USA 2022 Road Trip

During our first road trip across the United States, we covered 23,000 km and crossed 28 states in 53 days.

Originally, we had planned to drive Route 66 all the way to Oatman in Arizona and visit various national parks in the American West over a two-month period.

This itinerary was planned before our departure, and all the relevant information had been gathered to stick to the schedule.

Everything went so smoothly that we finished visiting the national parks well ahead of our planned return date.

It helped that having a bed, a portable toilet, and a cooler in our vehicle gave us some autonomy since we didn’t have to worry about accommodation.

So, we decided to extend our road trip to the cities of Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee.

We then headed to Louisiana to visit Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

We crossed Mississippi and Alabama before driving along Florida’s west coast all the way to Key West.

We returned via Florida’s east coast and then crossed the eastern U.S. states to get back to Quebec through the Jackman border crossing in Maine.

So, I invite you to keep reading this long recap, which will let you discover the different attractions we visited throughout this amazing journey.

Videos are included throughout the recap. Click on the image to start the video.

To jump to a specific post, here are the relevant links:

Route 66 - Illinois & Missouri Route 66 - St. Louis (Missouri) - Gateway Arch National Park Route 66 - Cuba (Missouri) - City Murals Route 66 - Springfield (Missouri) - Fantastic Caverns Route 66 - Kansas & Oklahoma Route 66 - Texas & Arizona Route 66 - Texas - The Stations of the Cross in Groom Route 66 - Texas - Panhandle - VW Slug Bug Ranch Texas - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Juniper Trails Texas - Palo Duro Canyon State Park - The Lighthouse Trail Route 66 - Texas - Amarillo - Cadillac Ranch Route 66 - New Mexico - Santa Rosa Blue Hole New Mexico - Bandelier National Monument - Alcove House Trail via Main Loop Trail New Mexico - Bandelier National Monument - Tsankawi Ruins Trail New Mexico - White Rock Overlook Route 66 - New Mexico - Albuquerque - Old Town New Mexico - White Sands National Park New Mexico - White Sands National Park - Dune Life Nature Trail New Mexico - White Sands National Park - Playa Trail New Mexico - White Sands National Park - Interdune Boardwalk New Mexico - Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument New Mexico - Grants - Ice Cave & Bandera Volcano New Mexico - Gallup - Pyramide Rock Trail & Church Rock Trail Arizona - Holbrook - Painted Desert Arizona - Petrified Forest National Park - Puerco Pueblo & Newspaper Rock Viewpoint Arizona - Petrified Forest National Park - Blue Mesa Arizona - Petrified Forest National Park - The Teepees, Agate Bridge & Jasper Forest Overlook Arizona - Petrified Forest National Park - Crystal Forest Trail Arizona - Petrified Forest National Park - Giant Logs Trail Arizona - Winslow - Two Guns Ghost Town Arizona - Cameron - Little Colorado River Gorge Overlooks Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park - Shoshone Point Trail Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park - Desert View Drive Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park - Rim Route (Orange) & Village Route (Blue) Arizona - Grand Canyon National Park - Hermit Route (Red Line) Route 66 - Arizona - Historic Town of Oatman Arizona - Bullhead City Community Park Nevada - Red Rock Canyon - Calico I & II & Sandstone Quarry Nevada - Red Rock Canyon - Willow Springs Nevada - Red Rock Canyon Lookouts Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park - White Domes Trail Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park - Seven Wonders Trail, Pink Canyon, Fire Wave Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park - Rainbow Vista Trail Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park - Mouse's Tank Trail Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park - Rock Formations Nevada - Valley of Fire State Park - Scenic Routes Nevada - Cathedral Gorge State Park - Slot Canyons Nevada - Cathedral Gorge State Park - Eagle Point & Miller Point Utah - Bryce Canyon National Park - Mossy Cave & Tropic Ditch Waterfall Trail Utah - Bryce Canyon National Park - Scenic Drive Utah - Zion National Park - Pa'rus Trail Utah - Zion National Park - Sand Bench Trail Utah - Zion National Park - Emerald Pools Trail Utah - Zion National Park - West Rim Trail (Trail connecting to Angels Landing) Utah - Zion National Park - Riverside Walk Utah - Zion National Park - Court of The Patriarchs & Big Bend Utah - Zion National Park - Mount Carmel Highway Scenic Drive Utah - Kanab - Jackson Flat Reservoir Utah - Toadstools Trail in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Arizona - Page - Glen Canyon Dam Overlook Arizona - Page - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Arizona - Page - Horseshoe Bend Overlook Arizona - Page - Upper Antelope Canyon Arizona - Page - Navajo Canyon Boat Tour at Lake Powell Arizona - Page - Antelope Canyon X Arizona - Canyon de Chelly National Monument - Chelly Canyon Arizona - Canyon de Chelly National Monument - Canyon del Muerto Arizona - Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Utah - Mexican Hat Utah - Mexican Hat - Goosenecks State Park Utah - Mexican Hat - Valley of the Gods Utah - The Moki Dugway Scenic Backway Utah - Blanding - Natural Bridges National Monument Utah - Lake Powell - Hite Crossing Bridge Utah - Lake Powell - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Hite Overlook Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Chimney Rock Loop Trail Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Hickman Bridge Trail Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Grand Wash Trail Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Sunset Point Trail Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Goosenecks Trail Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Viewpoints - Fruita Area Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Viewpoints - Scenic Drive Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Cassidy Arch Trail Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - On the way to Capitol Gorge Trailhead Utah - Capitol Reef National Park - Capitol Gorge Trailhead Utah - Monroe - Mystic Hot Springs Utah - Scenic Overlooks on UT-24, UT-119 & I-70 Utah - Arches National Park - Park Avenue Trail Utah - Arches National Park - Courthouse Towers Section's Viewpoints Utah - Arches National Park - Balanced Rock, Pothole Arch, Ham Rock & Garden of Eden Utah - Arches National Park - Double Arch Trail, Cove Arch, Cove of Caves & Panorama Point Utah - Arches National Park - Windows Loop & Turret Arch Trail Utah - Arches National Park - Delicate Arch Trail Utah - Arches National Park - Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail Utah - Arches National Park - Fiery Furnace Section - Viewpoints Utah - Arches National Park - Sand Dune Arch Trail Utah - Arches National Park - Skyline Arch Trail Utah - Arches National Park - Devils Garden Trail Utah - Dead Horse Point State Park - West Rim Trail Utah - Dead Horse Point State Park - East Rim Trail Utah - Moab - Utah State Route 279 (Potash Road) Utah - Moab - Shafer Trail - Potash Evaporation Ponds Utah - Moab - Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks and Petroglyphs Utah - Moab - Potash Road - Corona, Bowtie & Pinto Arches Trail Utah - Moab - Potash Road - Wall Street Climbing Area Utah - Moab - Kane Springs Road Utah - Moab - Kane Springs Road - Side By Side Adventure Utah - Moab - Kane Springs Road to Moab Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - Mesa Arch Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - Aztec Butte Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - Whale Rock Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - Upheaval Dome Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - Grand View Point Overlook Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - White Rim Overlook Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - Island in the Sky - Overlooks Utah - Moab - Wilson Arch Utah - Monticello - Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument Utah - Canyonlands National Park - The Needles - Road Side Ruin Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - The Needles - Cave Spring Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - The Needles - Pothole Point Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - The Needles - Big Spring Canyon Overlook Trail Utah - Canyonlands National Park - The Needles - Overlooks Colorado - Mesa Verde National Park - Mesa Top Ruins Road Colorado - Mesa Verde National Park - Chapin Mesa Road Colorado - Mesa Verde National Park - Mesa Top Loop Colorado - Mesa Verde National Park - Wetherill Mesa Road Colorado - Great Sand Dunes National Park Colorado - Mosca - Zapata Falls Colorado - Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods Colorado - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado - Gunnison - Curecanti National Recreation Area Colorado - Gunnison - Blue Mesa Dam & Reservoir Colorado - Lake Pueblo State Park (Pueblo Reservoir) Kentucky - Mayfield, 5 months after an EF4 tornado Tennessee - Nashville - Downtown Walking Tour Tennessee - Graceland Mansion - Home of Elvis Presley Tennessee - Graceland - Lisa Marie & Hound Dog II Jets Tennessee - Graceland - Elvis Presley Automobile Museum & Exhibits Tennessee - Exploring Memphis Louisiana - Exploring Baton Rouge Louisiana - Exploring Lafayette Louisiana - Exploring Houma Louisiana - New Orleans - French Quarter Tour Louisiana - New Orleans - Garden District Tour Louisiana - New Orleans - Creole Queen Mississippi River Cruise Florida - Clearwater Beach Florida - Sanibel Island - Bowman's Beach Florida - Siesta Key Beach Florida - Captiva Island - Turner Beach Florida - Key Largo - Sunset Florida - Key West - Smathers Beach Florida - Miami Beach - Art Deco District Florida - Miami Beach South Carolina - Myrtle Beach Virginia - Virginia Beach Maine - Scarborough - Pine Point Beach

ROUTE 66 - ILLINOIS & MISSOURI

This road has been part of the American myth for decades. It’s worth noting that the highways built over the years led to the disappearance of many businesses along this route, since fewer people used it to travel across the country.

Fortunately, many of these historic landmarks are still visible along the road, making it a pleasant journey that takes you back in time.

I’ll share some of the attractions we spotted along this route, which we took to reach the American West, where we planned to visit several national parks.

Route 66 starts in Chicago, Illinois. It passes through rural towns where you can discover vintage gas stations, old motels and diners, historic bridges, roadside giants, beautiful murals, abandoned villages, and many other amazing attractions.

This first video showcases various sights along or near the route in Illinois and Missouri.

https://youtu.be/PpNt-28rCk0

ROUTE 66 - ST. LOUIS (MISSOURI) - GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK

GPS coordinates: 38.62220, -90.17357 Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park GPS coordinates: 38.62475, -90.18501 Arch

The Gateway Arch is located in downtown St. Louis in the state of Missouri, USA. This arch is covered in stainless steel and is an important symbol of the conquest of the West.

Standing at 192 meters tall, it’s the tallest monument in the state, the tallest artificial monument in the country, and the largest arch in the world.

Officially inaugurated in 1968, the arch is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

We first went to Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park, located on the opposite bank, to get a stunning view of the arch and the city of St. Louis.

Afterward, we parked our vehicle in a paid parking lot ($) near Gateway Arch National Park and took the opportunity to stroll through this very pretty park.

The trees were adorned with beautiful pink flowers that enhanced the scenery.

The arch is enormous. You can actually board a tram ($) that runs inside it, taking you to an observation deck at the top.

We didn’t try the experience. Let’s just say the space inside the tram is very tight, and I’m a bit claustrophobic.

Behind the arch, you’ll find the old courthouse, which has been turned into a museum.

https://youtu.be/e_wo2JC1maY

ROUTE 66 - CUBA (MISSOURI) - TOWN MURALS

GPS coordinates: 38.06187, -91.40644

The town of Cuba, located in the state of Missouri in the United States, is known for its many murals depicting local and national historical events.

This town is even nicknamed "Route 66 Mural City"!

We stopped in this small town and took a walk to discover these works of art that adorn the facades of several buildings.

To learn more about the history of these murals, I invite you to visit this website: https://cubamomurals.com/#murals.

https://youtu.be/s-gdg2K6FCs

ROUTE 66 - SPRINGFIELD (MISSOURI) - FANTASTIC CAVERNS

GPS coordinates: 37.28661, -93.35910

This natural cave is located in Springfield, about eight kilometers from Route 66. The interior temperature stays around 15°C (59°F) all year round.

It lies beneath the rolling hills of the Ozarks in the state of Missouri, USA. It was discovered by a farmer in 1862 when his dog crawled through an entrance.

However, it wasn’t until five years later that the first exploration took place. An ad was published in a newspaper looking for explorers.

Twelve women responded to the ad and ventured into the cave. Their names are still carved on one of the cave walls.

To preserve the cave’s condition, visitors board a tram pulled by a propane-powered jeep that follows the path of an ancient underground river.

The tour, which lasts about an hour, offers a great glimpse of the stunning formations inside the cave. Plus, the guide shares insights about the cave’s origins and its formations.

Several tours run throughout the day. For more info, check out their website: https://fantasticcaverns.com/

We were truly impressed by the cave’s beauty. The formations are beautifully highlighted by lighting that makes them easy to see.

https://youtu.be/rJLC_GvILrQ

ROUTE 66 - KANSAS & OKLAHOMA

There are also several tourist attractions along Route 66 in the states of Kansas and Oklahoma. I’ll show you a few of them in this video.

Kansas has the shortest section of Route 66.

We stopped in Galena, which was once a very prosperous mining town. Several historic buildings around the city give a good glimpse into its past.

A lovely mural at the intersection of Seventh Street and Main Street caught our eye. It features a stunning 1957 powder-blue Chevrolet parked along Main Street near the famous Route 66 stops.

We also visited the former Kan-O-Tex gas station at the north end of Main Street in Galena, now called Cars on the Route.

It was at this old garage that the director of the movie *Cars* saw an old rusty tow truck that later inspired the character Tow Mater.

We also made a stop at Luigi’s Pit Stop on Front Street, where you can see replicas from the *Cars* movie: the sheriff of Radiator Springs, Lightning McQueen, and Luigi.

Next, we crossed the Marsh Arch Brush Creek Bridge (formerly known as the Rainbow Bridge), a historic bridge in Baxter Springs. Built in 1923, this is a single-span Marsh concrete arch bridge and the only one of its kind remaining along the entire former US Route 66.

We also made a few photo stops in Oklahoma to discover other attractions along Route 66.

The Pryor Creek Bridge was built in 1926. In 1932, Route 66 was rerouted just north of this bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park, located 6 km east of Route 66, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Its main totem is the largest concrete totem pole in the world.

The Golden Driller is an icon of Tulsa. Standing 23 meters tall, this statue depicts an oil industry worker. It ranks as the fourth-tallest statue in the United States.

The Route 66 Historical Village in Tulsa is an open-air museum that helps showcase the evolution of rail transportation in the city and explains its historic connection to the oil industry.

Among other things, you can see a Frisco Meteor 4500 steam locomotive, old railroad cars, and the tallest derrick in North America.

And we made a quick stop in Canute to photograph the valiant knight in his shiny armor.

https://youtu.be/D9UcieFnC4c

ROUTE 66 - TEXAS & ARIZONA

Here are some other attractions located on or near Route 66 in the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the United States.

Some of these attractions are featured in individual videos.

Texas

The Groom Cross is the largest freestanding cross in the Western Hemisphere.

VW Slug Bug Ranch, located in Panhandle, features five very colorful Volkswagen Beetles partially buried in the ground.

The Second Amendment Cowboy statue is located near Cadillac Ranch, where you’ll find a lineup of 10 old Cadillac cars partially buried in the ground.

These cars are covered in graffiti. You can even buy spray paint on-site if you feel like adding your own artwork to the cars.

In the town of Vega, you’ll find the Magnolia Station, built in 1924 and restored in 2001. It now houses the visitor center, where you can see period photographs and artifacts.

New Mexico

We obviously made a few stops in New Mexico. The various attractions we visited in this state will be featured in individual videos later.

Arizona

At the Geronimo Trading Post in Holbrook, you’ll find what is reportedly the largest petrified tree in the world. It’s in several pieces, and its weight is estimated at around 80 tons.

The historic district of Seligman lets you discover what Route 66 looked like in its early days, with several buildings and numerous vehicles that take you back to the 1950s and 1960s.

The Hackberry General Store and the Cool Springs Station are also must-visit spots, as these places are true museums of the old Route 66.

The Route 66 that leads to Oatman crosses the Sitgreaves Pass and offers beautiful viewpoints of the area.

We also visited several parks in these different states. I’ll share those with you individually.

For more information on all the attractions near Route 66, I invite you to check out the following website: https://roadtrippers.com/the-ultimate-guide-route-66/.

https://youtu.be/DWlkcacjLrA

ROUTE 66 - TEXAS - THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS IN GROOM

GPS coordinates: 35.20992, -101.12340

This freestanding cross, standing 58 meters tall, was erected in 1995 and can be seen from about 30 kilometers away. It’s one of the largest crosses in the world.

Life-sized statues have been placed around its base, depicting the life of Jesus and forming a Stations of the Cross.

Some of these stations are featured in this video, though they’re not necessarily in order.

The site also includes a visitor center, a gift shop, and an amphitheater.

Descriptions of each station of the cross are available on the following website: https://crossministries.net/.

https://youtu.be/4v4oS5-1tQE0

ROUTE 66 - PANHANDLE - VW SLUG BUG RANCH

GPS coordinates: 35.21555, -101.38381

VW Slug Bug Ranch, located in Panhandle, features five brightly colored Volkswagen Beetle wrecks partially buried in the ground.

They were placed there in 2002 to attract visitors to the nearby trading post. At the time, they were painted a bright yellow, and a sign was put up encouraging visitors to "sign" one of the Beetles.

It was a hit for this attraction. However, the trading post closed a year later!

Today, the five cars and the abandoned buildings nearby are covered in graffiti created with spray paint.

https://youtu.be/bUmcN2dxCYg

TEXAS - PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK - JUNIPER TRAILS

GPS Coordinates: 34.979348, -101.69155 Observation Point GPS Coordinates: 34.979343, -101.69156 Visitor Center

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the second-longest canyon in the United States. It’s located about 40 kilometers south of Amarillo, Texas.

It’s famous for its steep, multicolored rock walls, similar to those of the Grand Canyon.

You can explore it on foot, by mountain bike, or by car.

For more information about this park, I invite you to check out their website: https://palodurocanyon.com/

Juniper Trails

GPS Coordinates: 34.93696, -101.64690 Parking GPS Coordinates: 34.93690, -101.64640 Juniper Riverside Trail GPS Coordinates: 34.93192, -101.63907 Cross the street GPS Coordinates: 34.93175, -101.63915 Juniper Cliffside Trail GPS Coordinates: 34.93250, -101.64540 The Big Cave GPS Coordinates: 34.93841, -101.65614 Cross the street GPS Coordinates: 34.93842, -101.65613 Sunflower Trail GPS Coordinates: 34.93832, -101.65099 Right junction - Juniper Riverside Trail Back to Parking

We did a 4.4 km loop hike following the Juniper Riverside, Juniper Cliffside, and Sunflower Trails, then returned to the parking lot via another section of the Juniper Riverside Trail.

This easy-level hike offers stunning views of the canyon. Plus, it takes you to a cave nicknamed "The Big Cave."

The section of the trail leading to this mysterious cave is trickier to navigate because it’s covered in loose rocks that can sometimes be unstable. Be careful not to trip!

The cave walls are very high, but it’s not very deep. The scenery in this area is really pretty.

After finishing the hike, we stopped by the pasture at the park entrance to see the Texas Longhorn cattle and deer that were there.

https://youtu.be/hZdlLY442xg

ROUTE 66 - TEXAS - PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK - THE LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 34.95123, -101.66773 Parking and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 34.93659, -101.69683 The Lighthouse Rock

The Lighthouse Trail is without a doubt the most popular trail in this park. It leads to a rock formation that, as its name suggests, looks like a lighthouse.

This 2.9-mile (one-way) linear trail is considered moderate. Most of the trail is flat, but the end includes a steep climb over the last kilometer.

It's best to start the hike as early as possible to avoid the heat and bring plenty of water since there's hardly any shade along the trail.

The hike begins on a trail mostly made of red dirt. It crosses several dry creek beds that were completely dry when we passed through.

We walked past some truly stunning rock formations.

The climb up to the "The Lighthouse" rock formation starts with a fairly steep and eroded section, but it's short-lived. This part of the trail is shaded as it winds through the trees.

There's also a lookout point that offers a beautiful view of the canyon.

The hike continues across a plateau, and a second climb is needed to reach the lighthouse.

Standing nearly 310 feet tall, this rock formation is truly spectacular, and its location gives you a panoramic view of the entire canyon and the valley you just crossed. Absolutely stunning!

We set out early in the morning and only saw four people at the summit. However, on our way back, we ran into several groups of hikers.

So, if you prefer to enjoy the tranquility of this spot, it's best to do this hike early in the morning. Plus, you'll avoid the heat, which can be overwhelming during the day.

We were lucky enough to spot a beautiful northern cardinal during this hike. We also saw several wild turkeys along the roadside.

We made a stop at the pasture near the park entrance to see the Texas Longhorn cattle again.

https://youtu.be/MsgMktH-WM8

ROUTE 66 - TEXAS - AMARILLO - CADILLAC RANCH

GPS coordinates: 35.18729, -101.98706

Cadillac Ranch, located in Amarillo, Texas, is a lineup of 10 old Cadillac cars half-buried in the ground.

The cars are covered in graffiti, and visitors can even buy spray paint on-site to create their own artwork.

They’ve inspired films and videos—Disney’s *Cars* is one example. Bruce Springsteen also mentions it in his 1980 song "Cadillac Ranch."

When we stopped by, the smell of fresh paint was in the air. Several visitors had emptied their spray cans on the cars, constantly changing their appearance.

A free attraction you shouldn’t miss on the famous Route 66.

https://youtu.be/yce-SluCt3k

ROUTE 66 - NEW MEXICO - SANTA ROSA BLUE HOLE

GPS coordinates: 34.94044, -104.67324

The Blue Hole is actually a very deep natural pool created when a cavern collapsed and exposed the groundwater beneath it. It’s located in Santa Rosa near Route 66 in New Mexico.

It’s one of the most popular destinations in the United States for scuba diving training.

The water is crystal clear, and its temperature stays around 17°C (63°F), with a depth of over 24 meters (80 feet) below the surface.

Since this site is at an elevation of 4,616 feet, divers must use high-altitude dive tables to determine decompression stops when diving in this body of water.

There’s also an underwater cave system. The cave entrance was covered with a metal grate in 1976 after two young divers were found trapped in one of these caves.

Since 2013, divers have been allowed to pass through the grate to map this underwater cave system.

This natural pool is open to the public. However, there are no lifeguards on duty.

Given Santa Rosa’s very arid climate, it’s the perfect spot to cool off on hot days since the water is really cold.

If you’d like more information about this attraction, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.santarosabluehole.com/.

https://youtu.be/97CFvJRLRK0

NEW MEXICO - LOS ALAMOS - BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT - ALCOVE HOUSE TRAIL VIA MAIN LOOP TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 35.77912, -106.27079 Visitor Center

Bandelier National Monument, established in 1916, is located 15 km south of Los Alamos in New Mexico. It protects the ruins of an ancient Anasazi Native American civilization.

It has been determined that these ruins were inhabited from the 11th century until the mid-15th century. The reason for their departure remains unknown to this day. It is thought that it might be linked to drought as well as the decline of agriculture.

The best way to explore this park is by hiking. Several trails, with varying lengths and difficulty levels, allow you to discover the different attractions the park has to offer.

- Alcove House Trail via Main Loop Trail

GPS Coordinates: 35.78218, -106.27413 Tyuonyi Pueblo GPS Coordinates: 35.78305, -106.27371 Talus House GPS Coordinates: 35.78420, -106.27630 Long House GPS Coordinates: 35.78883, -106.28482 Alcove House

We chose to hike the Main Loop Trail, which is the park’s most popular trail, and halfway through, we took a detour to the Alcove House Trail, covering a total distance of 4.2 kilometers.

The Main Loop Trail starts at the Visitor Center and includes 21 stops that let you explore the architecture of these dwellings and the way of life of this ancient Native American people.

One of the first sites you can see is the Great Kiva. This is an underground structure where rituals were performed. It was also the place where traditions were passed down from generation to generation through legends, prayers, and songs.

A little further on, you’ll find the ruins of Tyuonyi Pueblo. It was a village with 400 rooms built on two or three levels. There was only one ground-level entrance. It looks like a vast labyrinth.

We passed by Talus House, where you can see cliff dwellings that are accessible via wooden ladders.

Next, we discovered Long House, which had over 300 rooms spread across several floors. Today, you can only see the rooms carved into the tuff cliffs and the anchor points. You can also spot some petroglyphs there.

When we reached the intersection with the Nature Trail, we turned right to head toward Alcove House.

Located in the cliff, 43 meters high, this large cave is accessible by four wooden ladders and stairs carved into the rock.

Unfortunately, during our visit, access to the ladders wasn’t allowed because work was being done to secure the area.

However, we were able to admire it from the trail and see that the climb is steep and not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo!

A week after our visit, access was allowed again.

On our way back to the visitor center, we encountered some deer near the trail. They didn’t seem bothered by our presence at all.

If you’d like more information about this attraction, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm

https://youtu.be/NXs2fcB5NYE

NEW MEXICO - LOS ALAMOS - BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT - TSANKAWI RUINS TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 35.86011, -106.22454 Parking and trailhead GPS coordinates: 35.86204, -106.21489 Ruins

The Tsankawi Ruins Trail is a trail located in Bandelier National Monument, south of Los Alamos in New Mexico.

This trail is a 2.6 km loop and includes wooden ladders to climb along the way, as well as very narrow and sometimes steep passages.

This section is less well-known than the main part of the park. However, the scenery is stunning, and you can see cliff dwellings, an ancient Pueblo village, and petroglyphs.

The site was occupied by the ancestral Pueblo peoples during the 15th and 16th centuries. Their descendants now live in the adjacent Indian reservation.

https://youtu.be/O285xGGvwpA

NEW MEXICO - WHITE ROCK OVERLOOK

GPS coordinates: 35.82668, -106.17956

This overlook, located in White Rock, New Mexico, is wheelchair-accessible via a short 70-meter trail.

It offers stunning views of the beautiful Rio Grande River winding through the Jemez Mountains. On the opposite side, you can see a waterfall cascading down a cliff.

In the distance, the mountain peaks are still snow-capped.

https://youtu.be/ni0_t-ZMaRY

ROUTE 66 - NEW MEXICO - ALBUQUERQUE - OLD TOWN

GPS coordinates: 35.09663, -106.66980

Old Town is a charming neighborhood in Albuquerque, located in New Mexico. You can recognize the traditional Spanish style of this city by its plaza and church, surrounded by houses and shops.

The narrow streets of Old Town are home to century-old adobe houses that are still inhabited. Many of these have been renovated into boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries.

https://youtu.be/IvwhSeC_s0Q

NEW MEXICO - WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK

GPS Coordinates: 32.77961, -106.17245 Visitor Center

White Sands National Park is made up of vast gypsum dunes of an immaculate white that constantly shift with the wind.

A 13 km scenic road starts at the Visitor Center and crosses the park. The road is paved for the first 8 kilometers, while we drive on a hard gypsum sand road for the last 5 kilometers.

The total route is 26 kilometers since you have to return to the Visitor Center to exit the park.

Along the way, you’ll find parking areas, restrooms, picnic spots, and hiking trails.

Many people also come here to go sledding or take a horseback ride.

The sand is so white! It looks like snow! You could easily mistake it for the real thing!

If you'd like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

https://youtu.be/NgKphPIt_mo

NEW MEXICO - WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK - DUNE LIFE NATURE TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 32.79342, -106.21257 Parking and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 32.79195, -106.21264 Loop to be done clockwise

The Dune Life Nature Trail is a moderate 1-mile loop hike. Although it's classified as moderate, we found it pretty easy to walk.

Its classification likely comes from the fact that we have to climb two steep dunes of loose sand.

It's very important to follow the blue markers with a clover symbol to stay on the right path.

All the dunes look alike, and it's easy to stray from the trail since our attention is drawn to the stunning views offered during this hike.

Educational signs are placed at various points along the trail, providing information about the vegetation and wildlife.

Several animals live in these dunes: kit foxes, badgers, reptiles, rodents, birds, and more. That's why we paid special attention to the tracks in the sand.

The only tracks we saw seemed to belong to an insect from the beetle family.

This area of the park is full of plants that play a crucial role in the park's ecosystem. They stabilize the dunes and provide food and shelter for wildlife.

These plants have adapted to the extreme climatic conditions of the Chihuahuan Desert. They must be drought-tolerant and able to survive temperatures below freezing.

The trees and shrubs have also adapted to this environment and are surprisingly tall. The lone Rio Grande cottonwood growing in the sand is a great example and indicates the presence of a reliable water source that allows it to survive in this desert.

We did this hike very early in the day to avoid the extreme heat that can occur in this park.

https://youtu.be/Oy8bsJfPiSM

NEW MEXICO - WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK - PLAYA TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 32.79555, -106.21155 Parking lot and trailhead GPS coordinates: 32.79702, -106.21181 Viewpoint 1 GPS coordinates: 32.79789, -106.21155 Viewpoint 2

The Playa Trail is an easy 800-meter round-trip trail with informational signs that let us learn about the unique features of this section of the park.

Just follow the green markers with a heart symbol that indicate the trail direction.

A playa is actually a depression in the ground that temporarily fills with rainwater. Constantly evolving, it serves as a habitat for plants and animals.

The sign at the end of the trail lets us take a trip back in time to see what this region looked like over 10,000 years ago and discover the wildlife that lived here during the Ice Age.

https://youtu.be/71T19wgGvJ4

NEW MEXICO - WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK - INTERDUNE BOARDWALK

GPS coordinates: 32.79385, -106.23893 Parking lot and trailhead

This trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible since it’s made of an elevated boardwalk.

At 650 meters round-trip, it’s located in a delicate interdune area and offers lovely views of the dunes and the Sacramento Mountains.

Several interpretive panels have been set up along the trail, giving us info about the plants and animals living in this ecosystem.

A shaded structure has been installed halfway through the route, letting us take a little break out of the sun while trying to spot wildlife that might be in the area.

https://youtu.be/ePlPueVy7a4

NEW MEXICO - GILA CLIFF DWELLINGS NATIONAL MONUMENT

GPS Coordinates: 33.22384, -108.24170 Visitor Center GPS Coordinates: 33.22955, -108.26445 Parking GPS Coordinates: 33.22950, -108.26496 Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 33.22678, -108.26966 Dwellings

Located in New Mexico, this park protects the archaeological remains of the Mogollon people who lived here around the late 13th century.

They built their cliff dwellings in the Sonoran Desert, giving them a view of the valley and protection from invaders.

Additionally, the Gila River, located at the base of the cliffs, provided them with water essential for their crops.

For reasons still unknown today, this people left the area in the early 14th century.

The cliff dwellings built into the cliffs are accessible via a 1-mile loop trail.

The beginning of the trail is relatively flat and winds along a narrow canyon. However, it quickly leads to a steep section with many stone steps.

We can enter the cliff dwellings. A ranger is on-site to provide information about the site.

There are several rooms, and some are accessible by short wooden ladders.

The site is still very well preserved. You can also observe some pictographs.

After the visit, we descended to a lower level via a long wooden ladder, which allowed us to return to the trail.

The final section of the trail consists of a long series of steps that we descend to return to the parking lot.

If you'd like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/gicl/index.htm

https://youtu.be/4t3b8Nn5LZ8

NEW MEXICO - GRANTS - ICE CAVE & BANDERA VOLCANO

GPS Coordinates: 34.99323, -108.08050 Parking GPS Coordinates: 34.99823, -108.08465 Bandera Volcano GPS Coordinates: 34.99171, -108.08299 Ice Cave

This ice cave and the Bandera Volcano are located in Grants, New Mexico.

A +/- 3.3-kilometer loop trail winds through a forest of old junipers, firs, and ponderosa pines, allowing us to discover a landscape covered by lava spewed by the Bandera Volcano around 10,000 years ago.

The trail gradually climbs to a viewpoint that offers a stunning view of the volcano and the vast lava field, giving a great sense of the power of this volcanic eruption, which created a river of fire stretching over 37 kilometers.

This part of the trail ends at the viewpoint. We then retrace our steps and turn right onto the path leading to the ice cave.

The ice cave is located in a collapsed section of the lava tube. It’s accessible via a staircase with 70 steps.

The temperature in this cave never exceeds 0°C. You can actually feel the cool air it emits as you descend.

The ice inside is perpetual. This natural phenomenon is possible because the ice accumulated in the cave is 6 meters thick, thanks to the cave’s porous structure, which is well-insulated and designed to trap cold air, continuously generating new ice as rainwater and snowmelt seep in and freeze.

The inside of the cave is truly amazing. The emerald color of the ice is stunning, and the cool air feels great on a hot, sunny day.

We took the opportunity to cool off before climbing back up the long staircase and continuing our hike toward the parking lot.

There are a few picnic tables at the entrance of the site, and we used them to eat our lunch before heading to our next destination.

If you’d like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.icecaves.com

https://youtu.be/ghm3ud1f3Qc

NEW MEXICO - GALLUP - PYRAMID ROCK TRAIL & CHURCH ROCK TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 35.54660, -108.61100 Parking and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.55495, -108.61737 Pyramid Rock Summit GPS Coordinates: 35.55809, -108.61374 To the right GPS Coordinates: 35.55756, -108.60138 Church Rock GPS Coordinates: 35.55030, -108.60370 Return to the campground

Red Rock Park is located east of Gallup in northwestern New Mexico. It features two hiking trails: Pyramid Rock Trail (3 miles round trip) and Church Rock Trail (2.6 miles round trip).

These two trails can be hiked separately or combined into a loop using another trail that connects them both.

We opted to do this loop of about 4.8 miles to explore the highlights of both trails in a single hike.

We started with the Pyramid Rock Trail. The parking lot is located behind the arena and stables.

Since this hike takes place at high altitude, with the summit reaching 7,480 feet, I wondered if I’d struggle with the elevation. Fortunately, I didn’t feel any altitude sickness.

The sandy trail climbs steadily and includes many steps. Along the way, it offers stunning viewpoints of the surrounding area, especially Church Rock.

Erosion has created a fascinating landscape, forming circular patterns in the sandstone cliffs.

The rock formations along the trail are incredible. We saw many hoodoos, their tops capped with harder rock that protects them from erosion.

At the summit, the 360-degree view is truly exceptional. We took a break to admire the colorful cliffs around us—the scenery is absolutely gorgeous.

We then began the descent and took a new trail that connected us to the Church Rock Trail.

Large rock cairns mark the path. However, we reached a spot where several trails intersected, and there were no signs to indicate the direction.

We took the wrong turn and ended up at the top of a stunning cliff where erosion had shaped the rock into what looked like a massive wave. The view of Church Rock and the other rock formations was spectacular from there.

Unfortunately, the trail ended at the edge of this cliff. We had to backtrack and try to find the path that would lead us to Church Rock—or risk sliding down the steep cliff on our backsides to reach a trail we spotted below.

We chose the latter, knowing there was a risk of falling. We made it, but I strongly advise against doing this.

When we reached the bottom of the cliff and looked back at the route we’d just taken, I couldn’t believe we’d made that decision.

We managed to find the Church Rock Trail, but as the weather clouded over and rain threatened, we decided to cut the hike short and return to the starting point via the trail along the dry riverbed, which leads to a vast sand field we crossed to reach the park’s campground.

We then headed back to the main road to return to the parking lot.

If you’d like more information about this park, check out this website: https://www.gallupnm.gov/207/Red-Rock-Park

https://youtu.be/kS2aW5CenAw

ARIZONA - HOLBROOK - PAINTED DESERT

GPS coordinates: 35.06562, -109.78175 Visitor Center GPS coordinates: 35.07220, -109.78030 Tiponi Point GPS coordinates: 35.07720, -109.78230 Viewpoint GPS coordinates: 35.08038, -109.78374 Tawa Point 1 GPS coordinates: 35.08104, -109.78342 Tawa Point 2 GPS coordinates: 35.08452, -109.78809 Kachina Point (behind Painted Desert Inn) GPS coordinates: 35.08672, -109.79590 Chinde Point GPS coordinates: 35.08150, -109.80159 Pintado Point GPS coordinates: 35.06898, -109.79457 Nizhoni Point GPS coordinates: 35.06657, -109.79721 Whipple Point GPS coordinates: 35.06303, -109.80271 Lacey Point

Located in the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, the Painted Desert is a vast expanse of hills, badlands, and mesas. Stretching about 160 miles, it extends to the eastern edge of the Grand Canyon.

The name of this desert comes from the fact that its buttes are made up of different colored layers (gray, red, orange, and pink) resulting from the oxidation of iron in the sediments.

Several viewpoints have been set up along the main road, allowing us to discover the many formations that are part of the Chinle Formation, dating back over 200 million years. The landscape is incredibly colorful.

At an elevation of 1,828 meters, Pintado Point is the highest point in the park and is known for having some of the purest air in the United States.

There’s also a museum here. This building once housed the Painted Desert Inn, which served as a trading post, inn, and restaurant for travelers along Route 66.

https://youtu.be/Byoq39Z6cxg

ARIZONA - PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - PUERCO PUEBLO & NEWSPAPER ROCK VIEWPOINT

* Puerco Pueblo

GPS Coordinates: 34.97649, -109.79394 Parking GPS Coordinates: 34.97486, -109.79397 House GPS Coordinates: 34.97447, -109.79395 Petroglyphs

Puerco Pueblo is an ancient Native American village that was home to around 200 people in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The village consisted of about a hundred rooms surrounding a large central plaza, as well as several underground chambers called kivas, where spiritual ceremonies took place.

Unable to adapt to climate change, the inhabitants abandoned the village and set off in search of a more suitable place.

Archaeological excavations have uncovered various artifacts, including stone tools, pottery fragments, and petroglyphs.

A paved trail forms a loop of about 500 meters and takes us through these ruins. We can also observe many petroglyphs along the way.

* Newspaper Rock Viewpoint

GPS Coordinates: 34.96189, -109.79891

Newspaper Rock is an archaeological site featuring over 650 petroglyphs created by ancestral Pueblo peoples who lived, farmed, and hunted along the Puerco River. Some petroglyphs are over 2,000 years old.

These patterns and figures were created by carefully scraping away the dark coating that covers the rock surfaces using sharp tools.

The carvings depict deities, various animal species, and hunting scenes, among other things.

Newspaper Rock can only be viewed from a nearby observation platform because the site is closed due to unstable terrain.

Using binoculars is recommended to get a closer look at the petroglyphs.

If you'd like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

https://youtu.be/EG5iFR8s9PM

ARIZONA - PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - BLUE MESA

GPS coordinates: 34.93288, -109.75554 Viewpoint GPS coordinates: 34.93403, -109.75488 Viewpoint GPS coordinates: 34.93951, -109.75324 Viewpoint GPS coordinates: 34.93995, -109.75427 Viewpoint GPS coordinates: 34.93946, -109.75624 Viewpoint and start of the trail GPS coordinates: 34.93650, -109.75920 Viewpoint

Blue Mesa is located in the central section of Petrified Forest National Park. Several overlooks, built along the main road, offer stunning views of this surreal landscape made up of striated hills and rocks.

A paved trail starts at the top of Blue Mesa. This 1-mile loop takes you down into a canyon surrounded by colorful mudstone cliffs. The scenery is surreal.

You can also see several segments of petrified wood here that date back over 200 million years.

Along the trail, interpretive signs provide explanations about the geology of this region.

If you'd like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

https://youtu.be/r3IrPlVqex8

ARIZONA - PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - THE TEEPEES, AGATE BRIDGE & JASPER FOREST OVERLOOK

* The Teepees

GPS Coordinates: 34.94789, -109.77448 By the roadside GPS Coordinates: 34.94464, -109.77657 Viewpoint

The "Teepees" are small cone-shaped mountain peaks that resemble Native American dwellings (tipis) in the southern part of Petrified Forest National Park. They’re located between Newspaper Rock and the start of the Blue Mesa Trail.

Part of the Chinle Formation, they date back over 200 million years. They’re made up of gray, blue, purple, and green mudstone deposits and white sandstone, colored by iron, manganese, and other minerals.

* Agate Bridge

GPS Coordinates: 34.89258, -109.79402

Agate Bridge is the park’s most famous example of petrified wood. Stretching 110 feet, it spans a small ravine, with both ends still embedded in the sandstone.

You can see it from the sidewalk near the parking lot or get closer via a short 125-foot trail.

This tree has been in this spot for over 200 million years. It was declared a national monument in 1906.

* Jasper Forest Overlook

GPS Coordinates: 34.88821, -109.80764

Jasper Forest Overlook offers a stunning panoramic view of a desert landscape with a very high concentration of petrified wood.

These petrified wood segments were once trapped in the sandstone cliffs above the road, but thousands of years of erosion sent them tumbling down to the valley floor.

https://youtu.be/z1oVN0JHTTA

ARIZONA - PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - CRYSTAL FOREST TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 34.86373, -109.79200 Parking and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 34.86447, -109.79103 Viewpoint

Crystal Forest Trail is an easy, paved 0.8-mile loop that takes you through a badlands landscape filled with many segments of petrified trees embedded with quartz crystals that sparkle in the sun.

These formations are the result of periodic floods and erosion that occurred over 200 million years ago when sediments and volcanic ash were carried downstream, settling on fallen trees.

Over time, groundwater dissolved silica from the volcanic ash into the porous bodies of the fallen trees, creating the petrified logs you can see in this park.

https://youtu.be/j7idnM4Zygk

ARIZONA - PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK - GIANT LOGS TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 34.81509, -109.86476 Parking

The Petrified Forest isn't an actual forest of standing trees. In fact, it's more like trees that fell to the ground and were once covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash containing silica and muddy sediments.

The silica, dissolved in water, seeped into the wood, dried, and recrystallized into stone, transforming the tree segments into petrified wood with stunning colors.

The Giant Logs Trail is a 600-meter paved loop trail that starts behind the Rainbow Forest Museum. This trail winds through a hill dotted with colorful petrified logs up to a viewpoint overlooking the badlands.

Some of the petrified trees lie almost intact on the ground, showing the impressive length of the large trunks.

The largest of these fragments is "Old Faithful," which weighs 44 tons and measures nearly three meters wide at its base and ten meters long.

https://youtu.be/5X8ENizqfmk

ARIZONA - WINSLOW - TWO GUNS GHOST TOWN

GPS Coordinates: 35.11471, -111.09085 Gas station GPS Coordinates: 35.11323, -111.09204 Pool and campground GPS Coordinates: 35.11574, -111.09561 Canyon Diablo Bridge GPS Coordinates: 35.11528, -111.09365 Apache Death Cave

The ghost town of Two Guns is located in Winslow, Arizona. This place still generates a lot of talk today because of the tragic events that once took place here.

The town is said to be haunted by the ghost of an Apache tribe who were burned alive in a nearby cave in 1878.

Billy the Kid and his gang reportedly hid in the stone ruins along Canyon Diablo near Two Guns during the winter of 1870-1880.

In 1889, men robbed a train near Two Guns and fled with the loot. One of the bandits claimed the money was buried near the Canyon Diablo Bridge. The treasure was never found.

The first owner of this site was Ed Randolph, who built a store next to the cave. In 1922, the Cundiff family bought 130 hectares of land from him and built a store, a restaurant, and gas pumps.

In 1925, the Cundiff family leased a spot to Harry Miller, who built numerous buildings, including the Mountain Lions Zoo.

He also turned the cave into a tourist attraction by installing electric lights and building fake ruins inside.

Miller opened a restaurant and a gift shop where he sold, among other things, all the Apache skulls found inside the cave.

Signs were placed along the highway to advertise his establishment, which he called "Fort Two Guns" in honor of silent film actor William S. "Two Guns" Hart.

In 1926, Miller shot and killed Earle Cundiff over a lease disagreement but was acquitted at the subsequent trial.

In 1929, the inside of Miller’s store burned down, and the following year, he left the state.

Louise Cundiff remarried and, in 1934, opened the Two Guns Texaco gas station at a new location along Route 66.

In 1938, a new bridge crossing Canyon Diablo was built, and Route 66 began following Interstate 40 at the Two Guns site.

A more modern gas station, along with a motel, tavern, campground, and a new zoo, were built in Two Guns during the 1960s.

The gas station burned down in 1971, and the site began to decline. Today, only ruins remain.

Upon arriving at Two Guns, the first relic you see is the gas station, covered in graffiti.

We went inside the building and noticed that glass debris littered the floor, electrical wires hung loose, and the structure seemed pretty unstable. Caution is advised!

There’s also a possible risk of snakes in the area.

Driving further along the trail, we reached the old campground pool, which is also completely covered in graffiti and tags.

We passed two tanks that had been painted by artists and arrived at the zoo, where you can see the ruins of cages and buildings.

We crossed the Canyon Diablo Bridge to reach the remains of old Two Guns. This bridge was designated a historic landmark in 1988.

We saw the location of the "Apache Death Cave" but didn’t venture inside. Access is extremely dangerous due to numerous landslides in the area.

https://youtu.be/QiRqsklEfDk

ARIZONA - CAMERON - LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GORGE OVERLOOKS

GPS coordinates: 35.91900, -111.56406 Overlook 1 GPS coordinates: 35.94025, -111.65070 Overlook 2

The Little Colorado River, about 507 kilometers long, is one of the main tributaries of the Colorado River, located in the state of Arizona in the United States.

It originates in the southeast of Apache County, flows northwest through a series of deep gorges, and joins the Colorado River at the Grand Canyon.

Two overlooks along AZ-64 in Cameron let us admire this unique landscape.

The first overlook is managed by the Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. It’s located right by the canyon and is protected by guardrails.

The entrance fee is $5 per person. There’s a very large parking lot and several Navajo souvenir shops.

When we went, no fee was charged. However, it was early in the day and the site was completely deserted.

The second overlook, which is free to access, is located a little over 8 kilometers from the first. There are a few parking spaces. A 700-meter linear trail leads to amazing viewpoints over the deep canyon carved by the river.

https://youtu.be/kyarBrQZyfo

ARIZONA - GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - SHOSHONE POINT TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 36.03497, -112.06922 Parking GPS Coordinates: 36.04323, -112.05922 Viewpoint GPS Coordinates: 36.04528, -112.05975 End of trail and viewpoint

The Shoshone Point Trail is located on Desert View Drive, a scenic road on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

This trail, which is 2.1 miles round-trip, is an old dirt path that crosses a plateau through a ponderosa pine forest. It’s really easy to hike.

It leads to the edge of the Grand Canyon, where the views of the eastern region are absolutely stunning.

If you’re not afraid of heights, you can head to the end of Shoshone Point, a narrow white rock formation that juts out into the canyon and offers breathtaking views of the entire area.

For more information about this park, feel free to visit this website: https://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

https://youtu.be/ikIYO5TOIV4

ARIZONA - GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - DESERT VIEW DRIVE

GPS coordinates: 36.03571, -111.83040 East Entrance of the Grand Canyon

Arizona State Route 64, also known as Desert View Drive, is a 23-mile scenic road that connects Desert View to Grand Canyon Village.

This route offers numerous viewpoints over the canyon and the Colorado River.

* Desert View

GPS coordinates: 36.04087, -111.82753 Parking GPS coordinates: 36.04413, -111.82619 Watchtower

Desert View is the easternmost viewpoint in Grand Canyon National Park. Located on the South Rim at an elevation of 7,438 feet, it’s also one of the highest.

It offers stunning views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.

* Navajo Point

GPS coordinates: 36.03858, -111.83748

At 7,497 feet, Navajo Point is the highest overlook on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

You can see the Escalante and Cardenas buttes next to Tanner Canyon, as well as the Colorado River, Echo Cliffs, and Painted Desert.

* Lipan Point

GPS coordinates: 36.03300, -111.85319

Lipan Point lets you observe one of the longest visible stretches of the Colorado River, along with several rock formations.

* Moran Point

GPS coordinates: 36.00519, -111.92429

This viewpoint offers a chance to admire the three main rock layers of the Grand Canyon. Plus, when you look down, you get a great view of a spot called Red Canyon.

* Grandview Point

GPS coordinates: 35.99846, -111.98776

Grandview Point is the starting point for the Grandview Trail hike. Since the official overlook is slightly obstructed by trees, you’ll need to venture a bit farther along the Grandview Trail for better views of the canyon.

* Duck on a Rock Viewpoint

GPS coordinates: 36.01428, -112.06562

The rock formations in the Grand Canyon evoke shapes that only our imagination can bring to life. Here, you’ll spot a formation that looks like a duck perched on top of a rock.

* Shoshone Point

GPS coordinates: 36.04528, -112.05975

Accessible via a 2.1-mile round-trip trail leading to a promontory with stunning views of the eastern region of the Grand Canyon.

https://youtu.be/NlAcXy9MtZs

ARIZONA - GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - RIM ROUTE (ORANGE) AND VILLAGE ROUTE (BLUE)

* Grand Canyon Visitor Center

GPS Coordinates: 36.05909, -112.10936 Parking

This is where we parked our car and took the free shuttle to reach the various viewpoints located in the Rim Route and Village Route areas.

* Yaki Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.05862, -112.08291

This viewpoint offers a stunning view of the canyon, particularly Wotan's Throne, an impressive flat-topped butte, as well as Vishnu Temple, a 2,296-meter-high peak.

* Pipe Creek Vista

GPS Coordinates: 36.04802, -112.09407

Pipe Creek Vista is another viewpoint that provides a magnificent view of the canyon. It’s also a great spot for birdwatching, especially in spring and fall.

The Douglas fir forest, located in the canyon walls below, is an example of the micro-habitat fed by water and cooler temperatures resulting from the shade cast by the canyon cliffs.

* Mather Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.06171, -112.10902

Mather Point is just a short walk from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. It offers a breathtaking view of the canyon’s spectacular formations.

At the bottom of the canyon, you can see the Colorado River, Phantom Ranch, and numerous trails winding through the landscape.

It’s also a very popular spot to watch sunrise and sunset.

* Yavapai Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.06595, -112.11681

Yavapai Point is the northernmost point and closest to the Colorado River, offering an incredible view of the canyon.

* Verkamp's Visitor Center Lookout

GPS Coordinates: 36.05821, -112.13502

From this viewpoint, you can see Mary Colter's Lookout Studio overlooking the canyon. That’s why the view of the canyon is pretty much the same from here.

* Mary Colter's Lookout Studio

GPS Coordinates: 36.05796, -112.14125

Mary Colter's Lookout Studio is near the Bright Angel Trail. There’s a nice gift shop inside. The two panoramic terraces at the back of the building offer a beautiful view of the canyon.

https://youtu.be/7Lcp244HDIc

ARIZONA - GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - HERMIT ROUTE (RED LINE)

The Hermit Route starts at Grand Canyon Village and continues for 11 kilometers along the canyon to the west, ending at Hermits Rest.

When this loop is in operation, no vehicles are allowed on this road. A shuttle service then serves the different areas of the canyon.

* Trailview Overlook

GPS Coordinates: 36.0620, -112.1464

From this viewpoint, we can see the Bright Angel Trail winding through the canyon. Further north flows Bright Angel Creek, one of the tributaries of the Colorado River.

* Maricopa Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.07190, -112.14843

Maricopa offers stunning views of the canyon. To the west are the remains of the old Orphan Mine, which was once an excellent source of copper, silver, vanadium, and uranium.

* Powell Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.07343, -112.15097

Powell Point is the ideal spot to watch the sunrise or sunset, especially since there are far fewer people here than at Hopi Point, the next viewpoint.

Here, you can see the canyon from west to east.

* Hopi Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.07354, -112.15616 Viewpoint GPS Coordinates: 36.07451, -112.15493 Viewpoint

Hopi Point offers a complete view of the Grand Canyon. It provides excellent east-to-west vistas, making it the perfect spot for sunrise and sunset.

We observed several rock formations here, including the flat-topped Shiva Temple, the pyramid-shaped Temple of Isis, and the Temple of Zoroaster, a peak standing at 7,123 feet.

* Mohave Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.07236, -112.16603

Mohave Point has several individual viewpoints and is also a fantastic place to watch the sunset.

It offers great views of the Colorado River flowing at the bottom of the canyon, as well as several rock formations, including the Temples of Horus, Osiris, and Isis, and the Tower of Ra.

* The Abyss

GPS Coordinates: 36.05830, -112.16900

The Abyss lives up to its name. This chasm is remarkable for its sheer walls. There’s no fault line here, which means very little water flows through this part of the canyon.

In fact, most of the erosion here happens due to the constant pull of gravity on the rock walls.

* Monument Creek Vista

GPS Coordinates: 36.06058, -112.18265

This viewpoint is located at the eastern end of the Greenway Trail, a paved bike and pedestrian path. It overlooks Monument Creek and the Colorado River. We didn’t stop here.

* Pima Point

GPS Coordinates: 36.07178, -112.20009

Pima Point is one of the best spots on the South Rim to see the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The viewpoint is on a wide promontory, offering views of over 60 kilometers across the canyon.

* Hermits Rest

GPS Coordinates: 36.0607, -112.2125

We didn’t stop here because the viewpoints are quite limited due to the densely forested canyon edge. Hermits Rest has a gift shop, a snack bar, and restrooms.

https://youtu.be/_iy3lMhh0pQ

ROUTE 66 - ARIZONA - HISTORIC TOWN OF OATMAN

GPS coordinates: 35.02695, -114.38450

Oatman is the last town in Arizona, just before California. It's an old mining town that was practically abandoned after Route 66 was bypassed.

You’ll encounter donkeys—lots of donkeys—both on the road and in town. They used to transport prospectors' goods. When the mine closed, they were left behind and returned to the wild.

They’ve obviously reproduced and continue to roam the area. They’re actually protected by federal law, and hunting them is prohibited. They’re completely used to human presence.

Oatman is definitely touristy, but there’s a great vibe in this little Western town.

There’s a parking lot at the entrance to the village. Vehicles are also allowed to park on Main Street. It’s a shame, though, because it detracts from the historic scenery.

The main street is lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars. You’ll also find the Oatman Hotel, which was once called the Durlin Hotel. This place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It’s been restored and turned into a museum but is temporarily closed.

The walls of the hotel are covered in $1 bills. The story goes that prospectors would sign these bills and hang them on the walls. When they ran out of money, they could take their bills back to pay for drinks.

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, two famous American actors, spent their wedding night here. Mr. Gable later returned because he loved playing poker with the miners.

A shootout show is presented daily in the middle of Main Street. The afternoon show is free and fun. We missed it because we visited in the morning.

https://youtu.be/qLn-Ht9utMY

ARIZONA - BULLHEAD CITY COMMUNITY PARK

GPS coordinates: 35.139991, -114.571140

We left the town of Oatman and were on our way to Red Rock Canyon in Nevada when we spotted this park along Highway 95.

So we decided to take a little break here and enjoy its facilities located by the beautiful Colorado River, whose waters are exceptionally clear.

This picturesque park is the perfect spot for outdoor activities year-round. You’ll find a free public beach, a boat launch ramp, covered picnic areas with barbecues, a playground for kids, and a dog park.

https://youtu.be/lj_Ue6R7wpc

NEVADA - RED ROCK CANYON - CALICO I & II & SANDSTONE QUARRY

GPS Coordinates: 36.13569, -115.42788 Visitor Center

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is located in southwestern Nevada, about 20 kilometers west of Las Vegas.

A 21-kilometer one-way scenic drive runs through the park. You can admire the various rock formations from numerous overlooks along the road or by exploring the different trails available.

Entry reservations are required for the scenic drive between October 1st and May 31st for entry between 8 AM and 5 PM. Timed-entry reservations can be made on Recreation.gov by visiting the following website: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10075177, or by calling (877) 444-6777.

If you'd like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

* Calico I & II & Sandstone Quarry

GPS Coordinates: 36.14627, -115.43083 Calico I GPS Coordinates: 36.15182, -115.43728 Calico II

The Calico Hills feature some of the most colorful geological formations and are certainly the most interesting in Red Rock Canyon.

Over 180 million years ago, these hills were once red sand dunes. However, over time, groundwater flowing through the dune field washed away much of the original color, but the resulting calcium carbonate cemented the sand.

The dunes were then compressed and transformed into sedimentary rock through a lithification process.

Each year, these hills attract thousands of climbers. In fact, this park is one of the top five climbing destinations in the United States.

Calico I and Calico II are not only two overlooks that offer excellent views of these large red sandstone outcrops but are also the starting point for a hiking trail that explores this area.

We took a short hike on the Calico Hills Trail, which starts at Calico I. It runs along the base of the hills and leads to the sandstone quarry.

As for us, we kind of improvised and wandered through the rock formations, which are absolutely stunning in this area.

* Sandstone Quarry Trail

GPS Coordinates: 36.16235, -115.45034 Parking and trailhead

Sandstone Quarry is a former sandstone quarry whose commercial operations ended in 1912.

A trail starts near the parking area and allows you to admire rock formations showcasing different colors (red, yellow, and cream).

https://youtu.be/orqpscY2SLg

NEVADA - RED ROCK CANYON - WILLOW SPRINGS

GPS coordinates: 36.16050, -115.49822 Parking GPS coordinates: 36.16017, -115.49737 Pictographs

GPS coordinates: 36.16105, -115.49883 Parking Petroglyph Wall Trail (200 m one way only) GPS coordinates: 36.16097, -115.50068 Petroglyphs

GPS coordinates: 36.15741, -115.49363 Parking and start of the trail to the right (loop +/- 1.3 km) GPS coordinates: 36.15625, -115.49687 Fork to the right (round trip +/- 240 m) Back to the parking lot

There’s a picnic area at Willow Springs. It’s the perfect spot for birdwatching since 150 species have been identified here.

There are several hiking trails in this area. Two of them lead to a cliff featuring rock art. These petroglyphs and pictographs are estimated to be at least 800 years old.

We also hiked the Lost Creek interpretive trail, where you can observe many features of the Mojave Desert in Red Rock Canyon. The landscape is breathtaking in this part of the park.

https://youtu.be/mOAILNZAOQE

NEVADA - RED ROCK CANYON LOOKOUTS

GPS Coordinates: 36.13569, -115.42788 Visitor Center

Red Rock Canyon is located in southwestern Nevada, about 20 kilometers west of Las Vegas.

A 21-kilometer one-way scenic drive runs through this park. You can admire the various rock formations from numerous overlooks along the road or by exploring the different trails in the area.

Entry reservations are required for the scenic drive between October 1st and May 31st for entry between 8 AM and 5 PM. Timed-entry reservations can be made on Recreation.gov by visiting the following website: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10075177, or by calling (877) 444-6777.

* High Point Overlook

GPS Coordinates: 36.17043, -115.46617

This overlook is the highest point on the scenic drive. It offers stunning 360-degree views of the park. Interpretive signs provide information about the region's geological features.

* Viewpoint

GPS Coordinates: 36.16626, -115.47539

Similar view to the previous overlook.

* Ice Box Canyon

GPS Coordinates: 36.15026, -115.48400

This overlook marks the start of a challenging 3.5 km trail that leads deep into a cool, shaded canyon with seasonal waterfalls.

The canyon is very narrow and rarely sees sunlight. However, to get there, you’ll need to cross open desert and climb over rocks to reach the end of the canyon.

* Red Rock Wash Overlook

GPS Coordinates: 36.14263, -115.47314 Viewpoint

This overlook also offers a fantastic view of the colorful rock formations. We also spotted some pretty flowers and a small lizard here.

* Pine Creek Canyon

GPS Coordinates: 36.12912, -115.47334

The Pine Creek Canyon overlook is located near the southern end of the scenic drive. It provides a stunning panorama of over 24 kilometers of mountainous landscapes.

An easy 5.5 km round-trip trail starts at this overlook and leads into the canyon. The vegetation here is quite varied.

The ponderosa pine forest found at the mouth of the canyon is a remnant of the last ice age. It manages to survive here thanks to the cool air and water flowing through Pine Creek Canyon.

* Lower Red Rock Parking Area

GPS Coordinates: 36.11171, -115.44960

Lower Red Rock is the last overlook on the scenic drive. It offers a breathtaking view of all the rock formations in the park.

* Red Rock Overlook

GPS Coordinates: 36.11709, -115.44481

This overlook is located on Highway 159 and provides an excellent view of the entire protected area. Plus, no entry fee is required to access this overlook.

You can also spot a few Joshua trees here, which are mostly found only in the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States.

I find this tree quite beautiful—it can withstand the most severe droughts thanks to water captured by its spines and stored in its fibrous trunk.

https://youtu.be/G8YYmSPDFp8

NEVADA - VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK - WHITE DOMES TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 36.405650, -114.56669 West Entrance GPS Coordinates: 36.428890, -114.45759 East Entrance GPS Coordinates: 36.429849, -114.51386 Visitor Center

Valley of Fire State Park isn’t just Nevada’s largest state park—it’s also the oldest.

Opened in 1935, it gets its name from the red sandstone formations it houses. These were formed from vast shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs, over 150 million years ago.

Time and erosion have created a landscape of exceptional beauty. We’re visiting this park for the second time, and the wonder is still very much there.

The Visitor Center features exhibits on the park’s geology, ecology, prehistory, and history, as well as the surrounding region. Postcards, books, and souvenirs are also sold here.

Valley of Fire Highway is the main road running through the park. This scenic route connects the east and west entrances.

You’ll also find White Domes Road and Fire Road Canyon, two roads that offer breathtaking landscapes as well.

You can admire the various rock formations from numerous overlooks along these roads or by exploring the different trails in the area.

If you’d like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire

* White Domes Trail

GPS Coordinates: 36.48587, -114.53284 Parking and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.48183, -114.53318 The Professionals 1966 movie site GPS Coordinates: 36.48182, -114.53198 Kaolin Slot Canyon GPS Coordinates: 36.48151, -114.53442 White Domes Slot Canyon GPS Coordinates: 36.48225, -114.53470 Return to parking

The White Domes Trail is a 1.1-mile loop hike where you’ll see spectacular sandstone formations, narrow slot canyons, and an old movie filming location.

This trail takes you into a sandy area between two ridges. Erosion has created a vibrant landscape, and the rock formations have very unique shapes.

Along the trail, you’ll find the remains of a film set used for *The Professionals* in 1966. This American Western starred Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale.

Continuing the hike, we reach a short section of a narrow slot canyon with beautifully colored rocks, offering a nice break from the sun.

The second part of the trail has a slightly more technical section where we climb a slope with many rocks, but it’s not difficult.

At the top, we’re rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of the surroundings.

We then cross an open stretch in the sandy desert. The vibrant rock formations along the trail feature numerous arches and caves.

A little tip: It’s best to hike this trail early in the day because the heat can get pretty intense in this area.

https://youtu.be/s7Mr9iJTurU

NEVADA - VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK - SEVEN WONDERS TRAIL, PINK CANYON, FIRE WAVE

GPS Coordinates: 36.48816, -114.52894 Parking lot and trailhead

Seven Wonders, Pink Canyon, and Fire Wave are three trails that can be hiked separately. However, by combining these three trails, you can complete a 3 km loop and admire several geological wonders.

The hike starts from the Seven Wonders trail parking lot, near White Domes, in the northern part of the park.

The Seven Wonders trail lets you discover arches, vibrantly colored rocks, stunning strata, and slot canyons.

Unless you stumble upon these wonders by pure chance, I’d say a GPS is essential to locate them.

** Fire Cave

GPS Coordinates: 36.48630, -114.52993

Fire Cave is a beautiful sculpture shaped by erosion in a rock. It’s not very tall, but it’s really pretty.

** Thunderstorm Arch

GPS Coordinates: 36.48591, -114.53043

This arch is slightly elevated, about 150 meters past Fire Cave. In this area, the rocks have lovely pinkish streaks.

** Crazy Hill

GPS Coordinates: 36.48511, -114.52980

I’m including this info for reference because we didn’t manage to reach this spot during our hike.

Crazy Hill is supposedly accessible via a rocky promontory starting east of Thunderstorm Arch. This hill has surreal colors.

** Kaolin Wash

GPS Coordinates: 36.48155, -114.53028 Junction to the left

The trail crosses a region with pastel-colored formations that are truly amazing and leads to an intersection with a few bushes.

We turn left onto Kaolin Wash to head toward the main road. This trail is sandy and, since it’s exposed, it gets quite hot.

** Pastel Pink Canyon

GPS Coordinates: 36.47957, -114.52662

Kaolin Wash leads to the main road. We need to cross to the other side to access the trail through Pastel Pink Canyon.

Pastel Pink Canyon is a small canyon with walls displaying a mix of different colors, from pale pink to orange-pink.

It’s not very long—about 300 meters—and easy to walk. Since it’s not well-known, it’s nice to stroll through and observe the various rock formations erosion has created over time.

** Fire Wave

GPS Coordinates: 36.48265, -114.52226

After walking the trail through Pastel Pink Canyon, you need to turn left to reach Fire Wave, which is at a slightly higher elevation.

Fire Wave is one of the park’s iconic spots. Its name comes from the fact that this rock formation looks like a wave, and the ground features multicolored striped lines, from pale pink to deep red.

I don’t need to tell you that this place is super photogenic and, as a result, very popular.

However, when we were there, there were only a few people at the site, which made taking photos easier.

From Fire Wave, the trail is marked back to the parking lot. It rises slightly to the road and crosses very dry areas with no vegetation at all.

In summary, this is an amazing hike that lets you discover varied landscapes of exceptional beauty. Plus, these trails are easy to walk.

However, keep in mind that the heat can be overwhelming in this region. In fact, in summer, these trails are often closed.

https://youtu.be/-M6nCQgpKAo

NEVADA - VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK - RAINBOW VISTA TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 36.45100, -114.51547 Parking and trailhead GPS coordinates: 36.44660, -114.50835 End of trail

Rainbow Vista Trail is an easy trail with a round-trip distance of 1.1 miles.

The only challenge you’ll encounter is that the hike is on sand, which makes walking a bit tougher.

The trail gets its name from the view you have at the start. The sandstone colors of the surrounding rocks cover a wide spectrum.

The trail ends at Fire Canyon Overlook, which offers a viewpoint of the many red sandstone rock formations that dot the landscape.

In the summer, it’s best to check the weather before doing this hike since there’s no shade and temperatures here can easily exceed 104°F.

https://youtu.be/Y1rtEOGNcD8

NEVADA - VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK - MOUSE'S TANK TRAIL

GPS coordinates: 36.44102, -114.51657 Parking and trailhead GPS coordinates: 36.43781, -114.51226 End of the trail

Mouse's Tank Trail is an easy hiking trail with a round-trip distance of 0.8 miles (1.3 km).

This trail takes you through a shallow red sandstone canyon where you can see amazing rock formations and numerous petroglyphs.

https://youtu.be/semgdXtOoR4

NEVADA - VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK - ROCK FORMATIONS

When you enter Valley of Fire State Park, it feels like stepping into another world. The red sandstone formations contrast sharply with the gray and beige limestone mountains, creating a memorable atmosphere.

Over the years, wind, water, and sand have shaped the rocks into a multitude of forms. Many of these formations can be seen from viewpoints along the road that runs through the park. Here are a few of them.

** Fire Canyon Silica Dome**

GPS Coordinates: 36.45556, -114.50221

In this area, the forces within the earth were powerful enough to bend, break, and in some places, shift thousands of feet of surface rock several miles from their original location. Today, erosion has worn down the top of a large fold, exposing the steeply tilted rock layer and creating numerous canyons.

The sandstone formations that are so prominent in Valley of Fire are made up of sand grains that are almost pure silica. Silica Dome is the most beautiful example in the region of such a deposit. The transition from white to red at the base of the dome occurs where small amounts of iron in the rock produce a rust-like stain.

** Balancing Rock**

GPS Coordinates: 36.42979, -114.51435 Parking and trailhead nearby GPS Coordinates: 36.43006, -114.51674 Balancing Rock

From the Visitor Center, a very short hike (500 meters round trip) leads to the Balancing Rock viewpoint.

Balancing Rock is one of those strange rock formations in the park that seems to defy the laws of gravity and physics.

** Seven Sisters**

GPS Coordinates: 36.42629, -114.50154

Seven Sisters is a group of seven large, eroded red rocks surrounded by the sandy desert. These rocks were once part of the neighboring red formations, but erosion has worn away the surrounding sandstone deposits.

With many holes forming in these rocks, their eventual destruction in a few hundred years is conceivable.

** Elephant Rock**

GPS Coordinates: 36.42834, -114.46013

This rock is a beautiful example of an elephant-shaped arch. The rock is visible from the road, though parking is limited at this spot.

** Atlatl Rock**

GPS Coordinates: 36.42384, -114.55074

Atlatl Rock is a great place to see Native American rock art up close. A metal staircase, installed on the side of a tall red sandstone formation, leads to an observation area in front of the petroglyphs.

The petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock are over 4,000 years old and are easy to see because they were carved into a natural layer of darker material called desert varnish, exposing the red-orange rock beneath. They depict people, animals, and symbols.

** Arch Rock**

GPS Coordinates: 36.42158, -114.55484

Arch Rock is a natural arch. Erosion from wind and rain over millennia has weakened the rock, allowing the natural arch to form.

Since this stunning structure is very fragile, it’s viewed from a distance. No climbing is allowed.

** Piano Rock**

GPS Coordinates: 36.41924, -114.55945

As the name suggests, this rock formation was nicknamed for its resemblance to a piano.

A short hiking trail leads to it, but it can also be seen from the road.

** Beehives**

GPS Coordinates: 36.41310, -114.54798

The Beehives are beautiful conical sandstone formations created by water and wind erosion.

They feature grooved lines running in multiple directions, representing layers of silt that were deposited at different times.

These different layers indicate the angle at which the wind or water was moving when the material was deposited.

** Other Rock Formations**

Several other rock formations can also be observed in this park, including Three Fin Arches (GPS Coordinates: 36.41226, -114.55428) and Windstone Arch (GPS Coordinates: 36.41253, -114.55397).

https://youtu.be/KHRbcyL7ArI

NEVADA - VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK - SCENIC ROUTES

Several scenic routes wind through this park, letting us discover amazing geological formations.

Valley of Fire Highway is the main scenic route, and with its vibrant red natural scenery, it’s often called one of the most beautiful roads in the American West.

This is where you’ll find formations like Elephant Rock, Seven Sisters, and Beehives (featured in another video).

White Domes Road, also known as Mouse's Tank Road, is a short but incredibly picturesque route that starts near the Visitor Center and takes you to the northern part of the park. About 9 kilometers long, it ends in a cul-de-sac.

This road reveals even more geological wonders and shows that the park’s landscape isn’t just made up of red sandstone formations—you’ll see rock formations in a wide range of vivid colors.

Along the way, several viewpoints and trails let you take in desert vistas, impressive boulders, narrow canyons, and petroglyphs.

This is where you’ll find attractions like Rainbow Vista, Fire Wave, Mouse's Tank, and the White Domes (featured in other videos).

Fire Canyon Road is another short scenic route, about 1.2 kilometers long, leading to a viewpoint overlooking Fire Canyon Silica Dome.

There’s also Campground Road, a roughly 3-kilometer route where you’ll find the campgrounds. This is where you can admire rock formations like Atlatl Rock, Arch Rock, and Piano Rock (featured in another video).

https://youtu.be/i0s8tVevE8M

NEVADA - PANACA - CATHEDRAL GORGE STATE PARK - SLOT CANYONS

GPS coordinates: 37.80400, -114.40693 Visitor Center 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in a long, narrow valley where erosion has sculpted the soft bentonite clay into a unique and truly stunning landscape.

The rock formations eerily resemble cathedrals, which is how the park got its name.

We went there to visit, among other things, the slot canyons, which are undoubtedly the main attraction of this park.

Slot canyons are actually very deep and extremely narrow passages formed by water rushing through the rock over time.

We ventured into the Moon Cave slot canyon (GPS coordinates: 37.81940, -114.40963), Canyon Cave (GPS coordinates: 37.82107, -114.41150), and Cathedral Cave (GPS coordinates: 37.82341, -114.41240).

I can confirm that these passages are very narrow, and even though I don’t like being in enclosed spaces, I loved this experience.

You feel tiny inside these walls, which are like real labyrinths.

There’s no exit at the end of these slot canyons—you just have to retrace your steps.

We also found a passage that leads to the top of these rock formations, giving us a different perspective on this beautiful landscape.

If you’d like more information about this park, I invite you to visit this website: http://parks.nv.gov/parks/cathedral-gorge

https://youtu.be/uf3-RQGfN0Y

NEVADA - CATHEDRAL GORGE STATE PARK - EAGLE POINT & MILLER POINT

GPS Coordinates: 37.83209, -114.41442 Eagle Point GPS Coordinates: 37.82974, -114.41348 Miller Point

Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in a long, narrow valley where erosion has sculpted a spectacular landscape into the soft bentonite clay.

Millions of years ago, this valley was a lake, and over time, streams deposited soft sediments on its bottom. After the lake dried up, the clay was exposed, and wind and rain slowly carved the fantastic shapes we can see here today.

The Eagle Point Trail is an easy 2.5-kilometer round-trip trail located in the upper part of the canyon. It offers stunning panoramic views of the park’s badlands landscape.

Nearby, Miller Point Overlook is a viewpoint that also provides breathtaking views of the magnificent rock formations that make up this canyon.

A trail, the Miller Point Trail, starts at this overlook. It’s a 3.2-kilometer round-trip trail with a few staircases and bridges, leading into a wash.

By following the wash, you exit a narrower canyon into the wide valley. The trail reaches the picnic area and parking lot, where you’ll find access to many other trails, some of which lead into slot canyons.

https://youtu.be/oa8BvWi_Igo

UTAH - BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK - MOSSY CAVE & TROPIC DITCH WATERFALL TRAIL

GPS Coordinates: 37.66558, -112.11011 Parking and trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.66532, -112.11431 Waterfall GPS Coordinates: 37.66359, -112.11463 Cave

The Mossy Cave trail, located just off SR-12, is in the northernmost section of Bryce Canyon.

At 1.3 kilometers round trip, this trail leads to Water Canyon in one direction and Mossy Cave in the other. The scenery in this area is truly stunning.

Taking the right fork on the trail leads you above a small waterfall called Tropic Ditch Waterfall.

As for us, we first walked directly in the mostly dry riverbed to reach the base of this lovely waterfall.

Here, the rapid erosion of the stream was slowed by a layer of dolomite. Dolomite is a special form of limestone enriched with magnesium. Dolomite isn’t just harder than ordinary limestone; it also can’t be dissolved by slightly acidic rainwater. This dolomite layer created the waterfall and is also the caprock for the park’s most famous and durable hoodoos.

The presence of water is what makes Water Canyon so unique. Though not visible during the day, a wide variety of animals regularly come here to quench their thirst.

We also walked the trail that runs alongside the stream. It offers beautiful viewpoints not only of the waterfall but also of the many hoodoos found in this area.

We backtracked and took the fork leading to Mossy Cave. Mossy Cave is actually a cave created by an underground spring. You can see large chunks of ice inside it.

https://youtu.be/vjXYmxKyAhQ