Grand Canyon Loop

This trip started and ended in Las Vegas, but all we saw there was the airport and car hire. Headed straight out to the South rim of the Grand Canyon, and then the plan was to loop around. We arrived in snow and fog to the South Rim, but there were some breaks.

The following morning, we caught the sunrise at Mather Point then headed out along the rim road, turned South and to the Sunset Crater Volcanic National Monument, a Thai meal in Flagstaff at the Red Curry Vegan Kitchen, ending up at our Airbnb in Sedona.

Some sunrise pictures from the Sedona Airport area and some local hikes filled the next day, with dinner at Dahl and Di Luca Restaurant.

We cast the net wider the following day, with hikes at Cathedral Rock, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument, Lunch at The Flatiron in Jerome. a flight of beer at Oak Creek Brewery back in Sedona and a pizza from Pisa Lisa – then a short hike for some sunset shots – and bats. I still can’t work out why one of the apparently unremarkable pictures from Tuzigoot is one of my most viewed images (that isn’t a 777X) on Flickr. It must be linked to from some tourist site maybe…

The next day’s drive took us through Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument and arrived in Page just in time for dinner at Rimview.

In and around Page for a day, starting at Horseshoe Bend shortly after sunrise, then a wonderful visit to Antelope Canyon with Taadidiin Tours. Crepes in town for lunch, then the Hanging Garden Trail, and dinner with a view at Lake Powell Resort.

From Page it was out to the Cliff Dwellers Restaurant for breakfast before heading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Some of the access was closed due to snow – and it was very windy on the rim. Headed North via Le Fevre Overlook Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park then to our next two nights stop – and dinner, at Zion Mountain Ranch.

Zion National Park the next day, and very crowded. Found some trails away from the crowds.

Leaving Zion behind we headed back towards Las Vegas. A superb breakfast at Main Street Cafe in Hurricane, so good that we ordered the same to-go and had it for lunch in Valley of Fire. Despite the name it was comfortably cool and a very pleasant end to the trip. Worth a visit (with 2nd breakfast too).