Sunset Crater (Coconino County, Arizona)

Unlike its neighboring crater, Sunset Crater is actually volcanic in its origin. A short drive from the visitor center gives a terrific view of what is left of this angry mountain that blew its side out. Volcanic rock and ash cover the ground like sand covers a beach.

With our last stop visited we make our way for Las Vegas and tomorrow home to Reno. We will have traveled 2200 miles in only four and a half days, but the sites we’ve seen made it all worthwhile.

Meteor Crater (Coconino County, Arizona)

Approximately 50,000 years ago, a meteor probably about the size of a cargo van came crashing down into the desert (though not a desert then) of Arizona. The result? A circular crater over a mile in diameter now marks well the point of impact. While a very basic example of physics in action, the crater itself seems enormous while standing on the edge.

Monument Valley (Navajo Nation, Arizona & Utah)

The next stop along our road trip was drive through the picturesque valley featured in so many Westerns and also in “Forrest Gump”. The valley is truly impressive with its gargantuan sandstone monuments spread out over the desert like towering skyscrapers in a metropolis, though much less densely packed. This valley truly represents the majesty of the Western United States.

Four Corners (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona)

To list this place as being in Utah would only be partially correct. The monument built here on Navajo lands represents the meeting of the borders of four states: Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

In all honesty, the meeting of some imaginary lines on a map is not all that exciting to me, but as it was near our path on this multi-day road trip, it was worth a look.

Mesa Verde National Park (Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado)

Perhaps even more amazing than our last stop, Mesa Verde is an archaeological trip into the world of some astounding Native American builders, the Anasazi or Cliff-dwellers. This entire park is centered around the construction of this awe-inspiring people who literally built many dozens of dwellings in and among the cliffs of this beautiful mesa.

After the fifteen mile drive to the tour office, we decide to buy tour tickets to both Balcony House and Cliff Palace House. The ranger-lead tour through the first is quite amazing as we must climb down ladders, through tunnels (very, very narrow tunnels), and then back up the hand and toe holds carved by the original builders. It’s almost hard to believe that this people lived here in these precarious dwellings between 1200 & 1300 b.c.e. The masonry work is top notch.

Continuing on to our second tour, Cliff Palace, we find the largest cliff dwelling every built. With some 150 separate rooms, this truly is a palace. It is believed to have served as some type of social center for the entire region. With its round spires, perfectly square towers, and submerged “keves”, it’s quite obvious this was a structure of some importance. Quite a spectacle to behold.

Next, we tackle Spruce Tree House, which is a self-guided tour below the museum. Much like the other two, the ancient architecture is quite skilled. On the way back up, we discover a 2.4 mile trail along the mesa wall to some petroglyphs from the same era. We decide to the detour is worth it and head out.

The trail itself is actually rather treacherous with some minor boulder scrambling and several sets of very steep stone-carved steps. Upon reaching the Petroglyphs, we nearly walk right past them, as the signage is somewhat hidden and the drawings appear on a wall 8-10 feet above the trail. Still the rock art is quite beautiful, making the hike well worth the time.

Nick and I both feel a little drained and decide to view the remaining visible sites on the drive out of the park. We do find a few more cave dwellings on the way out, but none as impressive as those we toured through. Overall, this was an amazing day of hiking and site-seeing.

Arches National Park (Arches National Park, Utah)

After a night of camping an Angel Lake near Elko, NV, a very long drive through the great salt desert, and several hours south of Salt Lake City, my friend Nick and I arrived at Moab, UT and Arches National Park. Based on our time allotted for this first of many stops on this long road trip, we agree that a drive through the park will be our best bet to take in the most scenery before dark.

We begin the drive up a series of steep switchbacks until we reach the top of the plateau. Almost immediately, we are in awe of the mighty sandstone pillars and other formations confronting us. It is very reminiscent of the pictures I have seen of Monument Valley, which of course we will also see on this trip.

Continuing through the park we see a few massive arches in the distance as we approach the famous Balanced Rock formation. It’s quite stunning to see a boulder the size of a house so neatly balanced on a thin pillar, some 75-100 feet in the air.

Further into the park, we stop at the amazing Double Arch and hike up a short distance for a close-up. In fact, I even climb up a somewhat challenging rock face to the area directly beneath the two connected arches. The formation is mind-boggling. It’s difficult to even imagine how the stone could have eroded into these shapes, but it’s spectacular to see and climb around on.

Finally as the day begins to wind down, we make our way out to the upper viewpoint of Delicate Arch, which has become a symbol for the state of Utah. After a short hike over some rolling sandstone slabs we reach a point where the landmark becomes fully visible in all its glory. Amazingly, this tall picturesque arch sits atop a large cliff, alongside of four or five other formations that may become arches in the centuries yet to come. 

While we didn’t have a huge amount of time to spend, seeing these amazing natural wonders was well worth the stop. Tomorrow we head for Mesa Verde!