If you are coming into Sedona from the north on Arizona State Route 89A, you will eventually cross over Midgley Bridge. This is a striking piece of architecture with some beautiful surrounding views. There are also a few hiking trails that head out from the small, crowded parking lot. On your walk, you will have sight lines to Oak Creek and the surrounding canyon. This is a perfect place to stop for a snack and to stretch your legs before moving on to Sedona.
My camera is still full of photos from my holiday trip to Arizona, so now is the time to post them. These are from the ski resort called Arizona Snowbowl, which is a short 7 miles from Flagstaff Arizona where I stayed for a few icy days. When the weather cleared, I took a road trip up the mountain to see how they ski in Arizona.
Along Desert View Drive, you will find a few small pullouts that have room for only one or two cars. Some of these have small trails that lead up to rocky, rim edge views of the Canyon. Be very careful if you hike up such a trail, because there are no guardrails to keep you safe.
The Desert View Drive curves along the rim of the Grand Canyon with several nice stopping points along the way. If you are not tired of Grand Canyon photos by now, you can pick up a few more beauties for your collection.
The Desert View Watchtower at the Grand Canyon is a magical place. It is a great stone tower built right on the edge of the canyon rim way back in 1932. You can climb to the top and enjoy the views of the canyon and the Colorado River below. After that, you can strike out on a hike along the ledge of the Grand Canyon to get to your perfect photo spot.
Mather Point is a popular destination just beyond the Visitor Center at the Grand Canyon. People experience it in many different ways, from the timid person who is afraid of heights and will not get even close to the edge, to the brave souls who will hike out beyond the boundaries to get that perfect photo from the ledge of their choice. I fell somewhere in between, as I was content to walk up to the guard rail and lean over for my series of sunset photos.
One of my favorite experiences at the Grand Canyon was the short hike I had time for on part of the Bright Angel Trail. This is a must do if you visit – take a day hike. You may encounter spectacular views, wildlife, and other friendly hikers from around the world. Please do this if you can, but also be safe as you plan for and enjoy the hike.
The Kolb Studio is perched on the ledge of the Grand Canyon. Imagine what it would have been like to study and create art here in the early 1900s.
When you first arrive at the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim in a cold weather climate, you will have the urge to do a few things – run to the edge and take photos, look over the edge and imagine what it would be like to travel to the bottom of the Canyon, then find an interesting structure to help protect you from the chilly and bursting winds. Thus my visit to the Hopi House. There are beautiful views through the windows and some interesting, colorful art. After a few minutes, you will be warm again, and ready to walk out along the rim some more.
One of my favorite outings from Las Vegas is a drive out to Deer Creek Road. It is so magical how you can quickly transform from the desert to mountains. And the drive only takes about 45 minutes from the Vegas Strip, depending on the traffic. The views here are gorgeous, and you just might run across some wild donkeys or horses, which are native to the area.
earthrobert 