Going back down memory lane to the amazing road trip my partner and I made in the USA back in October 2016. A trip of a lifetime. Come and dream travel with us! Hereby the last part of our spectacular journey.
An early start of the day as it’s time for the only pre-booked excursion of our trip; a visit to the Antelope Canyon. Before we hit the road towards the village of Page though, we have a short visit to the East Rim of the Grand Canyon and marvel at the spectacular early morning view we have there.
The Antelope Canyon, with an Upper and Lower part, can only be visited by doing a tour as it’s owned and managed by Navajo Indians. In addition it can be dangerous to swerve through the canyon without guide, as by heavy rainfall the canyon can flood surprisingly fast.
In 4×4 trucks we are whisked off to the canyon where we get instructions of our guide while we are waiting to enter the canyon. It’s a mass tourism production site: groups are instructed and enter one after the other. Inside the canyon we have to keep moving and we have hardly any time to stop and really look at the beauty of this place. Because this canyon really is enchanting. The guide instructs us how to stand, how to look and how to set up your camera with the correct ISO.
Even though she only tries to be helpful, I feel I have no freedom to truly enjoy this site. We are rushed through it with fixed stops to take pictures. However, although the tour is very touristy, it’s still very much worth it to visit Antelope Canyon, as it’s just a breathtaking place. Unbelievable nature can make such beautiful art. A mysterious place, full of wondrous rock formations and light fall.
Our next stop is Horseshoe Bend, another highlight of mother nature, where the Colorado River makes a magnificent bend and flows with its glittering deep blue water through the red and dry landscape. An amazing site, which you can’t see until you are right there at the edge of the canyon where suddenly a beautiful sight unfolds before your eyes.
Filled with the beauty of this spectacular natural phenomenon we continue our road trip to Bryce Canyon. The landscape changes from red and dusty to grey-black sand dunes, to extensive fields filled with grass and to imposing mountains. Spectacular cloud art in the blue sky keeps us company. We pass the city of Kanab, where agricultural fields filled with crops and cows take over. Authentic farms, green fields and roads lined with orange leaved trees; it’s an old school farm outback. Very beautiful.
Arrived at our accommodation at Bryce Canyon National Park we bump into a sign on the door, stating: ‘closed for the season’. Ah. Great. It also states that we can check in at the Best Western Ruby Inn, which luckily looks a lot better than the one we booked. Perfect.
The next two days we spend exploring the fairy land of Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos, odd-shaped rocks left standing by the forces of erosion, tower over a bizarre landscape of red and white rocks, rugged valleys and dark green pine trees. It’s the end of October with morning temperatures around freezing point, so the days start crisp and cold. But the sun warms it all up soon enough, accompanying us on the different loop trails we follow through the National Park.
There aren’t many other tourists this late in the season and before we know it we walk into the vast wilderness in search of a Tower Bridge, which we probably already have passed but didn’t notice. Within minutes I have the feeling that we are on the brink of getting lost, so we turn around and luckily find our way back to the main trail. The last thing I want is to get lost and die of hunger or thirst (or attacked by wild bears or big cats, there are so many options). This is certainly not The Netherlands where at some point you will find urbanization one way or the other.
The last National Park of our road trip is Zion National Park. And as the saying goes: we have saved the best for last. Only a two hour drive from Bryce Canyon we enter Zion National Park where beauty is a real understatement. The landscape that surrounds us literally takes our breath away. Mountains with incredible steep walls, winding crystal clear rivers, lush green forest, glittering water pools, impressive red colored rocks and lots of wildlife.
From the car alone we spot a herd of deer and we trail behind a group of Alpine ibex. An unforgettable experience. During our trail walk we see a lot of different birds, chipmunks and a real tarantula. How amazing! I am absolutely amazed by Zion National Park. It’s striking, awe-inspiring and grand. I could easily stay for a week here, but unfortunately we have to leave this magnificent paradise after our two nights stay to fly back home from Las Vegas.
After three weeks our USA road trip has come to an end. It’s been a truly spectacular trip, where again and again we have been able to admire the glorious beauty of our natural world. Without a doubt it’s one of the most marvelous trips I have done so far. Let’s hope 2021 will give us new possibilities to travel and explore our wonderful world again.
Siets Travel 