Arizona - again! Upon recommendation from a well traveled friend we decided to visit the North Rim area of the Grand Canyon. It worked out splendidly since this possibly lesser travelled entrance was closest to Utah providing us with majestic views without enormous crowds. Our final stop in Arizona was Horseshoe Bend before heading to the Four Corners Monument for a mandatory photo opportunity!
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, located in northwestern Arizona, provided colorful and diverse gorge views down to the Colorado River. Our day started at the North Rim with breakfast in the Scamp - cold morning! We spent several hours hiking, taking in the exhilarating views along the trails, and filling our phones with plenty of breathtaking photos.
Horseshoe Bend, located near Page, AZ, makes a wide sweeping curve via the Colorado River. Hiking to The Overlook was about .6 mile and the view was inspiring! We followed the rules for viewing - my stomach dropped seeing others go beyond the fencing close to the 1,000 foot drop off to the river below. This emphasized that selfies could turn deadly.
After a pleasant overnight in the Page, AZ Walmart parking lot we headed out to the Four Corners Monument. In 1912 government surveyors found where the states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico came together - the only place in the United States where four states meet at one geographic location. After some obligatory photos we spent time exploring the incredible Native American artwork displays created by local artisans. The area is rich with indigenous heritage which includes the Navajo, Hopi, Ute, and Zuni.
I know what you are thinking, “Wow, a short blog!”. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for following along with us on this incredible journey - next stop - Colorado!
Coddiwompling “To Travel in a Purposeful Manner Towards a Vague Destination”
“If there is a point to being in the canyon, it is not to rush but to linger, suspended in a blue-and-amber haze of in-between-ness, for as long as one possibly can. To float, to drift, savoring the pulse of the river on its odyssey through the canyon, and above all, to postpone the unwelcome and distinctly unpleasant moment when one is forced to reemerge and reenter the world beyond the rim-that is the paramount goal.” - Kevin Fedarko - The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
“There will never be a photograph of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty.” - Stefanie Payne, A Year in the National Parks: The Greatest American Road Trip
Link to Steve’s music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4fW5lsWiZG5TcOlhukK4pu?si=2NngXMjoR7mUJLreexbIAw&utm_source=native-share-menu (Let me know if you are interested in purchasing a CD/$10)