To the north and east of the plateau is the rocky mountain region, highly deformed during the Laramide orogeny, 80-40 Ma.  To the south and west is the Basin and Range Province which has undergone at least 100 percent extension.  On the other hand, the Colorado plateau has only undergone 1% extension.  The main deformation in the plateau are a series of monoclines.  Some striking geologic features are steep walled canyons due to the incising of the rivers as the plateau was uplifted.  Check out these links to see national parks in the area of the Colorado Plateau:
   Utah Parks   Grand Canyon