If you're coming down from Zion National Park, the slot canyons are
farther east after you pass the turn off to the North Rim of the Grand
Canyon; near Page, AZ.
Take US 89A out of Kanab, UT to Jacob Lake, AZ where you turn onto AZ
67 (Grand Canyon Hwy) to reach the North Rim. When you're finished at
the North Rim, take AZ 67 back to US 89A and head on east toward Page, AZ.
Once you drive out of the Kaibab National Forest, you should see the
Vermillion Cliffs off to the north (on your left). The famous canyon
known as "The Wave" is east of House Rock Road (north of US 89A), but
you need a permit to hike in to it, and they're kind of hard to come by.
See the section on Access Policy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wave,_Arizona
Google Map Coordinates: 36.99652,-112.006159
Antelope Canyon is probably the most well known of the slot canyons. You
have to purchase tour tickets from the Navajo.
See the section on Access: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope_Canyon
Google Map Coordinates: 36.862678,-111.374811
Other slot canyon locations:
http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/map.html
From Page, AZ 98 takes you down to US 160 in the middle of nowhere.
Turn east towards US 163 near Kayenta, AZ and take it north towards
Monument Valley. The entrance road is just across the state line in
Utah, but Monument Valley itself is in Arizona.
North of Mexican Hat, UT state highway UT 261 takes you up to The Valley
of the Gods, the Moki Dugway and on up to UT 95 which takes you around
the north end of Lake Powell. Natural Bridges National Monument is up UT
275 just west of where UT 261 joins UT 95.
UT 95 allows you to circle back around to get back to Capitol Reef
National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Brice
Canyon National Park.
And there's so much more, including southern Arizona, that you can't
see/do it all in one trip. Didn't even get to San Xavier del Bac, Organ
Pipe Cactus National Monument, Saguaro National Park, or the Sonoran Desert
From: Eactivist
Well, considering it's you, yup, you can do it.
Personally, I was never that impressed by the Grand Canyon -- it's just a
big gorge. Yosemite will give you all the big rock you want. Allow at least
two days for Yosemite if you can -- it will be the highlight of your trip.
l think Utah a better choice -- it has tons of interesting rock formations,
many red rocks, including Bryce Canyon National Park. There is also
Monument Valley on the border of Utah and Arizona that is rather impressive. I
never found Zion all that interesting. Photographically Bryce and Monument
are much, much better (just looked it up on the map Bryce is right next to
Zion).
Anyway, don't allot much time for the Grand Canyon. Unless you're willing
to do an overnight trip and hike down into it, the options for photographs
from the rim are pretty limited. I wish I could remember where the neat
slot canyons are (you need a guide), they may be in Monument Valley.
Those are my personal opinions. Get some information on Utah, online. Skip
most of Arizona except for the upper part. The lower part doesn't offer
much but flat land and people and hot hot.
My personal favorite is New Mexico, but that would extend your trip a lot.
And you'll be seeing lots of sand anyway in Death Valley. There's a Joshua
tree area around there somewhere too.
Marnie aka Doe :-)
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