American West

It no longer has the United States and open spaces of the National Parks of the American West, with their landscapes made ​​famous by the Westerns. This classic holiday traveling led us to Las Vegas, Nevada to San Francisco on the California coast, passing by several major varied parks: Bryce Canyon, Arches, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Death Valley and finally Yosemite.

 
After a short night and a morning in Las Vegas (enough time for me to get a glimpse of this city mad, stuffy ...), we took the road to Bryce Canyon we joined in the early evening. For a day and a half we were able to explore the many views of the beautiful amphitheater filled with 'hoodoos' formed by erosion strange rock formations. It is possible to escape the crowds down in the amphitheater of the many trails. As soon as you walk a little, one finds herself alone ...

 
Bryce Canyon, we borrowed the beautiful Scenic Byway 12 and Highway 24 that runs through the beautiful landscape of Capitol Reef National Park. Due to time constraints, we did that through this park. Two nights at the camp Devils Garden, located in the end of the road from the National Park Arch, enabled us to see the main stone arches. I particularly recommend the hike to the Devils Garden Trailhead follow the Primitive Trail. Despite the heat, we traveled this entire trail that winds among beautiful sandstone domes; it is marked by several arches whose Landscape Arch, one of the largest in the world. I also recommend the area Windows Section at daybreak. Y are present in a small space for many diverse arches. Finally do not miss the sunset at Delicate Arch which is reached in 30 min walk to remember! An afternoon and a night were later enshrined in Monument Valley. It's short but enough to go with our own vehicle track 'Valley Drive' and landscapes of westerns, especially to watch the sunset on the three hills (West Mitten, East Mitten and Merrick).
We then posed two days on the small town of Page, with a program of walks on and around Lake Powell, but also the discovery of Antelope Canyon, one of the highlights of the stay. Instead, I recommend visiting the Lower canyon, less expensive, more time, and especially in my most beautiful eyes. The Upper Canyon is interesting for its sunlight reaching the bottom, but the price frieze scam and the visit is with a crowd worthy of the Paris RER.
The journey continued towards the Grand Canyon with a view to a small hike to the rim of the canyon intermediate plate following the path Bright Angel Trail. Unfortunately the sky quickly turned to the storm and the recovery was made at a run in the pouring rain. We then joined the Death Valley after a long road that included stops in the former mining town of Chloride and the famous Hoover Dam, built on the Colorado River. Two days were spent exploring the Valley, sweltering heat. The site Zabriskie Point at sunrise is absolutely wonderful. Trails can get away from the crowd clumped close to the road view.
Between Death Valley and Yosemite, we stopped in Bodie, an ancient city of the Gold Rush, abandoned but preserved 'in its own juice. The visit to Yosemite was fast enough, but leaving us time to explore the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove and do a short hike up 'Glacier Point' and stunning views of Half Dome. Our stay in the American West ended with a day and a half ride through the streets of San Francisco.