CONTENTS
Introduction
A bit of geology 9
The Grand Staircase 9
Sedimentary layers 10
Rivers 11
Mountains 12
Other tectonic phenomena. 12
A bit of ancient history 13
A bit of recent history 14
Flora and fauna. 15
Seasons 16
Some photographic advice 18
Chapter 1: ZION National PARK
The Zion Plateau 22
Checkerboard Mesa 23
The Canyon Overlook Panorama 23
The Towers of the Virgin 24
The Court of the Patriarchs 25
Emerald Pools and Weeping Rock 25
The Temple of Sinawava 26
The Virgin Narrows 26
The Great White Throne 28
AngelÕs Landing 29
Kolob Canyon Viewpoint 30
Double Arch Alcove 30
Crossing Zion by way of the Kolob Terraces 32
The Subway 33
AROUND Zion
The Smithonian Butte 35
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park 36
Chapter 2: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Sunrise and Sunset viewpoints 40
Inspiration Point and Bryce Point 41
Navajo and QueenÕs Garden trails 42
Fairyland viewpoint and trail 43
Yovimpai Point and Rainbow Point 43
AROUND BRYCE
Red Canyon 44
Cedar Breaks National Monument 45
Chapter 3: GRAND CANYON
Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial and Cape Royal 46
Toroweap 47
Into the Canyon 48
Chapter 4: CANYON DE CHELLY . 51
Chapter 5: GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE
Scenic Byway 12 55
Anasazi State Park 55
The Burr Trail 56
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park 56
Kodachrome Basin State Park 57
Cottonwood Canyon Road 57
Hole-in-the-Rock Road 59
EscalanteÕs DevilÕs Garden 59
The Slot Canyons of Coyote Gulch 60
Chapter 6: CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
Panorama Point and the Goosenecks of the Sulphur 66
Fruita 67
Chimney Rock and the Castle 67
The Scenic Drive 68
Introduction to Cathedral Valley 68
The South Desert and the Bentonite Hills. 70
Upper Cathedral Valley 71
Lower Cathedral Valley 73
The Waterpocket Fold 74
Strike Valley Viewpoint and Muley Twist 75
The Caineville Badlands and Factory Butte 77
Chapter 7: THE SAN RAFAEL REEF
Goblin Valley State Park 79
Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon 81
Chapter 8: AROUND PAGE
Upper Antelope Canyon 84
Lower Antelope Canyon 87
Horseshoe Bend 89
Water Holes Slot Canyon 90
Buckskin Gulch Narrows 91
Coyote Buttes - The Wave 93
Rainbow Bridge 95
Marble Canyon and LeeÕs Ferry 96
Chapter 9: MONUMENT VALLEY
The Navajo Tribal Park 98
Goosenecks State Park 103
Valley of the Gods 104
Mokey Dugway and Muley Point 105
Navajo National Monument 105
Chapter 10: AROUND GLEN CANYON
Edge of the Cedars State Park 106
The Road to Hite 107
Crossing Lake Powell 108
Natural Bridges National Monument 109
Chapter 11: AROUND MOAB
The Fisher Towers 112
The La Sal Mountains Loop 114
Behind the Rocks 115
Wilson Arch 116
Cisco 116
The Colorado National Monument 116
Chapter 12: ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Park Avenue 118
The Petrified Dunes 119
Balanced Rock 119
The Windows 120
Panorama Point 121
The Fiery Furnace 121
DevilÕs Garden and Landscape Arch 121
Delicate Arch 122
Delicate Arch Viewpoint 123
The Klondike Bluffs 124
Chapter 13:
CANYONLANDS (Island in the Sky)
Dead Horse Point State Park 126
Mesa Arch 126
Grand Viewpoint 129
Upheaval Dome 130
The Shafer trail 130
The White Rim Trail 131
Chapter 14:
CANYONLANDS (The Needles)
Newspaper Rock 134
The Slickrock Trail 135
Squaw Flat 135
Elephant Hill 136
Chesler Park 136
Salt Creek and Angel Arch 137
Above the Needles and the Maze 137
APPENDIX
Glossary 139
Maps 140
Bibliography 141
Other Recommended Reading 141
Resources 142
About the Author 144
MAPS
Getting to Zion 32
Zion Canyon 38
The Bryce Amphitheater 38
Route 89 between Zion and Bryce 43
Getting to Cedar Breaks 45
Descending into the Grand Canyon 50
Scenic Byway 12 from Bryce to Capitol Reef 64
Getting to Capitol Reef 76
Goblin Valley 78
Little Wild Horse Canyon 78
Getting to Page/Grand Canyon 97
Monument Valley 102
Getting to Monument Valley 104
Getting to Glen Canyon 107
Getting to Arches and Moab 116
Arches National Park 124
Getting to Canyonlands (Island in the Sky) 130
Island in the Sky 132
Getting to Canyonlands (Needles) 138