June 2015 Road trip map Well, I haven't been posting much (or say nothing?) on my blog recently. Not that I have stopped blogging but I have been distracted with other activities! I had to be with my mother and had to wind up things back in USA, then I went on a 15 days long road trip across Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho! The trip was kind of on an impulse! My lovely niece paid and booked my tickets and my kind cousin provided me the accommodation in USA. Read more »

Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah is a very interesting place. With beautiful scenery and sad history. Well, hiking here was a delight. On the way, I saw many interesting rock formations and twisted trees. This was one of them. Read more »

World's highest natural bridge formed in a Triassic age sandstone stands in a remote, rugged and an isolated canyon. Native Americans hold it sacred for centuries who call it Nonnezoshe which means Rainbow turned into stone . Rainbow Bridge with a span of 234ft can be reached by a 2-hour boat ride on the waters of Lake Powell and a mile long easy hike. It is one of the most easily accessible large arches in the world. Though the Bridge Creek didn't have any water flowing the bridge and the surrounding landscape was enchanting! Read more »

Internationally recognized icon of American South-west- Monument Valley is one of the most spectacular and most photographed landscape on earth. Located on the state-line of Arizona and Utah Monument Valley lies entirely within the Navajo Nation. Navajo people call it The Valley of Rocks and their imagination and beliefs see much more in these rocks. At the elevation of more than 5,000ft asl the Monument Valley Tribal Park, is home of very beautiful cluster of large red sandstone buttes, spires and mesas. Most part of the park is accessible only with the guided tours. The most interesting masterpieces are hidden in the remote areas. Read more »

First, Did you know there is a tiny place called Mexican Hat in Utah, USA? If yes, then do you know why is this town named Mexican Hat? Well, Mexican Hat is a hardly known small settlement on the banks of San Juan river located at the edge of most popular Monument Valley, just 22-miles away. Very few people live here, may be less than 100! Read more »

I had posted an article on Pareidolia in rocks earlier and now found more pictures which made me think of a sequel! I am finding it very interesting now :) Repeating- Pareidolia , in simple, is a term used to seeing faces or animals in clouds and rock formations. Well, the term has much deeper and scientific meaning which you can read in Wiki . We hear about sleeping giants and rock faces which are common examples. Read more »

Another place made me feel what a tiny place I occupied in the big world! If you want to be alone away from the tourists (and also locals!) in a place soaked in serenity then head to Utah. You will find many of them. You can chat with the rocks and sing with the rivers. This is Goosenecks State Park in Utah which made me just shut up! I was there at sunrise, early morning haze made it look more mysterious! Read more »

The Utah landscape is so rugged that its hard to imagine what lies in those mysterious canyons. Where do these canyons lead you?! When do the dry river floods in a flash? At the elevation of 6,500ft above sea level intermittent rivers have carved canyons and three massive bridges. Natural Bridges National Monument protects this area, plants animals and the native indian ruins. Read more »

Arches National Park is so beautiful that every rock formation deserves the visitor to stop and a click a photo! I stopped at every turnout also at places where there was a bit of shoulder. And now I see those pictures to re-relay the memories. Every picture looks amazing! I thought of putting them together! Read more »

Many years ago I had watched a movie GERONIMO! which was on coming TNT. It kind of hooked me to the TV till the end. The rugged landscape of Arizona and New Mexico, the history of America and the photography ... At the end I felt sad for the guy! I remembered about this movie on an Apache hero when I visited the Anasazi State Museum in Utah. There was a postcard with Geronimo's picture on it. Read more »

The relationship between the landscape and time is always amazing! The forces of nature create wonders in time. The wind has carved thousands of arches in one place- Arches National Park , 6-miles from Moab, Utah. Home for the world famous landmark- Delicate Arch! Arches National Park in the high desert of Utah is a red rock wonderland and is a home for thousands of natural arches, hundreds of massive spires, colossal fins and many other wind-formed sandstone formations. A place to witness vast expanses of breathtaking scenery. Read more »

What a beautiful view and what a name 'Dead Horse Point'?! Well, this amazing place is surrounded by the legends of ghostly horses and cruel cowboys. The point, a narrow neck of the land which is as wide as just the road was once gated with the horses corralled by the cowboys who never came back for some unknown reason. The horses were trapped with no way out on a high mesa, without water and food they all died! Long later people who found the remains of these many unfortunate horses named this overlook- Dead Horse Point! Read more »

Canyonlands- well named! The national park is home for countless canyons carved by Colorado river and its tributaries. Canyonlands National Park is another lesser known park in Utah. The remoteness and ruggedness makes it less popular. The park covers a large rugged area and is divided into three districts ( MAP ) by Colorado and Green rivers. There are no roads to connect these sections internally and it takes hours to reach each district by driving around them. Driving on those remote roads is at times an eerie experience especially during early mornings and late evenings when you are the only one on the road! But, that is fascinating huh? For- Life begins at the end of our comfort zone! Read more »

I never get tired of saying Utah is a land of unbelievably strange landscapes. This land has always surprised me with its unique and beautiful rock formations carved by natural forces over time! Be it arches, canyons, natural bridges, hoodoos and 'Goblins'! For your amazement ... here is ... Goblin Valley State Park of Utah. Read more »

Capitol Reef is not really a reef :) It is a rugged and around 75-miles long spine called Waterpocket Fold . This park which is narrow and long, protects cliffs, canyons, buttes and sandstone domes. The name Capitol is due to the dome like rocks of white Navajo sandstone. Well, the area has many things explained with some geological jargons like warp or monocline etc. For person like me with not much of geological knowledge, it is a beautiful land with wonderful rock formations and canyons :) Wild, rugged, and wonderful ... Read more »

Well, I had mentioned the ruggedness of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in my earlier post on Devil's Garden . The place is simply wonderful and full of surprises. On Scenic-Byway-12 ( MAP ) driving 15-miles from Escalante one can find another pleasant, lush and lovely desert surprise- Lower Calf Creek Falls in Calf Creek Recreation Area. Read more »

One of the hardly-heard national monuments of Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante is one of the rugged beauties with hard to reach attractions. I had wonderful experience here after driving in the snow on the winding roads and also driving on miles and miles of gravel roads which I try to avoid when I am in a rented economy car. But, the fascinating nature keeps calling me! An unbelievable remote wilderness! Read more »

Pareidolia , in simple, is a term used to seeing faces or animals in clouds and rock formations. Well, the term has much deeper and scientific meaning which you can read in Wiki . We hear about sleeping giants and rock faces which are common examples. Well, I am not an expert on this subject but, here I am posting few pictures of my pareidolia experience :) Read more »

Okay, I am here with new destinations from my recent road trip to American Southwest . Because of the shutdown my campground reservations weren't valid anymore, the guided tours were refunded. Initially, I just had a list of places to visit in Utah. I did not have any direction, no certainty, I was hesitant but totally happy! Yes, I felt so. Read more »

Arches National Park is one of the most popular national parks in USA. Why not? It is beautiful! During my visit, the October sky was blue and the red rocks were glowing. Though I couldn't get to a popular guided tour- Fiery Furnace, I enjoyed rest of the park hiking and photographing. Here is one of the numerous pictures I took. Read more »