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Tag: hike

  • The Horseshoe Bend

    The Horseshoe Bend

     

    Horseshoe Bend is at the beginning of the Grand Canyon, where the Colorado River flows out from the Glen Canyon dam.  This is just south of the Arizona-Utah border. Many travelers like to visit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise and sunset to capture the best photos and video.

    A healthy person will need about 10-15 minutes to walk from the parking area to the end of the 700 foot cliff.  You’ll have to go uphill and then downhill, so make sure to bring some water with you and good shoes, although some people do hike in sturdy sandals.

    The azure and purple skies around the rocks are so unique, you won’t be disappointed.  The majestic feeling you’ll get from standing at the edge is unsurpassed.  Some “daredevil rocks” jut out over the canyon, and some brave souls are now hash-tagging #DaredevilRock on social media while standing or doing yoga on them (reference photos on this blog).

    Horseshoe Bend has been a free site to visit, but may begin charging a fee to travelers going in 2019.  On some days, the parking lot is completely full, so you may have to be patient, and come back later.  In the meantime, you might try going to the Hanging Gardens hike, or swimming by the northside of the Glen Canyon dam.

    – WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE – 

    WARNING: be careful when you’re taking pictures or have children with you. On average, one person falls into this part of the canyon every year.  There has only been one, single survivor from the accidental, long plummet to the bottom.

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  • Hoodoos are a Natural Balancing Act

    Hoodoos are a Natural Balancing Act

    They have formed over thousands of years, and transform boring deserts into fantastical alien landscapes. “Hoodoos” are also called fairy chimneys, earth pyramids and tent rocks, and they exist as tall spires of rock that protrude from the bottom of arid basins and broken lands. They range from five-feet tall to the height of a 10-story building, and typically form from two weathering processes that continuously work together in eroding the edges of a rock formation. Hoodoos come in all shapes and sizes.

    A large hoodoo, balancing by itself, for god-knows how long….

    Just 10 miles south of our establishment, is an area full of hoodoos, known as the Toadstools. It’s a very easy, 1 mile hike, and good during any season of the year (avoid going on rainy days). The soft, crimson clay earth under your feet feels like walking on Mars. Who knows how long these rock formations will remain standing? Remember to respect nature and keep the area magically unspoiled: never try to push over or knock down a hoodoo, do not carve names into the rocks, and of course, take any trash with you.

    JeniMae walking on the Toadstool Hoodoos trail, outside of Big Water, Utah.

    If you’re more adventurous, you can hike a full four miles to see even more hoodoos. The trail is well defined, as dozens of people make this hike on any given day. Park your car in the lot near the trailhead sign. You can find it on Google Maps by searching for “Toadstool Hoodoos”. This hiking trail currently has no water fountain or public restroom.

    If you need a great place to get rest after your journey, come and stay at Liberty Vacation Rentals! We’re just 10 miles east of the Toadstool Hoodoos.

    CLICK HERE for YOUTUBE VIDEO

    CLICK HERE for MORE IMAGES on INSTAGRAM

  • Kayak Into Antelope Canyon

    Kayak Into Antelope Canyon

    On busier days, multitudes of people come to visit Antelope Canyon, and whomever has promoted the walking tours has done an excellent job, as sometimes there are tourists turned away for lack of space. Perhaps, waiting for an hour or two for an opening, and then being squeezed in with a crowd of 25 people isn’t your idea of a great time? And perhaps you have the energy and endurance needed to get a good 2 to 3 hour paddle on a kayak? If so, do we have an idea for you…

    [envira-gallery id=”541″]

    Use your national parks pass to enter into Antelope Marina, just north of the walking tours on road #222, east of Page, Arizona. After you park in the lot, go down the ramp to the docks (and be early). You should be able to find single, double, and perhaps triple kayak rentals. You are able to rent them for a half- or full-day and then go west and south (left on the map, as a bird’s eye view) and then you’re entering the water-filled part of Antelope Canyon.

    After paddling for about an hour, you should be able to park your kayak to the dried area of the canyon (perhaps some mud, at first) and then walk into it for much longer than a walking tour would allow. This area of the canyon is more remote and doesn’t have restroom or drinking water, so pack snacks and stay hydrated. If renting a kayak, be sure to give yourself up to 2 hours to return to the docks.

    Rates are subject to change, but ask us for a brochure when you check in at Liberty Vacation Rentals. We still recommend this travel tip to all our guests, and they all tell us that it’s even better than just doing the walking tour.