Series by Hans Couwenbergh.
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
A few weeks back I shared with you my experience in Iceland, visiting the famous Golden Circle. Writing that PoPa reminded me of another Circle that impressed me quite a bit, now six years ago.
The Grand Circle
The Grand Circle is probably even more famous than Iceland’s Golden Circle. It takes the visitor around the gorgeous landscapes of Arizona and Utah and, for those who see the Circle even more “Grand”, also Colorado and New Mexico.
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
In 2008, Sonia and I celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary and thought it ‘d be a good idea to give ourselves a nice present in the form of a trip. We very quickly ended up choosing a modest version of the Grand Circle.
Zion National Park
After a quick stop in New York (shopping for photography gear and a quick visit to the Guggenheim) we started off in Las Vegas. We only very briefly got acquainted to the city as we arrived in the dark, and left again early in the morning heading for our first real destination: Zion National Park. Arriving there we obviously bought the “America the Beautiful” pass, also known as the National Parks pass. It provides free entry to all National parks of the United States for one year, for a car and all people in it. A must-have!
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography (note from the editor: My fabulous mom!)
Talking about cars: none are allowed in Zion except for the people staying in the Zion lodge. Very early on, the wise decision was taken to keep all the traffic out of the park and serve the many trail heads with ecological buses. Great idea! The transport is very regular and convenient – so why would you need a car here with such great facilities!
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Bryce Canyon
After two days of hiking and admiring the landscape we moved on to Bryce, with a short stop on the way admiring Red Rock Canyon. Our trip was not so long so unfortunately we only ware staying only one night near Bryce. Still, good for a first impression; it was a real discovery for us and a definitely an incentive to come back later.
Red Rock Canyon © Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Bryce Canyon © Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Bryce Canyon © Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Bryce Canyon © Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge and Antelope Canyon
After our brief visit to Bryce we had to get up early in the morning to get to Lake Powell, where we’d booked a boat trip. It was surprisingly cold in the morning; very different to the still warm temperatures we experienced during daytime. Next destination: Lake Powell Resort.
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
From there we got on the boat to one of the iconic monuments of nature of the area and a sacred place to the Navajo: Rainbow Bridge National Monument. For tourists it is only reachable via this boat trip. Lake Powell is an artificial lake, created by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam. This was a very controversial project and by damming the Colorado River major changes were caused upstream in the landscape and the ecology.
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
When we arrived near the Rainbow Bridge we had to dock at some pontoons. In former times the water came very close to the bridge but more recently water levels have been a lot lower. Anyway, this huge natural arch is really impressive and we would have liked to spend lots more time there. The boat trip had been 3,5 hours one way so after the climax of Rainbow Bridge the trip back was just a little bit too much…
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
The next day, besides wondering through the amazing landscape around Lake Powell, I was very much looking forward to one thing: visiting Antelope Canyon. I had been able to book the special “photography” trip around noon, when the light is best. Also, supposedly you’re only in a group of eight people with nobody else in the canyon. We were indeed a small group but when we reached the canyon after a bumpy ride in the sand it turned out there were still some tour groups in the canyon. While normally photographers respect each others space and try to be fair to each other in terms of getting the best position/shot in this group there were a couple of absolute the most asocial people I had ever met, bluntly planting their tripod directly in front of other people’s camera’s and walking through other’s views constantly. Horrible and at some point I was close to losing my patience.
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Luckily the beauty of the canyon, the special light effects at mid-day, and the extraordinary shapes carved out by wind and water in the red rock did manage to get most of my attention. Normally the Navajo are well informed but this can be a dangerous area when it rains. A flash flood can kill visitors trapped in the narrow canyons and this did happen in the past. But as a photographer, I could easily lose track of time in that place. But then the next tour group arrived and we had to leave.
Grand Canyon
Last interesting stop on our trip was the Grand Canyon. It has been visited by so many already that for sure it is well known, but nevertheless I was really impressed. We were on the South Rim and the amount of spectacular views is just amazing, especially in the desert view area, where the Colorado River can be seen 1600 meters down. After a couple of nice days there as well as the purchase of some nice Navajo Jewelry for my better half and what has in the meantime become my favorite hat we headed for Las Vegas. It is a place so different I will not include it in this PoPa…
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
© Hans Couwenbergh Photography
Hans Couwenbergh is a wine and travel loving photographer. Snapping away, he tells you all about the stories behind his photographs. Check out his website and connect with him on Facebook.
The post PoPa: Touring our own Grand Circle in the US appeared first on Wonderful Wanderings.