A seven-day tour of the Southwest National Parks USA took us through Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches and Canyon lands. A side tour to the Hoover Dam and a couple of days at Las Vegas closed of an enjoyable experience, full of photo opportunities.
P1072663 A quick photo of a scene in Las Vegas as we prepare to start our National Parks tour, more to come...
P1072677 Zion National Park
P1072689 Great view of the Rocky Landscape as we take the path to Angel's landing
P1072691 A clear path, long trail.
P1072702-Pano Huge rock formation on either side
P1072708 The trail leads uphill
P1072720 Through the canyon
P1072737-HDR Small in size as compared to the cliffs
P1072759 Rugged rock formation
P1072774-Pano The trail provides some fantastic views.
P1072775 The road winds through the canyon.
P1072777 Hanging out and enjoyong the view at Scout's Lookout
P1072788-HDR A view of the canyon
P1072802-HDR Angel's Landing in the distance
P1072810 A curious vistor, Mr. Squirrel
P1072815 A time to relax and reflect on the beauty of nature.
P1072824 Heading back down from Angel's landing trail
P1072828-HDR That amazing view once more
P1072846-Pano The walls of the cliffs are so huge
P1072881-HDR Sunset at the camp site
P1072886 Next morning back to Zion National Park
P1072889 Wild flower growing in the park
P1072895 Heading towards Emerald Pool
P1072903 Deer with tracking collar came up real close
P1072906 Some rocks along the trail
P1072907 Huge cliffs ahead
P1072908-HDR Mountain peeking through
P1072917 Lower Emerald Pool
P1072919-HDR Arch close to the pool area
P1072938 Wild cactus with flowers along the path.
P1072946-HDR Heading towards the top Emerald Pool
P1072951 A bit of a steep climb
P1072952 Reached the top Emerald Pool, now time to head back down and leave Zion National Park
P1072977-Pano Heading towards Bryce Canyon, red sandstone formation.
P1072990 Desert like conditions
P1072993-Pano Bryce Canyon in one word, WOW!
P1072999 Amazing sandstone formation, beautiful colour.
P1073011 Rock formations are huge compared to the size of the vistors.
P1073021 There are many trails that lead through Bryce Canyon
P1073028 Worth exploring
P1073035-HDR Some trees adapt to the environment
P1073042 Unusual shapes surrond you
P1073058-Pano As you walk in the park
P1073064 Interesting rock formation
P1073074-HDR Pink rocks blue sky
P1073087 A little friend says hello, a chipmunk
P1073090-HDR Sheer height and beauty
P1073116 Needs a closer look
P1073117 A castle perhaps?
P1073119 A steep climb back up
P1073128-HDR The view is worth the effort
P1073131 Nature designs of all type
P1073135-Pano In all directions
P1073147 As far as the eye can see
P1073172 Beauty stands out
P1073190-Pano Last view of Bryce Canyon before heading to Arches and Canyonland National Parks
P1073201 Interesting desert features en route to our next camp site at Moab
P1073210-Pano Desert and sky
P1073218 Interesting cloud formation
P1073219 The dry tree speaks of the journey, through this terrain.
P1073236-Pano Stop at Dead Horse Point State Park
P1073240 A good place for a selfie
P1073247 and to relax and enjoy the view
P1073253 Rocks worth exploring
P1073256 The river circles
P1073256 A good view point
P1073272 The trees persist
P1073274 Even on the rocks
P1073279-Pano Quite a large span
P1073310-Pano The canyon almost looks like the footprint of a giant dinosour
P1073320-Pano Large cliffs in the distance
P1073325 Worth a closer view
P1073331 Time to head for the campsite
P1073357 Campfire
P1073363 Let's roast mashmellows
P1073379 Early morning, time to rise and start the next trail
P1073396 Old log cabin on the trail to Arches Canyon National Park
P1073400 Petroglphs on the side of the rocks, probably made by an ancient tribe.
P1073409 Balancing rocks
P1073422 On the trail to Delicate Arch
P1073432 A red sandstone formation
P1073463-HDR Delicate Arch in the distance
P1073482-Pano A wide canyon
P1073492 Closer view of Delicate Arch
P1073496 Seeking the best view
P1073530 Heading to Double Arches
P1073536 History embedded in the shape and markings of the tree
P1073569 Huge sandstone formation
P1073593-HDR Double Arches masks the size of the visitors
P1073596 Closer view of Double Arches
P1073602-Pano View from an incline at Double Arches
P1073633 The pink desert
P1073637 We leave Arches National Park to take a sunset drive on a Hummer
P1083667 The terrain for the Hummer tour was undulating and rugged, this made an exciting ride
P1083704-HDR Stop at a Canyon
P1083707-Pano The Hummer and the Canyon
P1083744-HDR Enjoyed the view of the setting sun
P1083751 A dinosour footprint left behind cemented in the rocks from a distant past, as we head towards Monument Valley.
P1083771 A lunch stop at the Gooseneck.
P1083808-HDR Monument Valley in the distance
P1083810-Pano Monument Valley is located on the Navajo Tribe territory.
P1083889-HDR Dessert type conditions
P1083890-HDR Red sandstone
P1083904-HDR Did a jeep tour of the location
P1083921 Huge Rock formation
P1083941-Pano Dry but attractive, time to make camp.
P1083986-HDR All campers asleep, except for the photographer
P1084028-HDR Up to capture the early sunrise
P1084042-HDR Changing colours as the sun rise
P1084096-HDR Worth the early morning wake up. We travel to the Grand Canton today.
P1084180-Pano On our way to Grand Canyon, made a stop at Horseshoe Bend
P1084199 A closer look reveals kayaks in the Colorado river
P1084213-Pano A scenic viewpoint
P1084224 A quick stop at Glen Canyon
P1084235-Pano Provided an opportunity for another photo
P1084271-Pano The Grand Canyon
P1084345-Pano Amazing landscape, amazing colours.
P1084357 The Colorado River gorges its way through
P1084381-HDR Beauty at the rim
P1084391-HDR As the sun begins to set
P1084454-HDR The burst of colors
P1084458-HDR The radiance of the setting sun
P1084527 Shadows of the canyon emerges
P1084539 As we start an early morning trail into its depths
P1084542 Company along the way, a squirrel.
P1084547 The walls of the canyon rises to meet he clouds
P1084555-HDR Red cliffs add colour
P1084558-Pano Some last view of the canyon
P1084579-HDR Say goodbye to the cliffs
P1084590 As we make our way through the 'gateway' and leave the park. Time to head towards Las Vegas.
P1084593 Lunch stop on Route 66, old cars that led to the idea of the animated movie "Cars".
P1084597 Route 66
P1084599 'Howdy padner'
P1084600 Did I mention Route 66?
P1084602 In Las Vegas, walk about at Fremont Street
P1084607 Lighted ceiling canopy at Fremont Street
P1084608 View of the Las Vegas Boulevard
P1084609 Floating 'on water'
P1084610 Hotel with a canal
P1084613 Hotel with a waterfall
P1084621 Hotel with a wide pond, nice colour water
P1084622 A very large crystal ball, inside a mall.
P1084624 Decorative flowers, mall
P1084648 A tour of Hoover Dam just outside Las Vegas. There is a marker that shows where the Arizona and Nevada border meets. I stood in both states at the same time.
P1094663 Hoover Dam Nevada
P1094705 The giant turbines that are powered by the dam.
P1094708 Huge dam
The Colorado river, main source of water, flowing downstream. Power lines feeding the grid.
P1094723 Nope not Egypt, still Hoover Dam
P1094729 Upstream of the dam, Lake Mead
P1094732 Lake Mead also used for recreation, levels low.
P1094740 Statue of the worker during the dam construction
P1094748 Back in Las Vegas
P1094754 Colourful tree in a mall
P1094756 Always thought this was in Paris?
P1094758 Decorative ceiling, hotel lobby
P1094765 Replica of the Eiffel Tower
P1094766 Water display
P1094775 Large waterfront area of the Bellagio Hotel
