Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona/Utah

A place that is sure to leave a lasting impression on your soul is Monument Valley located on the border of Arizona and Utah in the U.S.A.  That could be the reason this place is the most used for filming movies on location.  The beauty is stark, dramatic and so riveting it’s hard to take your eyes off of the splendid nature in front you of you spanning 360 degrees.  If Mother Nature had indeed created her own art gallery, it would be the impressive sandstone monoliths sprawling in every direction in Monument Valley.

Our family recently went to Monument Valley to celebrate the beauty of life.  Don and I wanted to share this special place with our children Dani and Josh now that they are older and more aware of the emotional ties that make us who we are today.  I lost my oldest sister a few years ago.  When her husband told me that Monument Valley was their favorite place in the whole world, it made me want to see the red cliffs even more.  I knew then that just standing among the beauty of the valley would make me feel a bit closer to her spirit.  And that thought alone made my own spirit soar as we traveled.  I just couldn’t wait to get there again.

Monument Valley is a special place.  The quiet is so still there you can actually hear it within your own beating heart.  The valley is infused with the rich traditions and tranquility that personifies the Navajo Indian spirit.  Driving in the Monument Valley Tribal Park gives you the flavor of what the Navajo way of life was in the past and up to the present.  The Navajos have seamlessly bridged and preserved their old ways with the new ways without losing their rich cultural traditions.

The park has a visitor center, campground, restaurant and a lodge.  There is a $20 entry fee to take the 14 mile graded loop drive which takes you to the famous monoliths:  the Mittens, Totem Pole, and the Yei Bi Chai among others.  These are the ones that have become the landmarks of the area and highly recognizable from movies, TV shows and commercials.

As you drive keep a good look out for the livestock.  The Navajos who still live in the monument and have for generations, raise sheep who graze in the open lands.  The Navajo way of life is preserved and sheep wool is spun and woven into native rugs which are sold in the valley and in surrounding stores.   The weavers raise the sheep and sear, wash and spin the wool in the traditional ways of their old cultural ancestors who passed on the methods through the generations to preserve the art.  It is not uncommon to see a weaver sitting on the floor in front of a Navajo log loom as they spin their tradition.  This is most exciting to see near a Hogan, the ancient Navajo dwelling, which are still used for living in the valley.

Our family loves to visit Monument Valley and see the rich ways of the Navajo life.  The sandstone orange and red hues are vivid any time of day and make for spectacular photos.  If you are ever in the valley, we hope you will stop and visit the Monument Valley Trading Post.  We are proud to say our “OutDoors And not…Arizona” travel DVD is on sale there and your purchase helps the Navajo way of life endure.  As the Navajo people perceive their homeland, this strong spiritual belief in the land of Monument Valley requires that Mother Earth be treated with the deepest respect.

Let’s go!

Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah

Timpanogos Cave in northern Utah may be the smallest of the national monuments at only 250 acres in size.  However the monument makes up for it with an impressive elevation gain of 2,740 feet off the canyon floor.  Visitors will feel it when they walk up the trail up to the commercial cave. The hike is a gradual gain of more than 1,100 feet in elevation which can leave you feeling a bit breathless, particularly with the beautiful American Fork Canyon views along the way.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is located high up in the Wasatch Mountains giving it a true alpine surrounding and sits at an elevation of 6,700 at the cave entrance. Compare that elevation to the visitor center located at 5,500 feet and you understand the elevation gain on the trail to the cave.

When we visited, it was in the triple digits in Utah and the only way to naturally stay cool was to be inside Timpanogos cave where it remains 45 degrees, a welcome relief.  That kind of heat can make any hike feel much longer and harder than it really is. It’s only a 1-1/2 mile long paved trail to the cave, but the 1,160 foot elevation gain feels like more when it’s 110 degrees.

Timpanogos Cave is unique as it is actually three nicely decorated caverns that have been turned into one underground system.  The cave may be small in nature, but it makes up for it with delicate helictites and anthodites and other impressive formations found in the many chambers as you can see from the pictures.

If you plan to visit Timpanogos Cave, plan on at least a three hour trip for the hike up, cave tour and hike back.  Be sure to bring water along as there are no drinking fountains on the trail or at the cave.

Cave tours and advance tickets are available daily through Oct. 4, 2009. After Oct. 4 tours will be available on the weekends of Oct. 10-11 and 17-18. The caves and cave trail close on Oct. 19, 2009 for the winter season.  But that is not a problem, you can visit Timpanogos Cave National Monument anytime, right here at www.deluciaoutdoors.com.  Or you can see the cave and the best of scenic Utah in our travel DVD “OutDoors And not…Utah” available at fine gift shops and at our online store.

Let’s go!

Natural Bridges Natural Monument
Southern Utah

Both Don and I grew up near the beaches of Southern California. Looking at the sand now it’s hard to believe that someday in the geologic future this could be the next Natural Bridges Natural Monument, Utah’s first designated national monument. We went camping there during the kids spring break in April, trying to dodge the impending bad to freezing weather.

Perched 6,500 feet above sea level on a high Cedar Mesa in Southern Utah are three massive bridges cut in sandstone rock from an ancient sea shore. There you’ll find the second largest natural bridge in the world, Sipapu Bridge, a 1.2 mile hike. The name means “gateway through which souls may pass to the spirit world” in Hopi mythology. A trail leads to Horsecollar Ruin, two granaries named for their unique doors, and one of the finest ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings you’ll ever see, in my opinion.

Visitors to Natural Bridges can take the overlook drives and short hikes to the Kachina Bridge, Owachomo Bridge and Sipapu Bridge, or hike the 8.6 loop trail that meanders the canyon bottom along the ancient buttes passing along all three. Daytime freezing cold and whipping winds made us seek unplanned hotel stays during our southwestern tour. Two hotels, two plumbing issues. Could explain why we love camping. At least you know what to expect. Lovely bliss you don’t have to pay a lot for. Plus it leaves no carbon footprint.
Let’s go!

Zion National Park, Utah

2009 Zion National Park celebrates 100 years of commitment to preservation. Don and I have been visiting the park for one quarter of those years. Who can resist hiking along pink and crème colored cliffs? Or a soothing swim in a shady canyon?

But beware if you do play in the water as it can be slippery. Our friend Ernie found that out when he landed in the water along with his camera that was not water proofed.

The canyons in Zion are so steep that it can feel as if you are walking in a cave in places. The geology of the sandstone is impressive with numerous stacked pancake features. Whether you have been there or not, you will enjoy our show.

Let’s go!

-Lisa