Southwest Trip: Hiking and Rafting
In May, we took a two and a half week vacation in the Southwest.  The highlight was 6 days white water rafting and camping through Grand Canyon. We also did a lot of hiking in national parks, including 3 days at Zion, 2 at Bryce Canyone and 1 at Capitol Reef. Antelope Canyon and Canyon X are two amazing slot or "corkscrew" canyons, and we spent several hours at each with our cameras.
One of our guides took this photo just as we came out of one hole, and were about to crash into more rapids. (All non-guides hang on with two hands.) Thanks, Reese!
This was not a relaxation trip---we were up at 5 am most days! Coffee call on the river was 6 AM, and the cooler morning hours are best for hiking. Relaxation comes from the soaking up the amazing scenery, absorbing the sound studio quiet in Bryce, and never seeing a newspaper or television (or computer.)

Above is the oft-photographed Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado River. Bob took this awesome photo with a wide angle lens--hanging over the edge of the cliff.

In hundreds of years, erosion will likely straighten out this portion of the river, leaving in interesting canyon behind.


Two amazing slot canyons. Diane and Bob at the entrance to Antelope Canyon. At left is Canyon X.

The hoodoos at Bryce Canyon.


Some colorful peaks in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park.
Itinerary
Day 1
Driving.
Day 2
Kolob Canyon section of Zion, hike Taylor Creek (5 mi). Drive to Springdale and take the bus through the Zion Canyon.
Day 3
Zion: Early morning photos of the West Temple and Alter of Sacrafice. Hidden Canyon hike, Weeping Garden, and part of the Pa'rus Trail (3+ mi.)
Day 4
Zion: early AM photos of the Court of the Patriarchs.  Hike to the Emerald Pools, Riverside Walk to the start of the Virgin River Narrows and to Menu Falls (5 mi total).
Day 5
Drive out through the Mt Carmel Tunnel, Canyon Overlook hike (1 mi). See the Horseshoe Bend in the Colorado. Drive to Page, Arizona and visit Antelope Canyon. See the Navajo bridge on the way to Marble Canyon, AZ.
Day 6
On the River! Soap Creek and House Rock Rapids. Camp at 22 Mile Wash.
Day 7
The Roaring 20's, Vasey's Paradise, and Redwall Cavern. Body surfing int the turquoise Little Colorado.
Day 8
Big Rapid Day, especially Hance, Crystal and Serpentine. Float past the Kaibab and Bright Angel bridges.
Day 9
Hiking Day. Visit Elves Chasm, Blacktail Canyon, Stone Creek and Deer Creek Falls.
Day 10
Havasu. Camp at Red Slide.
Day 11
Lava Falls! Disembark, and helicopter ride out of the canyon. Bar 10 Ranch, head back to Page. Do some laundry and sleep.
Day 12
Visit Canyon X.  See Lake Powell and tour the Glen Canyon Dam.
Day 13
Adventure to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Drive to Bryce Canyon and set up camp.
Day 14
Bryce: hike Queen's Garden and Navajo Loop and Bristlecone Pines (6 mi). Visit Red Canyon.
Day 15
Bryce: hike Peekaboo Loop and part of Fairyland Loop (8 mi.)
Day 16
Head up scenic highway 12. Hike at Kodachrome Basin State Park. Visit Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monumenu, the Devil's Rock Garden, and the Anasazi Museum. Drive through Capitol Reef National Park, and hike to the Pioneer Register and "the tanks".
Day 17
Capitol Reef: hike to Cassidy Arch and Hickman Bridge. View the petroglyphs. (6 mi) Start heading home.
Day 18
Drive home and unpack a very messy car. Sleep!

On to the Zion -->

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