Holiday Photos from the southwestern USA

For those who don't look on the other forum or on Facebook:

We have seen so many things on our trip through the southwestern USA that it is difficult to choose only a few of the many photos I took. I posted about 200 of them on Facebook. But I won't do that here, don't worry.

On our way there, our onward flight in the US got cancelled due to a snow storm, so we were stranded in Denver for a night. But we could fly to a little place called Durango and pick up our rental car the next morning.

Our first stop was Mesa Verde National Park, a place with several ruins of cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo Indians about 1000 years ago.



From there we drove to Monument Valley, which is inside the Navajo Nation and the hotel and shops are all run by native Indians.

This was the view from our hotel room at sunset:





And at sunrise:



Our next stop was Grand Canyon National Park, very impressive:





Then we drove to southern Arizona to see the saguaro cactus forests and some desert wildlife:

View across the Sonora Desert:



Cottontail rabbit:



Hummingbird:



Some kind of squirrel or chipmunk:



Hummingbirds at a feeder:



A cactus with lovely orange flowers:



Another wild bunny:



A big lizard:



This is Theodore Roosevelt Lake, a man made lake with lovely desert vegetation around it:



Sunset Crater is one of many craters in central Arizona, the last eruption was only 1000 years ago:



The road to Marble Canyon in northern Arizona:



Horseshoe Bend, carved by the Colorado River:



Some funny rock formations on the Paria Plateau:



The Coral Pink Sand Dunes state park in Utah:



Zion National Park, view across the canyon:



Bryce Canyon National Park:



Another little chipmunk:



Stripy rock in Capitol Reef National Park:



Driving through a sand storm:



Arches National Park near Moab, Utah:



Landscape Arch:



And finally some really big icycles on the road through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado:

Wow wow wow wow wow - Unbelievable Thanks for sharing these Gisela, it looks amazing and your photography is quitye something, beautiful

I can't see these but I looked at your pics on facebook, very nice! It's all very familiar to me but you're a much better photographer than I am!

Thank you!

Rachel, you must find the UK terribly green compared to what you are used to.

Doh, I have just realised you have a few albums on Facebook, and I've only looked at one of them - will have a look at the others tonight.

From what I've seen so far, they are ALL stunning. You have a very good eye for a photograph

These pictures are amazing..... I would love to go to the Grand Canyon.... Those CottonTails are adorable x

Absolutely stunning photographs.

Such amazing landscapes - I will have to put SW USA on my list of places to visit.

wow the photos are fab - i saw your facebook ones too! i have one of the grand canyon like when we went on honeymoon - i want to go back one day!

looks like a fab holiday x

Gorgeous. It just looks like the most picturesque place ever. Wonderful photos, I actually looked through all the ones you put on facebook too - just stunning

Wow hun! Those photos are brilliant you are very good at taking pictures x

BavBun wrote:Thank you!

Rachel, you must find the UK terribly green compared to what you are used to.

It is sooo much greener, but then most places are greener than the southwest US! Really pleased you had a good time and enjoyed the beautiful scenery!

Amazing photos Gisela..

really fantastic pics!