Indholdsfortegnelse for Grand Canyon 2023 i National Park Journal

Hot air balloons rose over the foothills as we left Denver, driving southwest with the rising sun. I was 18 and this was my first real road trip with my then boyfriend (now husband). We were headed to Los Angeles, with nothing but a campsite in the Grand Canyon planned along the way. As the tires of my Jeep ate up the highways between Denver and Arizona, we realized that our timeline had us poised to make it to the Grand Canyon in time to watch the sunset. We limited stops to bathroom breaks and getting gas, racing the clock. The big orange orb of the desert sun was sinking close to the horizon as we paid our entrance fee and drove past the sign. We’d made it…or so I…

1 What a hole. It’s easy to peer into the canyon from the rim, but if you want to get to the Colorado River at the bottom, it’s a long hike that isn’t recommended for a day-trip. Outside the park, you can go on a guided one-day whitewater rafting trip along the canyon’s bottom at Grand Canyon West. 2 The nitty-gritty. You can buy a $35, 7-day pass at a park entrance station, or use your America the Beautiful or other interagency annual pass to get into the national park. Grand Canyon West has its own fees. 3 There’s no Uber. Things are spread far apart in the Southwest and you won’t find ride-share services to or from the park. The South Rim, the North Rim and Grand Canyon West…

In the high Sonoran desert you’ll find the town of Wickenburg, known as the “Team Roping Capital of the World.” Tucked amongst saguaro cacti and rocky mountains, often graced by orange and red sunsets, it’s not uncommon to see someone riding a horse through downtown. Wickenburg feels like what Arizona was a hundred years ago, with the addition of air-conditioning of course. Start at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum which is full of art and history celebrating the West. Be sure to check out Cowgirl Up!, an exhibit with the tagline “art from the other half of the West,” celebrating the cowgirl. Wickenburg was built alongside the Hassayampa River. You won’t see water when you’re in town, however. That’s because this unique river runs underground year-round. To see where it…

Discover the rings of Saturn or the arms of a distant galaxy at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, the world’s first International Dark Sky City. Located atop Mars Hill one mile from downtown, this incredible family-friendly venue was founded in 1894 and is filled with rich history. In 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto here. Today, you can explore the Moon, planets, beautiful galaxies and more through the advanced telescopes of the Giovale Open Deck Observatory. Unique in the world, this innovative observing plaza includes a luminescent walkway, solstice and equinox markers and a building that rolls aside to reveal six incredible telescopes. Experience the universe and its wonders with one of the largest publicly accessible telescopes in Arizona, and cap off your evening with a laser-guided constellation tour. Visit at 1400…

Mules, the offspring of a male burro and a female horse, have been carrying people and their gear into the Grand Canyon since the late 1800s. These sure-footed creatures are well-suited to descending and climbing the steep switchbacks into the canyon and were used by miners with prospecting claims in the canyon before tourism became the main industry below the rim. When Fred Harvey Co., built Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, everything besides the stone had to be carried in on the backs of mules. Today, all supplies for Phantom Ranch are still carried in by mule, and trash and mail are carried back out. While there were allegations of mistreatment of the mules on the Havasupai Indian Reservation as recently as 2018, the mules that…

As national parks have gotten more popular, there’s no denying that the experience of a national park vacation has changed over the years. If you’re pining for the days when you didn’t have to make reservations, circle for parking or hike in a crowd, head to Bryce Canyon. Here you can enjoy nature, bask in solitude and hopefully find that sense of nostalgia you’ve been missing. Basecamp at Ruby’s Inn, which was founded by the man who helped make Bryce Canyon a National Park 100 years ago, Reuben Syrett. What started as a 20-room lodge is now the gateway to the park including three hotels, multiple restaurants, a general store and more than 300 campsites. The Ruby’s Inn complex is still owned and managed by the Syrett family, four generations…

If you were to drive from the Phoenix area to the Grand Canyon on I-40, you’d miss out on so much beauty. From majestic saguaros in Lost Dutchman State Park near Gilbert, take Hwy. 89A instead for a stunning drive that beckons you to explore. In Wickenburg, cowboy culture awaits. In Cottonwood, find amazing vineyard experiences. And in Sedona, red rock magic beckons. From there, you’ll drive up the gorgeous Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, a vibrant university town with incredible night skies and an observatory where you can see the rings of Saturn on a clear night. While this part of the Southwest is a bucket-list destination for many, human impact is threatening what we love most about it. From sustainable tourism to giving back to the trails you…

1 Watson Lake You can hike the 6-mile Peavine Trail around the lake dotted with smooth, beautiful boulders. Or rent kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards to explore the lake by boat. For a unique experience, opt for an unguided moonlit kayak excursion from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and rent a kayak from Born to Be Wild Adventures. 2 Circle Trail This is a 56-mile-loop trail around Prescott that passes through grasslands, chaparral, lakes and forests. There are 15 trailheads around the town that give you access to the loop. Find maps for the trailheads and more at Prescott-az.gov/recreation-area/prescott-circle-trail/ 3 Historic Downtown Prescott Filled with locally owned boutiques and restaurants, this lively downtown is fun to stroll. Sit in Historic Courthouse Plaza to people-watch. Visit The Palace Restaurant & Saloon,…

Nestled in red rock formations so magical they are believed to be energy centers, Sedona offers incredible hiking trails, a vibrant art gallery scene, mild weather and excellent food. For all these attributes, Sedona, a small town of 10,000, has been attracting an estimated 3 million visitors per year. And with them has come overwhelming traffic, increased garbage and overcrowded trails. To tackle these big-city issues in their small town, locals, city officials and the chamber staff came together to create Arizona’s first sustainable tourism plan. Today, you’ll find electric vehicle charging stations and water-bottle filling stations. But you’ll also discover there’s an expectation to do your part to keep Sedona as beautiful tomorrow as it is today. Start by taking the Sedona Cares Pledge at SedonaCares.com where you affirm…

ROUTE 66 KICKSGrants, NM to Petrified Forest National Park At Petrified Forest National Park, you can bring your dog anywhere, except the park’s buildings, making it one of the most pet-friendly locations in the park system. The 2-mile out-and-back Martha’s Butte hike leads you to a stunning solar-marker petroglyph that gets covered exactly in half by shadow during the summer solstice. At Red Basin, you’ll find petrified wood, petroglyphs and vibrant badlands formations. And there’s the Painted Desert, a pink-hued landscape that changes colors with the sunset.…

You’ll find out why the Grand Canyon is so much more than just a large hole in the ground when you stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center in Tusayan, Ariz. Pronounced “Too-say-on”, the town is located minutes from the South Rim’s South Entrance. The on-site giant screen IMAX theater is newly renovated as of Fall 2022 and is featuring a brand-new 37-minute film, Grand Canyon - Rivers of Time, to help you get a deeper understanding of the history of the park before you start exploring. But the visitor center is also a place to learn more about area attractions, get a bite to eat and pick up a unique souvenir or map. Charge your electric vehicle while you watch the film to help keep the Grand Canyon beautiful.…

Kingman is a classic road-trip stop filled with Route 66 lore and Americana. Here’s some of our favorite ways to spend a day around town. Part of an old wagon route used in the late 1800s to bring ore from the Stockton Hill Mines to the railroad, the 2.4-mile White Cliffs Wagon Road Trail lets you go back in time. Hike approximately 15 minutes to see the wagon tracks cut deep into the stone. More hiking and mountain biking trails await at Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area, an 11,300-acre grassland speckled with yucca, mesquite and prickly pear in the Mohave Desert. The Monolith Gardens Loop Trail stretches 7 miles with connector trails, so you can go as short or long as you want. It’s known to locals as the mini-Monument Valley…

When the sun goes down, the crowds disappear yet some of the best views to be found in our national parks are about to be revealed. These three Utah parks are International Dark Sky Parks, meaning they have exceptionally dark skies and are protected from light pollution. This makes them the perfect place to break out your camera and try your hand at capturing the stars above and even the Milky Way. Check out our favorite photo opportunities and tips from Tamron. Canyonlands National Park Located close to Arches National Park, a weekend spent in this part of Utah is a great way to get lots of diverse night photos. It’s important to note that Canyonlands is divided into three districts. Island in the Sky is the closest to Moab…

UTAH UNLIMITEDCedar City, UT to Bryce Canyon National Park When cowboy Reuben Syrett bought a ranch near what is now Bryce Canyon National Park, he had no plans of becoming a conservationist and hotelier, but when he first set eyes on the inspiring orange and pink hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, he was moved. In 1916, Syrett, who went by the nickname “Ruby”, opened what is now Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City, Utah. He invited friends and family from afar to experience the area’s beauty. Syrett wrote to Congress, petitioning the government to protect Bryce Canyon from development. This influenced the government to turn Bryce Canyon into a national monument in 1923, followed in 1928 by its designation as a national park. One hundred years later, you can still feel…

Lose the crowds swarming larger national parks when you explore the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains national parks. Use the town of Carlsbad, N.M., as your base to explore Carlsbad Caverns just 18 miles away, as well as Guadalupe Mountains National Park, 40 miles across the New Mexico-Texas border. In 1898, when 16-year-old cowhand Jim White first entered what would become Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the Texas-born teen discovered another world. Once part of a reef in an inland sea, Carlsbad Caverns has more than 119 limestone caves, including the Big Room, which is as large as six football fields. While it’s disputed whether White was the first white settler to enter the caves, one thing is clear: this national park is stunning. And the good news is unlike…

You could venture out onto Farmington’s miles of trails, wilderness and cultural sights on your own, but if you’re looking for a truly incredible experience, the best way to see Farmington is with a guide. There are no trails through the otherworldly Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness just 45 minutes from downtown. Book a trip with Navajo Tours USA, a Diné-owned guide service that will lead you through the incredible badlands formations. Or, stop by the Farmington Visitor Center at 3041 E. Main Street for tips, directions and maps to help you prepare for a self-guided hike. The staff is well-versed in providing directions to iconic formations like the Egg Factory. Looking to get your blood pumping? Stop by Sandstone Cycles at 5160 College Boulevard in Farmington to rent a mountain bike and…

Stretching across 1.2 million acres, the Grand Canyon is located in Northern Arizona. While people often refer to it as one place, there are four distinct areas you can visit. It’s important to plan ahead as these four areas are all a several hour drive apart. The North Rim and the South Rim are part of Grand Canyon National Park. You can use your park pass here and will find hotels, campgrounds, hiking trails and more. The closest town to the North Rim is Kanab, Utah and the town of Tusayan, Ariz., is right on the South Rim’s doorstep. Havasu Falls and the village of Supai are on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is only accessible by a long hike down into the canyon. You must have a permit to…

IN THE PARK South Rim Views Picnic Spot Historic Landmarks Away from Crowds Deep Inside the Canyon DIFFICULTY: Easy Moderate Difficult 1.5-Mile Resthouse This popular 3-mile roundtrip Bright Angel Trail hike enables you to see the inside of the Grand Canyon without committing to more intense distances. Pack a picnic and eat lunch at the halfway point, finding shade in the shelter. There are pit toilets here. Keep your eyes peeled for condors riding the thermals. You’ll catch great views of Indian Garden. The Rim Trail The Rim Trail is a good option for novice hikers and families as the path stays fairly level as it follows the rim’s edge for about 13 miles from South Kaibab Trailhead west to Hermits Rest. Most of the trail is paved. The 3-mile…

Traveling at least one section of Historic Route 66 is an American bucket list item. In bad times, migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl in the 1930s traveled on Route 66 to California, their cars weighed down by possessions and unrealized dreams. In good times, World War II veterans saw the road as a path to freedom, loading their families into cars to explore the Americana of small-town Route 66, California’s sunny beaches and Disneyland. While it was decommissioned in 1985 and replaced by five interstates, you can still drive on the remnants of one of the nation’s most iconic highways. In Chicago, you’ll find a sign marking the start of Historic Route 66 at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue. From there, you’ll pass through the quirky small towns that lined…

Want to make your road trip more sustainable? Take it in an electric vehicle. Leave your car charging at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center in Tusayan and take the free shuttle into the park to explore the scenic viewpoints, hiking trails and historic buildings of the South Rim. Inside the park, you’ll find chargers at Maswik Lodge, Grand Canyon Auto Services and Yavapai Lodge. Near the North Rim, the North Rim Country Store on Hwy. 67 has chargers. Exploring the surrounding area? The gateway towns of Williams and Flagstaff to the south have chargers as well as Tuba City to the east and Page, Ariz., and Kanab, Utah to the north. For more road trip sustainability tips, visit mygrandcanyonpark.com/things-to-do/park-itineraries/eco-friendly-sustainable-travel-itinerary/…

Red rock arches silhouetted against a bluebird sky. Mighty rivers winding their way through steep canyons. Aspen leaves quaking in a mountain breeze. This is Utah, where public lands comprise 70% of the state. It’s a nature-lover’s dream with plenty of space to find solitude and soak in the quiet beauty of the desert and mountains. On this 1,200-mile route, you’ll explore six national parks along with countless national monuments, state parks and other public lands in between. This road trip takes you from the capital of Salt Lake City to the red rock country near Moab where Arches and Canyonlands national parks display some of the most stunning rock formations in all of the West as well as incredible night skies. Continuing south into Arizona, drive through the Navajo…

People have been living in Old Oraibi [pronounced “Oravy”] for nearly 1,000 years, and if you go on an Experience Hopi day tour, you’ll visit this ancient village as well as other significant Hopi sites. Just a little more than an hour from Grand Canyon’s South Rim, the Hopi reservation offers travelers a rare glimpse into Native American life today. Start your morning in the modern hotel lobby of Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites in Tuba City, Ariz., with a short overview by your Hopi guide before you climb into an air-conditioned tour van with individual seats. From there, you’ll head to Coalmine Canyon to learn about Hopi pottery, discover the role agriculture has played in Hopi life and spend 15 minutes walking across Old Oraibi. Its residents have no…

UTAH UNLIMITEDKanab, UT to Zion National Park Hike The Narrows One of Zion’s most iconic features, The Narrows is a stunning slot canyon formed by the Virgin River. This hike will bring you under towering cliffs, past breathtaking waterfalls and have you wading, and even swimming at times, in icy waters. If you’re looking for a big adventure, apply for a permit to day hike or backpack the entire 16-mile downstream stretch. Permits become available on the fifth day of the month before your desired hike date at 10 a.m. MT on nps.gov/zion. They’re very competitive, so be sure to apply as soon as they open. Half the permits are also available on a first-come, first-served basis one day in advance at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk, which…

There’s a spot in southern New Mexico where you can stand in the middle of a never-ending sea of glittering white, even on a summer afternoon. There’s nothing visible for miles around besides the white sand under your feet, the brilliant blue sky above your head and the dark smudge of distant mountains on the horizon. Modernist artist Georgia O’Keefe, who called New Mexico home, said “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way…things I had no words for.” Perhaps you’ll feel the same about this land as you drive through the high desert from El Paso, Texas, nestled on the border, to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. In El Paso, wander through two of the oldest-operating missions in the…

In 1200, more people lived in present-day Montezuma County, Colo., encompassing Mesa Verde National Park, than today. A flourishing society built villages into the cliffs and on top of the mesas. And then, by 1300, all evidence of people living there disappeared. Studies show an extended drought may have played a role in pushing people out of the Mesa Verde region, in addition to societal issues like violence, politics and overcrowding. But for 100 years, archaeologists have argued over the answer to the question, “Where did they go?” In the Tewa Basin, 250 miles south of Mesa Verde, the Tewa Puebloans already knew the answer. Their oral histories told of their journey from cliff-dwellers in the Montezuma Valley to their present-day home north of Santa Fe. Archaeologists didn’t always consider…