Journey to USA – day 15 (Bryce Canyon)

 

It was another early start of the day, but something happened, Ramoz lost his engagement ring and we had to help him to find the ring first, this dragged our plan and spoiled my mood totally. Btw, i was really frustrated after this especially i thought he should said sorry but he didn’t.

From Kaibab, we continued to our last national park visit which was Bryce Canyon at Utah state. We continued using the US-89 N route for 60 miles, and turned to use UT-63 S after entered the UT state, until we reached the Bryce Point Rd. The whole journey was rather short compared to previous days, it took only 2 and half hours.

Panoramic view of Bryce Canyons

Bryce canyon is famous for its colorful limestones that carved into thousands of arches and mazes by wind, snow and rain erosions. These amphitheaters are collectively called “hoodoos”. We chose to visit this park partly because we heard some people said it is prettier than Grand Canyon. Indeed, it’s another different kind of beautiful compared to Grand Canyon.

 

Can you image all these were done by the wind/snow erosions?

Ramoz and Bryce Canyon 

After entered the park, we choose the most direct option that’s drive around the park because the direction is clear, and each point of sightseeing is easy to get accessed by personal car. The 18-mile main park road offer opportunities for viewing different angles of Bryce Canyons, including the Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, Bryce, Paria and Rainbow Point. We almost stop at every point, took photograph and allow little time for ourselves to observe these spectacular view quietly.

This showed us how the cliff patterns formed

White, Brown painted “Hoodoos”. Impressive!

Rainbow Arch

  I think this is the Agua head. LOL

Sorts of funny names we also found in this park such as Palia and Agua. lol.

Agua canyon at elevation levels of 8800 fts.

More of this kind of cliffs formation everywhere at Bryce Canyon

Sunset at Bryce Canyon

Then the moon rise at Bryce Canyon

Bye Bryce Canyon! 

We spent the whole afternoon touring around Bryce Canyon then we went back to our hotel and spent some time at the Bryce’s Old town.

Sand stones

 

 

After the visit of Bryce canyon, marked the end of our 2-weeks US national parks road trip. It’s a relaxing trip with many things to see, we’re in love with these wonderful natures created by God. From Yosemite to Bryce Canyon, we’re lucky to be able see them all in two weeks time!

Not yet, not the end of the road trip. We still have Las Vegas! Stay tuned! “p

Journey to USA – day 12 to 14 (Grand Canyon)

 

I’ll make it a quick post to summarize our trip on day 12 to 14. Highlight be the Grand Canyon.

We headed towards Arizona state from Henderson, via US-93 S/Nevada Hwy, passed the Lake Mead, Boulder City and Hoover Dam.

Lake Mead

  Hoover Dam

Road condition while towards West Canyon 

Before we continue our 8 hours drive to Grand Canyon National Park, we visited the West Canyon – the Sky Walk Bridge (not part of Grand Canyon National Park). Tell you, this was one of the scams because the entrance ticket was too expensive and you’re not allowed to bring in your own camera. There’ll be photographers follow you, help you take photo. Guess how much per printed photo? USD 20! Each one of us spent at least USD 100 for admission fees, photos, and the precious 15 minutes spent on the bridges! One tip: Next time just hang around outside the sky walk bridge, save your pocket to see real Grand Canyon.

West Canyon: Eagle Point

West Canyon: Eagle Point. This place is always populated with tourists, mostly Asian

Photographs that we paid per piece USD20

Quality not bad, but the background!?? Whose butts behind us? 

We entered Arizona via US-93 S, then took AZ-89 towards Grand Canyon Village at South Rim Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park composed of two main parts: South and North Rim, both rims are separated by Colorado River for about 10 miles. But if you want to visit North Rim from South Rim, either you trek down the trail which take 1 week, or road access but that will take 5 hours of 215 miles as you have to drive a big loop exit and re-enter the park.

Big deer welcomed us – the first thing we saw after entered the park

Me with the iconic Grand Canyon at South Rim

We stayed at Yavapai guest houses at South Rim. One thing we disliked about this village is lack of direction signboard and no lamp post. We often got lost when we wanted to find a way to do sightseeing, find hotel room, restaurant or visitor’s centre, at night. Of cause, GPS is uselss inside the park area, all we have dependent on was the map given by park rangers.

Sunset on 23.05.2010, 7PM 

A tip for first-time visitor like us to visit all main attractions in the park is to get access to these points using the park’s free shuttle bus service. Driver aka. tour guide is professional and he/she will describe to us the wildlife and main attractions at each stop.

Grand Canyon and Colorado River 

5 million year old Canyon with clear cut cliffs, due to river erosion of Colorado River

A volcanoes-alike mountain

 Overseen the Canyons

How come so beautiful? 

 

There’s a railway inside the park which can connect Williams, AZ to the park. Heard this is another unique experience, where passengers can come across a view from high desert to prairies to pine. Mule ride is another option to see Grand Canyon, other than walking and trekking, but can’t access to most points especially deep down under canyon towards Colorado river and you have to bear the mule fences smell.

The free shuttle bus route

South Rim trail which towards North Rim over Colorado River 

 

After a night at South Rim, we moved on to North Rim, which only opened during summer season because main road will be closed during winter (late Oct till late May). We took US 89 from Flagstaff past Cameron. En route we passed the area known as Vermilion Cliffs, Navajo station near Page. At Jacob Lake, we took Hwy 67 directly to the Grand Canyon North Rim. Because of another 5 hours drive from South Rim, people often don’t visit this park and because of this, we found more fun at North Rim.

Vermilion Cliffs, cut due to earthquake few million years ago

Vermilion Cliffs

Though the road trip was tired (the worst road condition in this two weeks trip), the pay off was huge. Somewhere near Vermilion Cliffs, we found an area with a set of strangely formed rocks, it’s called Cliff Dwellers. We also found some cliffs with strange patterns in white and orange, as well pink sand dunes, at the gorgeous Marble Canyon.

Pinkish moutain – i think this is Marble canyons

Somewhere near Page, Navajo Bridge with marble canyons, river connected to Lake Powell

White and orange pattern of mountains

Skull-like rock: Cliff Dwellers

Marble Canyon

Even the 5-hr drive has gave us so many amazing scenery, we were so much impressed with the views of Grand Canyon at North Rim. We stayed two nights at Kaibab Lodge which belong to the forest reserve outside of North Rim.

On the way towards North Rim, can see the burnt forests due to bush fire few years ago

At Kaibab Forest Reserve

Panoramic view of North Rim Grand Canyon. Overseen the Angel’s point

Spectacular view of Grand Canyon

Gorgeous!

The only one i thought when i see this park: God who created this wonderful nature!

 

We also took a 3 hours in return to trek towards Colorado River from North Rim.

North Rim trail towards South Rim

 As we went further down, the wall turned brownish to pinkish

Small tunnel for mule rides at somewhere of the trail

The trail does look scary, really need lots of momentum and energy to keep going

The closer look of the trail towards Colorado river.

Made our way returned to North Rim, last look at Grand Canyon.

 The flat land outside our hotel room

 

It was indeed a memorable trip, definitely will go back again, at least to conquer that North Rim to South Rim trekking over Colorado River. =)

Picture of the day: Our dinner – Instant noodle, chicken ham, chocolate, salads and breads. Next time will tell you how we save money in this trip.