A week spent road-tripping to Arches, Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon National Parks, and a few more spots in between.
Travels in the Southwest Colorado Plateau
September 9, 2017 — September 16, 2017
September 9, 2017 at 2:49 PM — Looking north after ascending to the plateau that makes up the majority of Arches National Park. This is well before the first of the arches that are accessible from the main road.
September 9, 2017 at 3:15 PM — Looking east after ascending into Arches National Park. The first arches are in the far distance; in the mid-distance is a field of “fossilized” sand dunes.
September 9, 2017 at 3:15 PM — Looking south (back towards the park entrance), after ascending into Arches National Park. This is well before the first of the arches that are accessible from the main road.
September 9, 2017 at 3:27 PM — Looking west after ascending into Arches National Park (the entrance is below and behind this ridge). This is well before the first arches that are accessible from the main road.
September 9, 2017 at 3:29 PM — Looking north after ascending into Arches National Park (the entrance is below and behind the ridge at left). This is well before the first arches accessible from the main road.
September 9, 2017 at 3:56 PM — Looking southwest from the first group of arches accessible from the main road. The arches themselves are off-frame behind, and to the left and right, of this photograph.
September 9, 2017 at 4:04 PM — The North Window arch, one of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
September 9, 2017 at 4:09 PM — On the trail around the South Window and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
September 9, 2017 at 4:14 PM — On the trail around the South and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park. Len is head of me.
September 9, 2017 at 4:21 PM — Looking southeast from the trail around the South Window and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road in Arches National Park.
September 9, 2017 at 4:30 PM — One of the many lizards of Arches National Park. Taken on the trail around the South and North Window arches, two of the first arches accessible from the main road.
September 9, 2017 at 5:06 PM — The Double Arch, imaged with the wide-angle feature of the Android camera. These two arches were formed from a sinkhole in the containing mesa.
September 9, 2017 at 5:10 PM — Looking southwest from under the Double Arch, imaged with the wide-angle feature of the Android camera. Len is siting in the foreground, near the center of the frame.
September 9, 2017 at 5:34 PM — Len (on the left side of the frame), sitting near the Garden of Eden, a series of eroded rock ridges and towers.
September 9, 2017 at 5:35 PM — Looking east from near the Garden of Eden, a series of eroded rock ridges and towers.
September 9, 2017 at 5:51 PM — Looking north from the aptly named Panorama Point, about halfway into Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 7:05 AM — Looking southeast from near the entrance of Arches National Park. The visitor center is just off the right side of the frame, with the main body of the park to the left.
September 10, 2017 at 7:25 AM — Looking east towards the sunrise, about halfway into Arches National Park (just before the turnoff for Delicate Arch).
September 10, 2017 at 7:27 AM — Looking east towards the sunrise, about halfway into Arches National Park (just before the turnoff for Delicate Arch).
September 10, 2017 at 7:57 AM — Tunnel Arch, the first major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park. A smaller “sinkhole” arch (formed in a similar process as Double Arch) is left-of-center.
September 10, 2017 at 8:07 AM — Looking north through Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 8:09 AM — Looking northwest through Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 8:12 AM — Looking east from the “other side” (i.e., opposite the trail) of Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 8:12 AM — Looking back towards the trail through Pine Tree Arch. If you look closely, you’ll see Len standing in the bushes towards the lower right.
September 10, 2017 at 8:16 AM — Me, taking a photo of Len, taking a photo of me at the Pine Tree Arch, the second major arch on the Devil’s Garden Trail at the end of the main road in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 8:42 AM — Landscape Arch, just west of the Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 8:46 AM — Landscape Arch, just west of the Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 9:48 AM — Heading south on the trail towards Sand Dune Arch, in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 9:52 AM — Sand Dune Arch, in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 10:15 AM — Len approaches the south side of Broken Arch, in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 10:17 AM — The north side of Broken Arch (looking south), in Arches National Park.
September 10, 2017 at 11:12 AM — Delicate Arch as seen from the Upper Viewpoint in Arches National Park. If you look closely, you can see all of the hikers that hiked the trail to Delicate Arch itself.
September 11, 2017 at 9:15 AM — Looking west along the Grand Canyon from near Hermit’s Rest. The Colorado River is visible near center.
September 11, 2017 at 9:32 AM — Looking east along the Grand Canyon from near Hermit’s Rest. A sliver of the Colorado River is visible in the lower left.
September 11, 2017 at 9:52 AM — A tarantula hawk feeds on flower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near Hermit’s Rest.
September 11, 2017 at 9:52 AM — A tarantula hawk feeds on flower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon near Hermit’s Rest.
September 11, 2017 at 10:56 AM — Goldenrod Soldier Beetles, taken about half way between Hermit’s Rest and Hopi Point along the South Rim Trail.
September 11, 2017 at 10:57 AM — Goldenrod Soldier Beetles, taken about half way between Hermit’s Rest and Hopi Point along the South Rim Trail.
September 11, 2017 at 12:04 PM — Looking east along the Grand Canyon from near Hopi Point. The Colorado River is visible near center.
September 12, 2017 at 8:18 AM — Looking north across the Grand Canyon, somewhere between Hopi and Yavapai Points.
September 12, 2017 at 9:40 AM — Trees growing just below the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, taken near Yavapai Point.
September 12, 2017 at 10:57 AM — Looking towards Yaki Point from the Grand Canyon visitor center. Len and I hiked later to the Cedar Ridge overlook on the South Kaibab Trail, just above the “temple” in this photo.
September 13, 2017 at 8:50 AM — Looking back towards a point between the South Kaibab Trail Head and Mather Point from the South Kaibab Trail.
September 13, 2017 at 8:51 AM — Len, ahead of me on the South Kaibab Trail.
September 13, 2017 at 8:57 AM — Looking down towards the Cedar Ridge overlook and across the Grand Canyon from the South Kaibab Trail near Ooh Aah Point.
September 13, 2017 at 9:04 AM — Len poses near the Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail.
September 13, 2017 at 9:06 AM — Len and I take our obligatory vacation selfie near the Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail.
September 14, 2017 at 7:33 AM — Looking east across the Grand Canyon shortly after dawn.
September 14, 2017 at 7:52 AM — Looking northeast across the Grand Canyon shortly after dawn.
September 14, 2017 at 8:27 AM — Looking north across the Grand Canyon.
September 14, 2017 at 9:06 AM — Looking east across the Grand Canyon from the Desert View Watchtower. The Colorado River can be seen entering the Grand Canyon at the far left.
September 14, 2017 at 10:20 AM — Sunset Crater, a volcanic cone less than a thousand years old, just south of the Grand Canyon. It’s the youngest volcano in the San Francisco Volcanic Field.
September 14, 2017 at 10:22 AM — The San Francisco Peaks, the remains of a massive stratovolcano that exploded in a northeasterly direction (towards where I’m standing) about 200,000 years ago.
September 14, 2017 at 10:47 AM — Looking across the Bonito Lava Flow, just northwest of Sunset Crater.
September 14, 2017 at 11:33 AM — The east side of Sunset Crater.
September 14, 2017 at 11:35 AM — A small plant grows in the lava flow east of Sunset Crater.
September 14, 2017 at 2:37 PM — The Glen Canyon Dam, with the artificial Lake Powell extending behind it.
September 14, 2017 at 2:42 PM — At left, the Glen Canyon Dam with the artificial Lake Powell extending behind it. At right, the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, with the Colorado River below.
September 14, 2017 at 2:48 PM — The Glen Canyon Dam, with the artificial Lake Powell extending behind it.
September 14, 2017 at 3:38 PM — Horseshoe Bend is in Grand Canyon National Park (the park begins at the top of the rim walls and extends to the Glen Canyon Dam), but the overlook I’m on is BLM land.
September 14, 2017 at 3:47 PM — Horseshoe Bend is in Grand Canyon National Park (the park begins at the top of the rim walls and extends to the Glen Canyon Dam), but the overlook I’m on is BLM land.
September 14, 2017 at 3:48 PM — A small flowering bush clings to the cliff just above Horseshoe Bend.
September 14, 2017 at 3:32 PM — The Colorado River snakes southeast from Horseshoe Bend.
September 15, 2017 at 9:44 AM — Solar panels near the Bryce Canyon visitors center.
September 15, 2017 at 10:26 AM — Looking northeast from Rainbow Point on the south side of Bryce Canyon.
September 15, 2017 at 10:33 AM — Looking northwest from Rainbow Point towards the main extent of Bryce Canyon.
September 15, 2017 at 10:46 AM — Looking northeast from Rainbow Point on the south side of Bryce Canyon.
September 15, 2017 at 11:07 AM — Looking east from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 11:21 AM — Looking southeast from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 11:46 AM — Looking southeast from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 11:47 AM — Looking north from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 12:07 PM — Looking east through the Bryce Natural Bridge, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 12:30 PM — Looking southeast from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 12:34 PM — Looking east from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon, just north of Rainbow Point.
September 15, 2017 at 12:53 PM — Looking east through Swamp Canyon from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon.
September 15, 2017 at 1:38 PM — Looking southeast from Sunrise Point from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon; the Queen’s Garden Trail Head is just off frame to the left.
September 15, 2017 at 1:45 PM — Looking northeast from Sunrise Point from the rim wall of Bryce Canyon; the Queen’s Garden Trail Head is just off frame to the right.
September 15, 2017 at 1:52 PM — Looking southeast into Bryce Canyon from just south of Sunrise Point.
September 15, 2017 at 1:54 PM — A tree on the Bryce Canyon rim, about half way between Sunrise and Sunset Points.
September 15, 2017 at 1:56 PM — Looking southeast into Bryce Canyon from just between Sunrise and Sunset Points.
September 15, 2017 at 2:04 PM — Looking east into Bryce Canyon from Sunset Point.
September 15, 2017 at 3:02 PM — Looking southeast into Bryce Canyon from the lower Inspiration Point.
September 15, 2017 at 3:20 PM — Looking across Bryce Canyon from between the upper and lower Inspiration Points; the main “amphitheater” of Bryce Canyon can be seen to the left.
September 15, 2017 at 7:43 PM — The hotel that Len and I stayed at on the way back to Denver from Bryce Canyon provided a rubber ducky with the normal toiletries!
September 16, 2017 at 2:01 PM — So green that Len couldn’t stop laughing.