Sunday, July 11, 2010

Hiking USA - Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon

     The spectacular painted deserts and iconic landscapes of the USA Canyonlands have been the subject of countless photographs and films. But it is not until you experience the thrill of hiking the USA, that you can appreciate the true magnitude of this magnificent part of the world. Time-worn canyons gouged with the ravages of time, and sandstone arches rising starkly from the rust-red desert floor - set against a panoramic backdrop of pastel painted skies, hiking the USA Canyonlands is an inspirational experience, and one that will stay with you for life.
     You will begin your journey in the vibrant and glitzy Las Vegas in Nevada, then continue through another three states - Arizona, Utah and Colorado. Hiking the USA through this region is the trip of a lifetime, and you can truly immerse yourself in the history and spirit of these vast heartlands. When explored on foot you can appreciate the harsh and unforgiving nature of the deserts, and the awe-inspiring raw beauty of such a timeless land. There can be no favourites when exploring the Canyonland region, as each location has its own distinct and unique elements. But the strangely familiar silhouettes of Monument Valley and the primitive panorama of the Grand Canyon will be a definite highlight of your USA hiking adventure.
Monument Valley
      Monument Valley lies within a Navajo Indian Reservation on the Utah and Arizona border. The iconic vision of this area is the sculptural forms of the sandstone buttes and mesas emerging from the desolate desert floor. In reality, the scene is even more breathtaking. Evoking scenes from a Wild West movie, some of these incredible forms rise up to three hundred feet in the air. They are all that remains of the layers of sandstone which once covered the entire area. You will enter the valley on the long, straight, endless road featured in thousands of photographs, and the scene before you will simply take your breath away. But the real secrets lie off the main road in places like Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which you can visit when hiking. USA Native American culture is greatly preserved and respected in Monument Valley, and you can observe their fascinating culture first-hand.
Grand Canyon
      The epic landscape of the Grand Canyon has been carved out of ancient rock over millions of years. Rushing waters and harsh desert winds have written their history large on the ravaged sandstone walls, and your first sight of the Grand Canyon cannot help but captivate you. Hiking the USA's most famous trail is an awe-inspiring reminder of Mother Nature's power and beauty. The Rim Trail will take you around the top edges of the Canyon to viewing sites with the best possible vantage. You can hover over sweeping panoramas of the huge chasm below, and see the pin pricks of hikers as they wend their way to the valley floor; or follow the line of the snaking silver ribbon of the Colorado River. Trekking down into the canyon itself is an unforgettable experience and the climax of your hiking USA holiday.
     As you trek the well worn path, moving ever lower to the canyon floor, you will enjoy uninterrupted views to the East and West with a seemingly never-ending vista beyond.
USA hiking trips can take you the length and breadth of this amazing country, but the grace and beauty of the Grand Canyon will be forever etched in your memory.

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