Personal experience: route through the US National Parks - ForumDaily
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Personal experience: a route through the US National Parks

For some reason, I didn’t associate the USA with natural landscapes at all. Skyscrapers, freeways, big cars. Somewhere in the depths of the mainland there is the Grand Canyon. That's all. I heard briefly about their National Parks. But just think, it's a park. What is there to do? Walk? So-so entertainment for a vacation, writes the author TJournal,

As usually happens in such stories, my opinion changed when, almost by chance, I visited Yosemite Park near San Francisco. First, it is difficult to call what he saw a park - a huge canned area, which even by car cannot be driven around in a day. I was impressed.

Then it was decided - the next year we go on a trip to the US National Parks.

Route

Total in the US is 54 National Park. The most popular are in the west of the mainland - in the states of Colorado, California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada. They are distinguished by the Martian landscape, huge canyons, deserts and strange colors. Therefore, the study of the nature of the United States began from here.

Once there was an ocean here, but as a result of the displacement of tectonic plates, the huge plateau was greatly elevated above sea level. The rivers and the wind easily carved out canyons and mountains in it, since the plateau mainly consisted of soft rocks.

Unfortunately, my work does not allow for a long time to go on vacation. Therefore, the girl and I are planning routes so that we can see as many places as possible in a short period of time.

We made this route proceeding from the principle: one day - one National park, including all transfers and overnight.

The starting point is Los Angeles. We rented a car right at the airport. The choice was focused on the large Ford Explorer - we assumed that its off-road qualities would be needed (they were useful only once - see below).

Booked most often motels that are located next to the parks. However, they regretted it - they had to spend a lot of time getting from the park to the place of the night.

You could take a tent or at least sleeping bags and sleep right in the parks. Everywhere there are special areas for camping - with a toilet, shower, tables. At the entrance to such sites are mailboxes: you need to take an envelope, put $ 10 in it and thank the Rangers in this way.

One day in Los Angeles - to acclimatize and get used to the time difference - and on the road to Las Vegas.

Briefly about Vegas. The Americans took the idea of ​​pretentious European casinos, removed glamor from them, made 10 larger and more affordable. It turned out cool, but crazy city.

Zion

The first park on the route after Las Vegas - Zion. Its area - "just" 593 square. km The main part is a long canyon of bright red stone. During a visit to Zion it was raining slightly, and the clouds descended below the top of the mountains, because of which the park resembled the filming location of the Avatar.

The park can only be moved by bus, which runs along the entire canyon on a schedule. You come to a point that you like, walk, return to the stop and move to the next observation platform. Conveniently.

Almost every bus stop runs trails in the mountains. Everywhere there are signs that show the difficulty of the route and the time you spend on its passage. The most extreme trail, unfortunately, was closed due to rain. This is a path to the very top of the mountains, where there is a cliff on both sides, and you only hold on to the steel chain. Will need to come back here.

In Zion almost does not catch cellular communication, because in the territory of many national parks it is forbidden to install communication towers. Because of this, I had to leave the park just to book a place to sleep.

Canyonlands

After Zion, there was a long drive to Canyonlands - around 7 hours. We arrived at the destination in the evening.

Usually you go on a trip, and then you come back and say to everyone: "It was the coolest place I've ever been in." After a couple of weeks, emotions go away, you begin to assess the situation more sober. This phrase is no longer repeated.

A year has passed since the trip to the National Parks, but I still think that Canyonlands is the most incredible place I have ever seen.

It is similar to the Grand Canyon - it is the same flat plateau on which “scars” from the rivers flow are formed. But in the Canyonlands canyons are not so wide and they can be viewed from a great height.

The park area is 1300 square. km You climb one of the highest places, look in any direction - to the end of the horizon, solid canyons and no signs of civilization.

And absolute silence. Even quieter than those moments when there is a hum in the ears due to the complete absence of sounds. I tried to record this moment on the iPhone, but the smartphone could not figure out what was going on.

I really wanted to stay here longer than a few hours. Better yet, spend the night. Another park, Arches, is located next to the Canyonlands. We did not manage to get into it, although we included it in the plan.

Monument Valley

One of the most famous parks in the USA. It removed all (or almost all) Westerns. In it, Martin McFly went to DeLorean from the Indians.

Monument Valley, unlike other parks, created by wind. For several millennia, he blew a soft rock, resulting in vertical rocks that "grow" on the plain.

The park is located on the territory of the reservation of the Navajo Indian tribe, so the US National Parks map is not valid here.

Photo: Shutterstock

At the same time, the cost of entry is the same as in other parks, but the level of comfort is not. There are bad roads, toilets and signposts. But everywhere there are offers to buy something - a tour, a souvenir or something else. Indians somehow remind us of Russians. Either by their attitude to work, or by their passion for strong drinks.

We were lucky - there was no rain in the Valley. During heavy rains, the road blurs heavily, and even an SUV may not save. For the sake of this park, we were reinsured by renting Explorer.

Antelope Canyon

The canyon, like the Monument Valley, is located on the territory of the Navajo tribe. And here again, much reminds of the Motherland.

For example, at the entrance there is a booth where you need to pay to enter the park. You drive 50 meters, park, go to the information center - and then it turns out that you can only go to Antelope Canyon as part of a tour. Why then take money at the entrance?

There was no exit. With all my dislike for organized excursions, I had to buy a tour and walk like Chinese tourists.

Antelope Canyon has become famous thanks to a picture on the cover of National Geographic. It is formed of water flowing from the Colorado Plateau during the rains. At the same time the flow is very rapid and dangerous.

In 1997, 12 tourists were washed away with water, of which 11 died. Since then, the canyon can be descended only as part of the tour. Guides before descending are checked with the station, located a few kilometers to ensure that there is no approaching flow.

Photo: Shutterstock

Due to the sunlight reflected from the sandy walls of the canyon, its bends get a whole range of warm tones. Each bizarre form has its name (this is the territory of the Indians).

The guide was funny - an adult Indian with a slight French accent in speech. He said all the time: “Open the built-in Chrome filter on the iPhone”, “Here we will need Noir”. At particularly difficult angles of shooting, he took the tourist's iPhone and took a picture on his own.

Horseshoe

Another small stop between the Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon is Horseshoe. This is not a National Park, but a simple landmark.

Here the Colorado River makes a U-shaped bend. Popular place on the way from Vegas to the Grand Canyon. And free.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon can be reached from two sides: from the south and north. The northern part is closer to Las Vegas, but it is closed to the public during the cold season. Judging by the reviews, the southern part is more interesting, because it offers the best view of the canyon. Here we come.

However, we are not lucky with the most famous National Park. A cloud descended into the canyon - visibility was a few tens of meters. At some point, the temperature dropped from 15 degrees to -2, it began to snow.

However, I kept silent about one detail. During a visit to Las Vegas, we flew by helicopter over the western part of the Grand Canyon, so even before visiting the park, we were able to assess its scale.

In the Grand Canyon, you can move between viewing platforms by bus or on foot. When it became very cold, everyone ran to the bus stop to wait for the nearest bus to warm up and get to the parking lot.

An interesting moment. In the US, there is a strict rule about the maximum capacity of the bus. However, drivers of full-capacity buses did not drive past the freezing crowd. They stopped, explained why they could not take passengers on board, said that they had already sent additional cars to the route and they would arrive in a few minutes.

In general, Americans are very talkative. Especially in the west of the country. You can not enter the elevator with a stranger and not speak with him at least on general topics. They talk everywhere - at gas stations, in shops, in cafes, just on the street.

I especially remember the case on the road to Yosemite. At a gas station somewhere off the beaten path, a young but very full American woman approached us. When she learned that we were from Russia, she was very surprised: “I have never seen Russians before. It's so far away. ” Then she called her parents to show us - they were also very surprised. Already saying goodbye, she quite unexpectedly said in a whisper: “I love Putin. Muscle man. "

See also:

The most interesting roads in America

10 are the coolest places in the US worth visiting with kids

The most beautiful national parks of the United States. A PHOTO

6 best hiking routes

In the U.S. tourism Leisure US national parks personal experience travel in the USA outdoor activity
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