- Travel south on Highway 95
- Crossing the Colorado River and Glen Canyon
- Visit the Natural Bridges National Monument
- Two hikes down to the Sipapu and Owachomo rock bridges
- Drive down to the plain on the impressive Moki Dugway
- Arrival in Monument Valley
The morning is already extremely sunny and warm. Strengthened by pancakes, we start. We are now driving south on Highway 95. The road leads through a unique wild west scenery. Especially in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area, the eye hardly knows where to look. Really one of the most beautiful and lonely streets in the southwest. At the Hite Overlook, the visitor looks over the Glen Canyon of the Colorado River. The dammed Lake Powell used to reach here, but those times are long gone. Nevertheless, it is not yet as dramatic as the situation at Lake Mead near Las Vegas.
We drive to the Natural Bridges National Monument. Here the water of the river - unlike in Arches wind and weather - has washed away the rock and over time has created a natural rock bridge. We drive along the Scenic Drive, which leads to several viewpoints along the canyon. The first of the three bridges in the park is the Sipapu Bridge. Here a steep path with ladders and stairs leads down under the world's second largest rock bridge, 67 m high and 82 m wide. After a good hour we are back at the car and continue to the smallest bridge in the park: the Kachina Bridge. Last but not least, the Owachomo Bridge is on the program. Here a simple, short path leads down to the filigree bridge.
Soon we turn off onto Highway 261. Finally we reach the spectacular but easily navigable Moki Dugway. The unpaved gravel road leads steeply from the Cedar Mesa plateau down into the plain and offers a great view. Shortly afterwards we reach Mexican Hat. Soon after, the first rocks of Monument Valley come into view. We stay for two nights at the comfortable Goldings Campground and book a tour into the valley for tomorrow morning.
