Favorites
Our favorite U.S. National Parks include Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon (Hoodoos), the Grand Tetons, Mesa Verde, Arches and Canyonlands just to name a few.
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah - April, 2014
The Mesa Arch formed as water pooled on the flat, sandstone surface of the Island in the Sky mesa, gradually eroding through the rock layer until it created a hole, eventually carving out the arch shape over millions of years as it sits on the cliff edge, revealing breathtaking canyon views. It's a classic example of a "pothole arch," shaped by water seeping into cracks and carrying sediment away.
False Kiva, Canyonlands National Park, Utah - March 2010
False Kiva in Canyonlands National Park is a mysterious, unmarked archaeological site featuring a stone circle in a cliffside alcove, famous for its stunning views but now closed to visitation due to vandalism, including a fire lit within the structure. The National Park Service prohibits access to protect the fragile site, which is known for its rough, steep, unmarked trail near the Upheaval Dome area in the Island in the Sky district, making it a protected, though physically present, "gone" location for photographers and visitors.
Green River Overlook, Canyonlands National Park, Utah - October 2011
The Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park, located in the Island in the Sky district, offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Green River carving through vast canyons, highlighting the Turk's Head formation, the rugged White Rim Road, and the remote Maze district, making it a premier spot, especially for sunset, with easy access via a short, paved path from a parking area.
Angels Landing, Chain Trail to Summit, Zion National Park, Utah - April 2011
Angels Landing is a famous, strenuous hike in Utah's Zion National Park, known for its thrilling final half-mile along a narrow rock spine with sheer drops, requiring hikers to use chains for assistance, offering panoramic canyon views. The challenging trek involves steep switchbacks (Walter's Wiggles) and a significant elevation gain, making it popular but demanding, requiring a lottery permit for access, and is not for those with a fear of heights.
Thor’s Hammer Hoodoo - Bryce Canyon, Utah - October 2012
Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is famous for its unique, colorful hoodoo rock spires, formed by erosion in natural amphitheaters, offering stunning views, hiking (like the Fairytale Loop Trail), stargazing, and ranger programs, with a single main road (Hwy 63) for scenic drives and year-round access, though cooler weather and high elevation are key factors for visitors.
Queen’s Garden Loop Trail - Bryce Canyon, Utah - October 2012
The Bryce Canyon trails offer immersive hikes among stunning, otherworldly hoodoo formations in horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters, not just views from above, with options for all levels (easy rim walks to challenging loops like Peekaboo Loop), well-maintained paths, and incredible starry night skies, making it a unique geological wonderland.
Queen’s Garden Loop Trail - Bryce Canyon, Utah - August 2014
The Grand Canyon's overwhelming size and intricate beauty, reveals Earth's ancient geological history through colorful rock layers, its unique microclimates with vastly different temperatures, its deep cultural significance for Indigenous tribes, and its ongoing shaping by the Colorado River, all creating unparalleled vistas and a profound sense of wonder. It's a massive, colorful geological masterpiece carved over millions of years, showcasing a timeline of our planet's past.
The Bright Angel Trail is the Grand Canyon National Park's most famous and popular path, descending from the South Rim into the canyon to the Colorado River, offering stunning views, historical insights, and amenities like resthouses, seasonal water, and toilets, making it ideal for day hikes to 1.5 or 3-Mile Resthouses or longer trips to Phantom Ranch, though hikers must be prepared for the strenuous uphill return.
Bright Angel Trail - The Grand Canyon, October 2012
Grand Canyon "donkey" tours are actually world-famous mule rides, offering unique ways to see the canyon, from short rim rides to overnight trips to the river and Phantom Ranch.
Mule Train - Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon - October 2012
The Grand Tetons, Wyoming - September 2013
The Grand Tetons, Wyoming - September 2013