<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8879.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8879.jpg\" alt=\"Sentinel Spire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sentinel Spire<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Felt like two prayer hands to me.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8883.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8883.jpg\" alt=\"Monument Canyon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Monument Canyon<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8878.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8878.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado River beyond Mesa in Twilight\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Colorado River beyond Mesa in Twilight<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8882.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8882.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Grand Mesa\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Grand Mesa<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/DSC_8886.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/26\/thumbnails\/DSC_8886.jpg\" alt=\"Town of Fruita before Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Town of Fruita before Mountains<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After that, I headed out of Colorado National Monument, and concluded the day.<\/p>\n<p>A quick note about Grand Junction: Throughout my entire trip, including Black Hills of South Dakota, Snowy Range mountains of Wyoming, and later San Juan mountains of Colorado, this was likely the hottest I ever felt. It&#8217;s the end of September and I really didn&#8217;t expect (nor prepare for) a sweaty hike underneath the sun, but that&#8217;s how I felt throughout the day.<br \/>\nAs for Colorado National Monument, it made for a perfect day trip (just like Badlands National Park a few days earlier). I thought its most scenic part was near the visitor center \/ Book Cliffs View, other parts of it just didn&#8217;t feel that spectacular on their own.<\/p>\n<p>END<br \/>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The eighth day of my autumn 2023 trip to the mountain states. I spent the day in Colorado National Monument, among its sheer-wall canyons and impressive butte formations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[621,2],"tags":[629],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8277"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8277"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8754,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8277\/revisions\/8754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}