[denzdm]

I have been an avid traveler who loves to plan long trips right which includes shortlisting places, booking hotels, flight / train, places to visit and even restaurants to grab a bite. Having traveled over Europe, covering many countries, this time thought of making some changes and let my friend (let’s call him AC) plan a road trip in the US visiting or rather trekking major national parks along the way.

A pop-up tent was chosen to be our shelter from the elements of the nature and give us a peaceful rest. So, no fancy resort beds or mattresses to rest our backs but only a sleeping bag in a tent. Probably, in the 21st century, this is the most rustic you can get close to nature.

Though AC contemplated on hiring a caravan (inspired by SRK from Swades), as it was just two us, he decided on taking his Jeep Cherokee to the test.

Stats at a glance -
Distance drove – 3000 kms+
Kms walked / trekked – 200 kms+
Days – 12 (8 nights in tent and 4 nights in motel / hotel)
States visited – 6 (California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona)
Places visited in order of travel – (Joshua Tree NP, Las Vegas, Zion NP, Bryce NP, Grand Staircase Escalante, Capitol Reef NP, Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, Four Corners Monument, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon NP)

Travel package for travel – Many pairs of comfort clothing as washing was never an option, trail mix (combination of granola, sun dried fruits and nuts, cup noodles, sleeping bags, pop up tent, hammocks, drinking water can for refill, powerful torches, electrical lantern, cooking stove, rain coats, umbrellas, hats, sunscreens, good trekker shoes, sanitary stuff, trekking sticks for balance and grip, tripod, good cameras, backpack for trekking, sun glasses, watch and bottles of water.

Words of caution – Drinking water only available at certain camping grounds, no mobile network at most of the camping grounds, basic toilets with pits (no water)

In a hot weather, bring along 8 liters of water per person, per day. Drink the water and do not economize. When the water is half gone, it's time to turn back.

Avoid hiking alone. Remember the movie 127 hours? Whether or not you're with a group, always inform a friend of family member of your planned route and expected return time. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them. Check the weather forecast before departing for your hike, but do remember that desert weather can change suddenly. Carry a headlamp on every hike, even a short day hike.

Carry a comprehensive first aid kit. Add a comb and tape to your kit. These items are often helpful in removing cactus spines from the skin. Other suggested items for desert hikers include tweezers, bandages of various sizes, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic towelettes, wound closure strips, compression bandage, ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamine tablets, extra food and salty snacks, and an emergency blanket. This is not a comprehensive list but will help you get started in your planning.

Know your skill level and do not take chances.

Now that we are aware of the basic instructions, let’s get going.

Our travel partner and night shelter


Onward Route Map

Return route

Itinerary
Day 1 and 2 --> Arrive in Los Angeles, stay in a downtown hotel
Places seen - California Science Center (for Space Shuttle Endeavour), Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach, Marina Jetty, Beverly Hills and overnight stay Los Angeles downtown hotel.

Seen a plane with dual cockpit?

As we wanted to maximize our stay in Los Angeles for so many things to look around, we utilized our day till sunset driving around exploring places. After sunset, we set out for a night drive and camping to our first night expedition.

[denzdm]

Day 2 --> Drive 250 kms (3 hours) into Joshua NP (Jumbo Rock campground)

As we arrived in the dark of the night, we had to completely rely on the Jeep’s headlights to guide us. Nights in national parks are eerily dark with only certain signages to direct you to the camping area. Once there, we popped open our tent, got the sleeping bags out and crashed. Just at dawn, we were woken up a howling coyote behind our tent. This is when we realized that its indeed wild out there.

Joshua NP is named after its namesake – Joshua trees. They take many forms. Sometimes they are full and bushy, other times lanky and open. It’s known for its usefulness: tough leaves are weaved into baskets and flower buds are edible. One unique fact about Joshua tree is that you can’t guess its age by tree rings. Rather, a rough estimate can be made based on its height, as they grow at the rate of one-half inch to three inches per year. They are spread far and across and hence an important part of the desert ecosystem, providing habitat for numerous birds, mammals, insects, and lizards.

Another distinct feature of Joshua NP are the round huge rocks formed as a result of whipping winds and rushing water sculpting incredible rock designs throughout this desert. Fun fact - The oldest rocks in Joshua Tree National Park are estimated to be 1.5 billion-year-old.

Joshua Tree

Not vandalism - but glyphs on the rocks

Parting shot

Our camping ground

Day 3 --> Drive 300 kms (3 hours 30 mins) to Las Vegas
Day 4 --> Stay in Las Vegas overnight

What a contrast, from the barren desert with no lights into the dazzling city. As the city livens up after sunset, we planned to arrive just around 4 in the evening. After checking in the hotel, we took a nap to give our eyes the maximum potential to take us through the night (considering we both are morning birds than night owls). That was a wise decision as Vegas transforms into a different avatar after the sun sets down. Surely everyone has witnessed Las Vegas either in real or on reel. So, here are some glimpses.

This was the last ever luxury stay and after this, we had made up our minds to lead the nomadic lives, away from the civilization to put our survival skills to test (ok, last part was an exaggeration)

Day 5 --> Drive 265 kms (3 hours) to Zion NP (South Campground)

The drive to the NP was beautiful and one can gauge the popularity of this place by the visitor cars parked. Zion National Park boasts of an expansive canyon. Averaging 2000 feet deep, it also offers hiking opportunities along its floor in the 20- to 30-foot-wide area known as the Narrows. You will be blown away by the beauty of the red rocks, shaped into architectural turrets and curves — all by Earth's natural forces of erosion and weathering. Another famous hike is to the Weeping Rock. Its named so as the lush hanging gardens hugging the rock are continually moist due to a constant water flow from the canyons above. And my favorite here was the Riverside walk by Virgin River. This one is nonstrenuous, mostly paved, fairly level, and highly shaded. As you keep walking Water drips down the narrow canyon walls and seeps through much of the rock, creating lush vegetation. You can’t go without getting your feet wet.

For watching the sunset, we decided to take the Canyon Overlook Trail. The trail is well maintained and offers stunning views of the main canyon. The trek surely is a bit rocky and there are some high drop-offs, but majorly fenced. Great place to end the day and return to the camp. A drive to the nearby restaurant for a well-deserved high calorie meal without guilt and then finally crashed into our cozy tent house for the night which our lower limbs begged for.

[denzdm]

Day 6 --> Drive 125 kms (1 hour 30 mins) to Bryce Canyon NP (Bryce Canyon Pines Campground)

We let our weary bodies recover as the next destination was just 90 mins away. Started a little late and had a buffet lunch to tame our starved bellies. Just a reminder – that we were always skipping one meal of the day.

Bryce Canyon NP can be completed in a day if you are game for stretching your limits a bit. However, as the name suggests, Bryce Canyon is not a single canyon, but rather a series of naturally carved amphitheaters. They are filled with unevenly eroded spires of rocks called hoodoos. Hoodoos are formed where soft rock like a sandstone, is covered into a thin layer of harder rock. The weathering process then erodes these rocks into pinnacles that you see in the pictures. Bryce Canyon NP is home to the largest number of hoodoos. Some of the famous points to see: Bryce Point, Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, and Sunrise Point.

Day 7 --> Drive 33 kms (25 mins) to Grand Staircase Escalante (Calf Creek Campground)

This was probably as adventurous you can get in the wild. It involved miles of walking, discovering a secluded waterfall and get into tricky narrow places while also staying in a campground with just one or two pit toilets with one of them residence to a giant spider. Though we arrived just before noon, we took up the challenge of hiking to the Lower Calf Creek Falls. It was a short hike of just over 1 hour, however demanding on the overall body due to high humidity. And once we witnessed this waterfall, it was like an oasis in a desert. The water was colder than it seemed. However, a welcome soothing sensation to the heated joints. After a dip and a hammock session later, started our brisk walk back to avoid encounter with the darkness. As the place is surrounded by mountains and lush greens, sunset appears sooner than you would think.

Dinner was just a bowl of hot cup noodles and water to quench the ever-thirsty body cells and dreaming about the next day quest – Find the elusive Zebra slot.

Lower Calf Creek Falls


Can you spot the green tent?
Imagine spotting a Tesla at a remote location? Anyone with range anxiety?

Day 8 --> Grand Staircase Escalante (Calf Creek Campground)

Probably this is the most remote and less visited among the hikers. However, its spectacular and your eyes are treated a vast expanse of land with waterfalls, arches and hidden narrow canyons.

Why is the Zebra Slot is elusive? It’s because in absence of cellular towers, it is difficult to chart a course without a reliable GPS signal. During such times, we rely on human communication (if you find someone on the way back) or looking for cairns (stones stacked up suggesting the right path).

And boy, we were lucky to find it. It surely needs an adventurous heart to walk in such slots as they are very narrow, filled with tadpoles. You wouldn’t want to be here when its overcast. Deep slot canyons can be especially dangerous as they may flood sooner than you know by a storm that occurs on a mesa miles away. The flood sweeps through the canyon and makes it difficult to climb up and out making it a water grave. Recollect the movie 127 hours?

[denzdm]

Day 9 --> Drive 100 kms (1 hour 30 mins) to Fruita Campground

This campground was the most serene with ample sights of green, people and deer grazing around. The wide canopy of the trees was a bonus. As the name states – Fruita name was coined after various fruit orchards that exist around. The drive around is jaw dropping and the most stunning I have ever seen.

Day 10 --> Drive 230 kms (2 hours 30 mins) to Goose Island Campground

This was as basic as you can get to staying in the wild. Right next to the rapid Colarado river flowing with full gusto, we setup our tent. Hardly had we popped out and our neighboring campers warned us of a rodent in their tent. However, this place doesn’t have luxury of moving into a different room, so we just decided to keep the food packed in the car and not take any edible item inside the tent.

Though the camping days were coming to an end, the excitement was building up. After all, it was time to visit the Delicate Arch. It’s a 30 min trail from the car park and heat will suck the H2O out of you.

The famous Delicate Arch is one of the most recognizable symbols of Utah and one of the world's most famous geologic features. Many people travel from all over the world just to visit Arches National Park and see this particular free-standing stone arch. The free-standing Delicate Arch is 52 feet tall and even part of the Utah vehicle license plates. When you reach the place, its so mesmerizing that you can watch the Arch all day long.

This place is actually inside a cave.

One good meal after a long time

The Jeep takes you all places

Did the deer cross the road or road crossed the forest?

Over the moon

Camping by river Colarado

The Delicate Arch

Day 11 --> Drive 240 kms (2 hours 40 mins) to Monument Valley and Four Corners Monument

Three red sandstone hills form the horizon of the Monument Valley, which is now a symbol of the American West. For me, Forest Gump is the most memorable Hollywood movie filmed at this location. This is one place where I saw many cars stopping on the shoulder to click some memorable shots. The beauty of this place is unparalleled and its difficult to take your eyes off the place.

The Four Corners Monuments on the other hand is a man-made tourist spot. It has a granite disc with a smaller bronze disc inserted around the point. Smaller, strategically placed state seals and flags that represent the local states and tribal nations surround the granite disc. Despite being in a far-off, lonely place, it is still frequented by many tourists. Breaking Bad fans - Remember the scene where Skyler visits this place?

No filters

Couldn't resist clicking the beautiful ride

Moi posing (and admiring) the view.

Four corners Monument

Day 12 --> Drive 270 kms (2 hours 45 mins) to the Grand Canyon

The last to do on the list was Grand Canyon. Though I must admit, we thought of striking this off the list if our feet were bruised beyond recognition. So, on that day, we changed our definition of bruises and happily chugged along to witness the Grand Canyon in its full glory.

The Grand Canyon needs no introduction. Its probably one of the best instances of land erosion in the world. The Colorado River has carved a 400+ km long canyon that is enormous and averages 4,000 feet in depth. At its largest and deepest points, it is 25+ kms across and 6,000 feet deep. No wonder it is one of the most studied landscape in the world.

The Grand Canyon in its glory - Picture doesn't do justice to its mammoth size

A Hummer Tour car to take you around the Grand Canyon

And finally, stayed on the famous Route 66 motel. Hope you enjoyed reading and admiring the pictures of the beautiful landscape. Hope this inspires you all motor heads to take that long drive. I will say adios and part with these beauties.

[Amrik Singh]

Wonderful ! Time well spent by you and an enjoyable read by us.
Please confirm if the distances detailed are in kms or miles ?

[denzdm]

Originally Posted by Amrik Singh

Wonderful ! Time well spent by you and an enjoyable read by us.
Please confirm if the distances detailed are in kms or miles ?

Thanks, I converted the distance in kms for easy reference.

[amrit_bareta]

I loved reading the form and looking at all the pictures . I appreciate your great post.