Perched on a massive level mesa with sheer sandstone cliffs dropping over 1,000 feet to the surrounding terrain, the Island in the Sky is the most accessible and frequently visited district of Canyonlands National Park. This "island" was formed by the relentless power of the Colorado and Green Rivers, which have spent millions of years carving deep into the Colorado Plateau, leaving this high-altitude wedge standing alone in the desert sky.

While Canyonlands is a vast National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park is its spectacular "neighbor" just down the road. Often considered one of the most beautiful state parks in the world, it sits on a narrow peninsula of rock 2,000 feet above a dramatic "gooseneck" bend in the Colorado River. Because it is smaller than Island in the Sky, you can experience its highlights in a single afternoon, though many visitors find the views here even more intimate and breathtaking. Travelers will spend the evening here for a sunset if desired.