It is a marvel of the achievement of modern man. It is the taming of one of America’s mightiest rivers. A river that has sculpted such beautiful landscapes as the Grand Canyon. Constructed starting in 1931, the Hoover Dam sits on the border between the states of Arizona and Nevada and harnesses the massive power of the Colorado River to provide electricity to much of the West Coast of the United states.
Zion National Park might be the biggest adventure park of all of the national parks in the continental United States. The park is absolutely filled with big adventures of all kinds. The park has some of the most extreme hikes, and extreme views, of any park in the lower 48 states. This is what attracts millions of visitor’s a year to Zion Canyon and its what keeps them coming back again-and-again.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream land. In the summer months it is a mecca for boaters from all over the country and the world. Some people spend months camped out along-side the shores of the lake. There is no shortage of things to do in the area, so there is never a dull moment.
In this guide, I am going to give you some tips on how to get to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the best time to visit the area, some valuable resources to help plan your trip, and review some of my favorite places within Glen Canyon.
Twenty years ago, very few people had heard about Antelope Canyon. Flash forward to today and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the American Southwest. As more-and-more people post pictures of this stunningly beautiful place on social media, the popularity of Antelope Canyon continues to grow.
No other canyon I have visited, and I have visited a lot, is illuminated as beautifully by sunlight as Antelope Canyon is. The rays of sunlight that enter the canyon make the canyon walls glow the most beautiful shades of red and orange. It is breathtaking.
If Monument Valley looks familiar to you, there is a very good reason for that. It is one of the most used locations for media of all formats. Over the decades there have been dozens-and-dozens of movies that were filmed among Monument Valley’s beautiful buttes and mesas.
If you are into grand and beautiful vistas, then you aren’t going to want to miss a stop at Horseshoe Bend in Northern Arizona. Nowhere else is the Colorado River’s sculpting of the sandstone of the American Southwest more beautiful.
Unlike some stunningly beautiful spots in this world, Horseshoe Bend is not very difficult to get to. It is a short and easy one mile hike from the roadside parking to the viewpoint, so it is something that everyone is able to enjoy. In this guide we will let you know how to get to Horseshoe Bend, when the best times to visit are, and show you some of the stunning pictures we have been able to take of Horseshoe Bend during our many visits over the years.
While Bryce Canyon may not be as big and vast as the Grand Canyon, it is every bit as beautiful. The contrast of the red sandstone spires, known as hoodoos, against the green trees and blue sky is breathtaking. As someone who loves photography, this park is undoubtedly my favorite park to photograph.
Bryce Canyon National Park also offers a lot of fun things to do for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. The park has some great hiking paths, ample biking paths, and plenty of opportunities for horseback riding. And for those who aren’t up to hiking or biking, the park offers a number of amazing viewpoints that give you postcard worthy views of the canyon.
Devil’s Garden is a unique set of rock formations along the Hole-in-the-Rock road within the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument. If you are interested in seeing some interesting and beautiful rock formations, but not up for doing a long hike, then the Devil’s Garden is perfect for you. You can see the rock formations without having to venture much past the parking area. If you are interested in doing a bit more hiking, there are plenty of opportunities to hike and explore in the area.
If you are planning a visit to the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument and you are looking for a fun hike that isn’t too difficult, the Zebra Slot Canyon hike should be near the top of your list. This is one of the more popular hikes in the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument because the hike is relatively easy and the Zebra Slot Canyon is beautiful. As a bonus, you can add the Tunnel Slot Canyon to the hike and make the hike a nice loop hike.
Long Canyon slot was a remarkable slot canyon that we were able to explore while visiting the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah last week. It is just one of many slot canyons in the Grand Staircase, but it is one of the prettier ones that we were able to visit. Even though the slot isn’t too deep, the sheer height and size of the canyon was pretty cool to see.
