THE NATIONAL PARKS OF WESTERN USA

In 2000 we did one of the more popular routes in the states: California-Utah-Arizona-Nevada. We drove from park to park and enjoyed the feeling of freedom (driving around in our own car) and the natural beauty the United States had to offer.

Unfortunately we do not have a full itinerary anymore, but I will try to recall each park we visited.

California

Los Angeles

Awful city with either overdone Americans or the ones you do not want to meet in a dark alley. City of entertainment with Hollywood and Beverly Hills clearly at the top of it. Lots of smog, lots of traffic, lots of reasons not to stay too long.

Palm Springs

Smaller city en route to Arizona, and actually in the middle of the desert. The landscape consist mainly of mills for electricity purposes, as far as the eye can see they are there. In the evening you can take the cable car up the mountain, and have something to see with the lights of town below. Nothing special otherwise.

Yoshua Tree NP

This park is not far from Palm Springs and is a very dry park with bizar plants and trees, like the Joshua Tree (yes, U2 did a photo shoot here and named an album after it). We were almost the only visitors in the park and could choose from a range of campsites, just for ourselves. It was very hot, also at night, and we only used our inner tent. Coyotes all over, even during the day. We liked the landscapes, the quietness, the flora.

Arizona

Montezuma Castle National Monument

First of several parks we visited to see the remains of the early inhabitants of North America. Montezuma Castle is basically a kind of settlement built in a high natural wall, and it’s quite astonishing if you come to think how they did it. Built by the Sinagua, one of the original tribes.

Grand Canyon

Yes, this Canyon is Grand indeed. Very popular and therefore very very busy indeed, but if you move away a bit from the most popular spots you can find nice viewpoints just for yourself. The canyon is very photogenic and deserves at least two days exploring and photographing at different times of the day. You might need more time if you decide to hike down the canyon and stay the night. We cancelled our trip because Marieke fell ill. Maybe, one day…

Lake Powell

Big artificial lake with loads of campsites around it. The lake is part of the Glenn Canyon Recreational Area and basically formed by the construction of the huge Glen Canyon Dam. Nice break between all the parks and canyons.

Antelope Canyon

A very narrow canyon formed by water erosion and owned by the Indians – who exploit it dearly. When rains are threatening the canyon is closed, because apparently it fills up very quickly and one wouldn’t be the first to die. The erosion has formed very beautiful structures, almost fairy-tail like, and especially when the sun is out, the reflection gives magnificent colors – red, orange, yellow, etc. When we visited the sun was NOT out, so if you like the pics imagine how it would be when the sun is out.

Navajo National Monument

Three beautiful early Anasazi settlements carved out and built in cliffs, as a sort of cave house. Currently part of Navajo land. Very worthwhile and interesting.

Colorado

Mesa Verde National Park

Just across the border of Arizona and Utah, this NP is very much worth visiting. Basically they are cliff dwellings again from the Anasazi, just like at the Navajo National Monument, but very distinct and beautiful.

Utah

Monument Valley

Pure Navajo Land, not really a national park because of that. It has been the background of many movies, primarily westerns. Driving through the landscapes makes you feel there are indians and John Waynes everywhere. Bizarre column-shaped structures all around. Great photo opportunities, especially when the sun sets.

Arches NP

A park formed by bizar eroded rock formations, in this park primarily arches. It makes very beautiful, almost artificial structures where you can hike a lot. Good campsites. Quite busy and apparently popular. Real Navajo-land.

Bryce Canyon NP

The most beautiful of all canyons as far as we are concerned. Pure fairy-tail stuff, this canyon formed by erosion into numerous little pink and orange towers. It’s hard to describe, just go yourself and see. Great hikes in the canyon, and photo opportunities around every corner.

Zion NP

Popular park consisting of various canyons and forests which invite you to hike - which we did. Can get very busy, so plan a visit well. At one point one can only continue in a park bus – not really our thing.

Nevada

Las Vegas

Not really a national park! This city cannot be compared to any other on this globe. It is capitalism in its purest form. We absolutely resented and hated it, and were very much ready to leave after 1 night if it wasn't for a concert of the bands Live and The Counting Crows - so we stayed for 3 nights and the concert was very much worth waiting for, the city wasn't.

Death Valley

From Las Vegas to Yosemite NP you will pass this desert where horrific temperatures have been measures (above 50 degrees easily). It was so hot that we were not allowed to camp in the park. Landscape-wise not too attractive, or it must be the color variations in the sands and rocks

California (we made a circle, so this was the second entry, We also started in California).

Yosemite NP

One of America’s oldest parks, and a typical mountainous park comparable to Jasper and Banff in the Canadian Rockies. Lots of hiking possibilities, but plan it well to avoid the masses and bad weather.

Sequioa NP

Remnant of forests filled with huge sequioa trees. Very impressive trees and what as shame if you think this is just a fraction of what it once was.

San Francisco

The most European city of the States I suppose, and I mean the look and feel of it. The city itself is build on hills and it takes quite some energy to walk the streets. Lots of tourists but there’s lots to see as well.