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Road trip to Death Valley National Park

 What could be better than a road trip to Death Valley National Park?

Joshua trees Hwy 93 ArizonaJoshua Trees along Hwy 93
It was chilly as I headed north on Highway 93 for Death Valley National Park Thursday morning at 9:30.
Sign for Nothing ArizonaNothing, AZ
As always, a gorgeous journey through the Arizona desert.
Highway 93 bridge over Hoover Dam NevadaHighway 93 bridge over Hoover Dam
If the construction going on here for the last four years ever gets done then there should be no reason to have a security check point to drive on Hoover Dam. I carried no scary things in my camper so was allowed over.
Hoover Dam NevadaHoover Dam
Completed in 1936 and built for flood control, agricultural water and hydroelectric energy.
Lake Mead NevadaLake Mead
The by-product of the dam is a gigantic reservoir for recreation. Yet I had no time to play in the water.
Highway 160 west of Las Vegas NevadaHighway 160 west of Las Vegas
I tried to stay out of the traffic mess by skirting south of “Sin City”, and it took me seven hours to get this far.
Sundog over Panamint Range Death Valley National Park CaliforniaSundog
As I approached the park boundary the sun quickly dropped behind…
Sunset over Panamint Range Death Valley National Park CaliforniaSunset over the Panamint Range
…the western mountains.
Sunset over Death Valley National Park CaliforniaSunset over Death Valley
It took me nine hours to drive the 350 miles on this road trip to Death Valley. But no problem finding Jeremy’s chosen camp in the far back corner of the relatively empty Stovepipe Wells campground.
Sunset over Death Valley National Park California
Sunset near Stovepipe Wells campground
We made a plan for Friday including a Ranger program, Mosaic Canyon hike, Charcoal Kilns and whatever else we found along the way.
California, Death Valley National Park, National Parks and Monuments , , , 14 Comments

Antelope Slot Canyon

No tour through this magically water carved Antelope Slot Canyon would be long enough.

Trucks for tour Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaThese are the limousines for the tour
I made reservations for the 1.5 hour “photography” tour at 11:30am for $32 with Antelope Canyon Tours.

Couldn’t take stills on this ride
Checked in for my tour in Page, Arizona. Each truck holds 14 people and there were four trucks full just for my tour. It’s a 20 minute ride to the canyon, half on pavement and the rest like this video. Hang on tight. (That is the Navajo coal fired power plant in the background.)
Opening to Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaEntrance to the slot canyon
You can only enter the canyon with a Navajo guide and Laytoya explained that we would pass through in a group stopping at various places along the way.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaWe were asked to pause upon entering, to be respectful to this awesome creation of Mother Earth.
Light shaft Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaIt was the right time of day to see a few light shafts slanting into the slot.
Light shaft Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaLaytoya threw handfuls of sand into the light to really show them off.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaAnd she suggested the best places to take photos.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaShe took at least one photo with my camera and for some of the other passengers also.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaI don’t know which one.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaDo you see the woman’s face?
Most of my photos are very blurry due to limited light and no time to set up a tripod.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaExit the slot
It took 30 minutes to walk one way through Upper Antelope Canyon.
View from end of Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaSouth beyond the slot
Then we were on our own to explore for 25 minutes before we needed to be back on the trucks.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaThe bear’s head
When the rains fall flash flood can occur.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaAnd that same flow of water carved this twisting narrow canyon as it once drained into the Colorado River and now Lake Powell.
Antelope Slot Canyon Page ArizonaLeaving the slot
As I gently touched the sculpted sandstone walls it seemed the rock cried out for silence. This is an awesome place but was way too crowded and not enough time.
Antelope Slot Canyon, Utah 46 Comments

Cedar Canyon Breaks for City Utah


After I left Navajo Lake I headed to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay long as I still needed to get to Cedar City to shop and get an oil change.

So I continued west on scenic State Route 14.

Which lies north of Zion National Park.

The road continues downhill through forest that shows the standing dead of a bark beetle kill off. Yet there are also trees decades old to carry on.

Continuing west I drop off the Colorado Plateau through Cedar Canyon which follows Coal Creek.
Cedar City lies in a valley below at almost 6000 feet (1829 km). Of course it took me longer than planned to get all my stops made in this unknown town.

Because that’s four hours from the North Rim and I prefer not to drive in the dark I decided to camp in the Dixie National Forest at Cedar Canyon campground then return to Cedar Breaks National Monument the next day. (I will post Cedar Breaks soon, I promise.)

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Cedar Canyon, Dixie National Forest, Utah , , 19 Comments

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