Category: USA

Glen Canyon

Page AZ

On our way to Page from Monument Valley. This is not in Glen Canyon, but a pretty cool butte near Page.
The famous Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River at Page AZ. The two boats headed away from each other look like fish from this vantage point!
Lake Powell, behind the Glen Canyon Dam.
The back side of the Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon. The Colorado River flowing from the dam towards Horseshoe Bend.
This formation is also not in Glen Canyon, but just outside Page. It reminds me of a condo from The Flintstones!

Monument Valley UT/AZ

Monument Valley Tribal Park lies within the Navajo Nation. The area holds a deep spiritual connection for the Navajo people. From their website: Monument Valley’s collection of crimson mesas and towering sandstone buttes capture colors that appear only in nature. The astonishing scenic beauty of the desert landscape also reflects the reverence Arizona’s tribal communities have for the land.

Monument Valley served as the backdrop for many western movies and TV shows over the years. John Wayne said it was one of his favorite places on earth. It was also featured in the movie Forrest Gump, at the point in the movie where Forrest decides to stop running. Forrest Gump Point photo is on the Utah post.

A classic scene: The Two Mittens and Merrick Butte.
Our hotel showed a John Wayne movie The Searchers, set in Monument Valley, at night!
Sunset.
Sunrise on the Mittens.
Three Sisters.
Classic Monument Valley view.
The Thumb.
Our hotel, The View Hotel. All rooms face Monument Valley.
Sculpture inside The View Hotel.
Another sculpture inside The View Hotel.
John Wayne’s Cabin at Goulding’s Lodge.
Another Monument Valley scene.
Owl Rock, 1,000 ft. spire.
Agathia Peak, 1,500 ft. rise.

Southeast Utah

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
-Romans 1:20

Driving from Four Corners to Monument Valley, we took the northern route through southeastern Utah. Dramatic formations are all along the trip.

Bluffs near Bluff UT.
These bluffs are right next to the road.
Twin Rocks, Bluff UT
The bluffs side by side.
Mexican Hat UT
This is the scene from Forrest Gump.
Re-enactment of the Forrest Gump scene.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mancos CO

Mesa Verde is home to many cliff dwellings, pueblos and pit houses. This region was home to about 40,000 people as late at the 1200s AD. Current tribes who trace their ancestors to this area include the Pueblo, Hopi, Ute, Navajo and Apache. Many still consider this a sacred place and return to make pilgrimages to reconnect with their ancestors, share knowledge and gather medicines.
Point Lookout
Pit house, circa 595 AD.
Navajo Canyon.
Navajo Canyon.
Square Tower House, circa 1200-1300 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
Pit Houses and Pueblos, circa 700-950 AD.
This large, deep, and impressive kiva, built about 1074 AD, is part of the last village built at this site.
Sun Point Pueblo, circa 1200s AD.
Sun Point View. This is the Sunset House.
Oak Tree House, a fifteen room cliff dwelling.
New Fire House, twenty-two room cliff dwelling.
Fire Temple, circa 1250 AD.
Sun Temple, circa 1250 AD.
Sun Temple.
Sun Temple.
Cliff Palace. This is the star of the park. With park rangers, visitors can climb down and up ladders to see and walk through some of the rooms. We saw the palace from across the canyon.
Close up of the left side.
Close up of the right side.