Roadtrip – US 89 Route

John and I agreed that US 89 route is one of the most beautiful scenic by ways in the US. I’ve been amazed since day 1 of this route starting in Ash Fork , Arizona all the way to Sedona, a few days later.

And yet, it still has not prepared me for what’s coming next.

After a short stop in Flagstaff, we proceeded to the Cameron Trading Post where we will be spending the night.

On the way there though we passed by the painted dessert. I’ve seen photos of it online, but nothing beats the feeling of really seeing it in front of you. Words are not enough to describe the place. So I’ll just share with you the photos I took.

Sunset at the Painted Dessert.

I took these photos the next day. Sunrise in the dessert is as equally beautiful as its sunset. As if the dessert’s colors aren’t enough to amaze you, here comes the sun to keep one in a state of awe even more.

Cameron Trading Post

The hotel where we stayed at.

The view from our room. 🙂

The canyon and the Colorado river is right beside our hotel. Despite the cold, I went out to satisfy my photography addiction. ha ha

Found this outside the hotel. I did not know that pine trees bear fruits?

Or maybe that isn’t a pine tree, after all? 🙂

After breakfast, we drove towards Kanab, Utah. And saw all these amazing views….

Chocolate hills beside the road.

Made me feel like I was in another planet! Looked like a scene in a Martian movie. lol

Don’t you find it astounding to see colored cliffs and hills? I found them all stunningly beautiful. 🙂

MARBLE CANYON AND THE NAVAJO BRIDGE

About a hundred or so miles away from Cameron Trading Post, we crossed the Navajo Bridge, which was built it 1927. Beneath it is the Colorado River which traverses through the Marble Canyon all the way to the Grand Canyon.

The Navajo Bridge. Looks new right? Believe me, this was built in 1927!

Marble Canyon and the Colorado River.

Of course, we had to pose. hehe

THE VERMILLION CLIFFS:

Nearby , stands the wall of the Vermillion Cliffs. To borrow the words from Wikipedia – “The Vermilion Cliffs are made up of deposited silt and desert dunes, cemented by infiltrated carbonates and intensely colored by red iron oxide and other minerals, particularly bluish manganese. They are in the physiographic High Plateaus Section and Canyon Lands Section of the Colorado Plateau Province.

Science gives me headache. So I’ll just stick to photography. lol Bottomline – these cliffs are out of this world. Beautiful is an understatement….

And the cliff dwellers…

Other than rattlesnakes sometimes, no one lives here now. This used to be the home of settlers a long time ago.

CONDOR VIEWING:

On top of the Vermillion Cliffs, sat a nice plateau that offers a panoramic vista of red and white mountains from a distance. In 1996, condor viewing was introduced here since the California condors frequent the place. John and I didn’t see them during our visit but the view was more than enough reason to enjoy the place.

Moving on, the landscape has changed once again. From red colored hills to white ones. Splattered with green bushes and colorful trees, they look different but still so pretty.

John and I found ourselves at Kaibab National Forest, right before entering the State of Utah.

You know, I’ve never seen so much empty spaces in my whole life. We’ve been travelling for hours now. And I’ve met less than a thousand people only. No wonder, foreigners found my country so crowded. lol

The peace and quiet is something that I will always love about our road trip. Other than the wonderful views of course. 🙂