Canyonlands of the American West

Welcome to Las Vegas, a city created to provide non-stop entertainment. Enjoy two days here, wandering The Strip, enjoying shows, taking in the Eiffel Tower or catching an adrenaline rush on the Stratosphere. For a break from the action, tour the world-famous Hoover Dam, or, for a preview of the natural wonders to come, go for a hike or scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Museum lovers will enjoy the Imperial Auto Museum, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, and the Liberace Museum, to name just a few. Whatever you choose to do, remember that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!”

The magnificent Grand Canyon awaits today. Take the free shuttle bus from the Canyon Plaza Visitor Center to some of the best viewpoints along the South Rim, or enjoy the 25-mile Desert View scenic self-drive. Visit the Yavapai Observation Station, the Tusayan Museum, and the Kolb Brothers Studio for more fabulous views and a perspective on the cultural heritage and history of the Grand Canyon. Treat yourself to a helicopter ride over the North and South Rims of the Canyon for thrilling bird’s eye views of the Colorado River more than a mile below.

Keep an eye out for spectacular Vermillion Cliffs on the left today as you head for Lake Powell. Viewing the 3,000-foot escarpment, you may be able discern distinct geologic formations contained within the cliffs. Lake Powell is the second largest man-made lake in the country, longer than the entire west coast of the continental United States. The lake lies within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, established to protect the Colorado Plateau. It’s easiest to explore the area’s 96 major canyons by watercraft or tour boat. There are also hiking and biking opportunities in the 1.2 million acres wilderness.

On the way to Zion National Park today, plan to take a detour on the Kaibab to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Once you reach Zion, you’ll recognize immediately, it is a true desert paradise. The beautiful Virgin River carved Zion Canyon, the park’s centerpiece, more than 2,000 feet deep in places. Located along the edge of a region known as the Colorado Plateau, the park comprises one step of the Grand Staircase, a series of rock layers formed from different materials as the land slowly transformed. The bottom layer of Bryce Canyon is the top layer at Zion and the bottom layer at Zion is the top layer at the Grand Canyon.

Watch as the light plays on the sandstone, plateaus, and monoliths in an ever-changing array of color. Explore the park on the free Zion Park Shuttle which makes eight stops at major locations throughout the park. The Grotto and Weeping Rock can be reached by a quarter-mile hiking trail off the route. The Zion Human History Museum is well worth visiting for its exhibits on the park’s rich geologic and human history.

You’ll have time to explore more of Zion this morning before continuing on to Bryce Canyon National Park, just a short drive away. Some of the most bizarre and extraordinary natural architecture anywhere is found here. Slot canyons, windows, fins, and the famous spires called “hoodoos” have been created over millennia by the forces of nature. The colorful and whimsically arranged rocks form a landscape of mazes, offering some of the most exciting and memorable walks and hikes imaginable. Take a horse or mule tour deep into the canyon. For a spectacular view of the entire Park, as well as the Kaibab Plateau at the Grand Canyon, drive or take the free shuttle out to Rainbow Point at the southernmost end of the park.

As water has eroded the sandstone layers, it has left basins known as “waterpockets.” Named for the white domes of Navajo sandstone that resemble capitol buildings and for the rocky cliffs that act as barriers to travel, Capitol Reef is the most scenic part of the Waterpocket Fold. You can see for yourself on three scenic drives through the park. Travel the 10-mile Scenic Drive from the Visitor Center along the rugged western face of Capitol Reef. Explore the southern Waterpocket district on a 125-mile loop tour that includes side trips on spur roads and a number of hiking trails. The Cathedral Valley drive is a 60-mile loop that begins at the River Ford Visitors Center and includes Thousand Lake Mountain Road, known for its exceptional views of the surrounding painted desert. Along the way, keep an eye out for the myriad of wildlife that makes its home here; loons, hawks, falcons, boas, lizards and salamanders. A tour of Fruita, a 200-acre pioneer settlement that includes historic orchards and the old Fruita Schoolhouse, provides a glimpse of the park’s human history.

Carved out of vast sedimentary rock deposits, Canyonlands National Park possesses remarkable natural features that are part of a unique desert ecosystem. The foundation of the park geology is visible everywhere in cliff profiles that reveal millions of years of deposit, erosion and other geologic events. Island in the Sky is the easiest and most accessible district to visit in a short period of time. (On a foggy day, you’ll understand the reason for its name, as the rock appears to float above the clouds.) The area offers expansive views from many overlooks along the paved scenic drive. Plan to drive out to Grand View Point as well as other overlooks perched 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Several short trails, including Mesa Arch, Upheaval Dome and Aztec Butte, lead to interesting natural and cultural resources. If time permits, there are many other things to see and do in the Moab area, including some excellent museums, Rock Art sites, Dead Horse Point State Park and self-guided driving tours to the sites of some well-known movie scenes.

Monument Valley is an iconic symbol of the American West and the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation. Enjoy hiking, jeep tours, horseback riding and stargazing; visitors may explore the 17-mile scenic drive in private vehicles or book a half-day or full-day jeep tour to explore the area’s backroads and sacred lands with the help of a local guide. The valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar above the valley floor. Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert environment, it truly is one of the natural wonders of the world. Step out after dark to appreciate the timelessness and wonder of the Milky Way.

Unique among National Parks, Canyon de Chelly is comprised entirely of Navajo Tribal Trust Land, still home to Navajo communities. Well-preserved Anasazi ruins reveal the culture of the ancient peoples who were ancestors of the present day inhabitants. While you may drive the Canyon rim on your own, you must have a Navajo guide to hike or drive inside the Canyon. Thunderbird Tours, the National Park Service official guide service at Canyon de Chelly, offers a variety of guided tours that are worth taking for the information, access, and unique perspective the guide provides. Ancient and living history, extensive rock art and distinctive architecture make Canyon de Chelly one of the most intriguing stops on your journey.

On your way to Sedona today, stop to explore the ruins of ancient civilizations at Montezuma’s Castle and the Palatkai Ruins. These early inhabitants were gathering around the healing springs and gardens at Sedona long before Europeans arrived. As you travel past striking red rock formations with names like Coffee Pot, Cathedral Rock, Thunder Mountain, and Bell Rock, make use of the frequent pull-offs that enable awe-struck drivers to safely take in the views!

In keeping with the theme of this trip, we recommend that you visit Oak Creek Canyon, world renowned for its spectacular beauty. Colorful rocks and unusual scenery accompany you down a series of switchbacks into the canyon, where you’ll be met by crimson cliffs and crystal pools. You can experience the canyon entirely by car, or you can get out and hike, picnic, stand in awe, or cool off in a watering hole along the way. The rest of your time in this mystical place can be filled with activity, visiting Slide Rock and Red Rock State Parks and hiking through the spectacular landscape, or with complete relaxation in an incredibly serene environment. Spend an afternoon wandering through the Tlaqupaque Arts & Crafts Village, a Sedona landmark and a unique shopping experience.

Arriving into the Phoenix area today, you’ll instantly be captivated by the Valley of the Sun. This multi-cultural, historical and rapidly growing metropolitan area, which began as a small town in the middle of the desert, gets 360 days of sunshine a year, and has heritage, entertainment and recreation to spare. Experience the splendour of the Victorian era at Historic Heritage Park, view one of the finest displays of Native American art at the renowned Heard Museum, and wander through the specialty plants and flowers at the Desert Botanical Garden. You’ll find fabulous shopping in nearby Scottsdale. Enjoy two days in this unique area, throughout which you’ll see the architectural influence of Frank Lloyd Wright complementing the striking landscape of the Sonoran Desert.

Enjoy another leisurely day in Scottsdale or Phoenix before you depart later today. As you leave for home, know that you’ve experienced the trip of a lifetime in the Canyonlands of the American West.