The next stop on our journey through Utah was Zion National Park. In contrast to Glen Canyon filled with the waters of Lake Powell, which we viewed by boat, and the Grand Canyon, which we viewed from it's rim looking across and down, our view of Zion National Park was from the canyon floor looking up at multiple peaks of solid white and orange rock. And it was a glorious sight! 

The Virgin River, a tributary of the Colorado River that empties into Lake Mead, runs through Zion Canyon and provides an oasis for unique plants and animals to thrive along its green banks as the river winds its way along 15 miles of the canyon floor. Mormon settlers in the 1850s settled in the canyon and farmed the land until the canyon became a National Monument in 1909. Because of its awe inspiring beauty, the canyon was named Zion, a reference to the ancient city of Jerusalem and the future Heavenly city.

With over 4.3 million people coming to Zion National Park in 2019, it was the fourth most visited National Park in the United States. (The Grand Canyon was second.) Many of the stately mountains protecting the canyon were given names by early visitors and explorers of the canyon. A Methodist minister gave Biblical names to several prominent peaks, including Great White Throne, Angels Landing, the Watchman, and The Three Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The weathering of this white mountain reflects its name, Checkerboard Mesa.

As our time in Zion Canyon drew to a close, I couldn't help but play this old hymn in my head, Marching to Zion

It will be my final destination, and I hope yours. In the meantime, I will continue marching through this world with my eyes open in wonder, awe, and praise to our Creator, the King of Zion.

~ Debbie
​
First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
Third stop - Sedona here.
Fourth stop - The Grand Canyon here.
Fifth stop - The Desert Watch Tower here.
Sixth stop - Glen Canyon and Lake Powell here.
Seventh stop - Zion National Park here.
​Eighth stop - Between canyons here. 

The mighty Colorado River begins its 1,450 mile long journey to the Gulf of California as a tiny stream that forms in a wet meadow 10,184 feet high in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado. As it flows southwest, the river is joined by many tributaries, gaining strength and size before cutting through the vast Colorado Plateau, twisting its way through numerous gorges and canyons before passing through the Grand Canyon. One of these canyons is Glen Canyon.

Before the 20th century, the Colorado River would periodically flood the land along its banks from Wyoming to Mexico with a mighty rush of water from melting snow or heavy rains in the spring. In an attempt to tame the river, prevent flooding, and harness its power, many dams have been built to control its flow and divert its water for use in the irrigation of crops, to generate electricity and supply water to nearly 17 million people who populate the Colorado Basin states. The largest of these dams, the Hoover Dam located on the border of Nevada and Arizona, was completed in 1936.  Glen Canyon Dam, near the border of Arizona and Utah, was completed in 1966, and is the second largest dam on the Colorado River. Both dams serve as reservoirs, which store water in the vast artificial lakes created by the dam and serve as recreation areas for boating and fishing.

In preparation for the building of Glen Canyon Dam, a new road was built, along with a steel arch bridge, in order to cross Glen Canyon and facilitate the construction of the dam. Completed in 1957, the Glen Canyon Bridge was the highest of its kind in the United States, towering 700 feet above the Colorado River below.

After the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam, it took over 17 years to fill Glen Canyon and create Lake Powell. Lake Powell is the second largest man made lake in the United States, the first being Lake Mead, which was created by the Hoover Dam. Its shoreline encompasses 1,960 miles, a distance longer than the west coast of the United States. Lake Powell's primary purpose is to store the water needed for release to the states of Arizona, Nevada, and California, as well as to the two Mexican states that border the Colorado River Delta where it empties into the Gulf of California, although often the river is dry before it gets to its delta. The tour guide who spoke with us at the Glen Canyon Dam likened Lake Powell to a savings account and Lake Mead to a checking account.

The beautiful deep blue water of Lake Powell originates as melted snow from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. According to the predicted snowmelt runoff, water releases from the Glen Canyon Dam are adjusted accordingly in order to maintain Lake Powell at an optimal level. Water released from the dam is 46 degrees, whereas before the dam was built, the temperature of the Colorado River ranged from just above freezing in winter to over 80 degrees in summer. This change in water temperature, along with other aspects of taming the Colorado River, has significantly affected the vegetation along its banks and the native fish that live in its harnessed waters. Despite ecological concerns, the beauty of Lake Powell is stunning.

Our group took a boat tour into Antelope Canyon​, one of the side canyons into which Lake Powell spills. The windswept canyon walls painted in shades of orange and red were decorated with dark streaks of desert varnish, a natural patina composed of minerals, manganese and iron oxides, sand particles and other trace elements, which can take thousands of years to develop on exposed rock surfaces in arid areas.

As the tour boat twisted its way through Antelope Canyon, we were able to get a close view of the canyon walls. Here and there tenacious plants grew in nooks and crannies of the massive rock walls. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow on higher west facing canyon walls, while other walls remained in the shadow.

Leaving Antelope Canyon behind, we headed back to the marina surrounded by the stunning landscape of this one small portion of Lake Powell. And I am again reminded of the One Who brings life giving water to those who thirst.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:38

​"I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." Isaiah 41:18

As we headed to our room for the night, we lingered to watch the sunset which painted the sky with pastel pinks, blues, and purples. It was a pleasant way to end another amazing day of our tour through parts of Arizona and Utah. In the morning we would visit Zion National Park, so we took in the beauty of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon before the night hid the view from sight.

This is the fifth in a series of posts about my visit through parts of Arizona and Utah.
​(Click words that are bolded for more information.)

Twenty-five miles east of Grand Canyon Village is the Desert View Watchtower near the eastern edge of the Grand Canyon. This spot offers its own unique vantage point of the spectacular Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. The drive along Arizona Highway 64 is scenic and sometimes mule deer or elk can be seen alongside the road. 

Six buildings along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon were designed by Mary Colter, an American architect, whose distinct architectural style was greatly influenced by the native peoples of the American Southwest. From 1902 until 1948, she was the primary architect for the Fred Harvey Company, founded in 1876 to provide services for railway passengers, good food with excellent service at reasonable prices in clean, elegant dining facilities, which became known as "Harvey Houses." Colter designed twenty-one hotels, tourist shops, and rest areas throughout the southwest, including the Desert View Watchtower built in 1933.

The Watchtower stands 70 feet tall, hovering near the edge of the Grand Canyon. Inspired by ancient Puebloan towers of the Colorado Plateau, Mary Colter had a painstaking eye for detail and oversaw the setting of each uncut stone as the tower was built. Apparently some of the stones, which were brought from nearby areas, are decorated with petroglyphs. I would have liked to have seen them since I have enjoyed seeing Native America petroglyphs on other rocks in other places I have visited. (Spoiler alert - a future blog post will include pictures of petroglyphs.)

Outside the Watchtower, the view of the Grand Canyon is spectacular, of course. But the view inside the Watchtower is also wonderful. The walls are decorated with wall murals by Hopi Artist Fred Kabotie and petroglyph-style painting by Fred Geary. At the top of the four story tower is an enclosed observation area with a 360 degree view and scattered along the stair wall are small windows with their own view of the beauty outside. (For more information about this structure, click on the photos below.)

From the observation deck at the top of the Watchtower, the sweeping view of the canyon marks the highest point at the Grand Canyon South Rim. And what a view it is!

Walking along this unique watchtower, I was reminded of these verses from Psalms:

"Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I,
for You have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy."

And Who is this Rock?
"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." (Isaiah 26:4)

And who is the enemy?
"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (I Corinthians 15:26)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

After enjoying one last look along the Watchtower, we left the Grand Canyon behind and traveled through Navajo Nation, an area of 27,413 square miles, the largest land area retained by a Native America tribe, which covers portions of northeastern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and northwestern New Mexico. We were headed to the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, which has changed the course of the Colorado River and its flow through the Grand Canyon. So sit back and come along for the ride!

~Debbie

First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
Third stop - Sedona here.
Fourth stop - The Grand Canyon here.
​Fifth stop - The Desert Watch Tower here.
Sixth stop - Glen Canyon and Lake Powell here.

Like Sedona, the Grand Canyon is part of the Colorado Plateau. The Grand Canyon encompasses an area of over 1 million acres and is 277 miles long. From the South Rim to the North Rim, the distance is about 10 miles as the bird flies, but in other places the width is up to 18 miles. The depth of the canyon is over a mile deep to the Colorado River below. The South Rim, where we were, is open year round, while the North Rim closes during the winter months due to the snow. It's elevation is over 8,000 ft, while the elevation of the South Rim is around 7,000 ft.

There are no "easy hikes" into the Grand Canyon, but with proper preparation and a realistic attitude, many people have hiked the trails into the canyon. The hike across the canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim is 21 miles. The 13 mile Canyon Rim Trail along the South Rim is paved and easily accessible. We walked a couple miles along the Rim Trail in the  historic Grand Canyon Village area, which includes the rustic El Tovar luxury hotel and Verkamp Visitor Center.

We watched the shifting shadows play across the canyon and watched as brave (or foolish) people posed for photos outside the confines of the protective guard rails. How small and insignificant they seemed in comparison to the massive canyon walls they clamored over.

As the day came to a close, shadows deepened over the canyon and the last rays of the setting sun cast a golden glow over the canyon walls. The mighty Colorado River so far below shimmered in the fading light. In the stillness of the darkness, stars began to twinkle across the vast expanse of the sky. In the morning we would stop at another vantage point before leaving the Grand Canyon. But for now, the sight was glorious, as it would be the next day, and the next.

This unassuming sign at the entrance to Lookout Studio, a historic building with observation areas designed by Mary Colter, sums up my thoughts for that day, and every day as long as I have breath:

If you ever visit the Grand Canyon, I hope that you, too, will be filled with praise for our Wondrous Creator. In the words of Isaac Watts: "While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care; And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God, art present there."  (Link to audio)

Thank you for joining me in praise to our Father Almighty, the Creator of the Grand Canyon. 

~ Debbie
​
​First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
Third stop - Sedona here.
​​Fifth stop - The Desert Watch Tower here.

This is the third in a series of posts about my visit through parts of Arizona and Utah.

Two hours north of Phoenix is the beautiful city of Sedona. With its striking red rock formations, evergreen pine forests, and mild climate, Sedona is the perfect place to stop and stay for awhile. We only had a day there this time, but it was our second visit to Sedona, and most likely it won't be our last! We spent several hours in a charming arts and crafts village called Tlaquepaque. It's pronounced Teh-lackuh-packuh, and comes from a word in the language of the ancient Aztecs which means the "best of everything."  

Scattered throughout Tlaquepaque are sculptures in various styles. I was drawn to this bronze image of a Native America woman. Later in the day, I saw a similar statue amongst the tourist shops in downtown Sedona.

There is a quiet little chapel on the Tlaquepaque grounds. The blue mosaic dome of the bell tower is topped with a cross. Another cross graced the courtyard outside the chapel. I paused a moment to thank the One who carried a cross on my behalf. He is the One Who sculpted the red rocks that surround Sedona and the One Who called a man down from a sycamore tree in another village so many years ago. 

Downtown Sedona has the usual tourist shops which line several blocks, but the real attraction is the striking scenery. Dozens of hiking trails crisscross the Sedona area and range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. Since we were part of a tour group, there was no hiking for us this visit, but there are scenic views everywhere you look, trail or no trail. ​

Many of the rock formations have fanciful names. Use your imagination and you may see the images portrayed in the colorful rocks, which glow in the rising and setting sun.

Do you see the Peanut's character Lucy sitting high atop the mountain with giant Snoopy lying on his doghouse with his nose and feet in the air?

As dramatic clouds move across the sky, their shadows create new patterns on the landscape, highlighting different aspects of the rocky color palate. The view is always captivating.

At the end of the day, in the last glow of the the setting sun, little bats came out to play and darkness descended over the red rocks of Sedona like a cozy blanket. In the morning we would leave this lovely area and travel north through Oak Creek Canyon towards Flagstaff, continuing across the Colorado Plateau to the Grand Canyon.

Thanks for stopping by for a few moments to enjoy the view of Scenic Sedona.

~ Debbie
​
First stop - Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden here.
Second stop - Montezuma's Castle here.
​Fourth stop - The Grand Canyon here.