The Southwest

The Grand Canyon is North America's greatest natural wonder — and no description, photo, or video can prepare you for the moment you first stand at the edge. The Colorado River has carved a canyon into the earth here over six million years, which is 1.6 km deep, up to 29 km wide, and 450 km long. The exposed rock layers tell almost two billion years of Earth's history — a third of the age of our planet.

South Rim

The South Rim is the most accessible and most visited part of the canyon — over 90% of all visitors come here. There are good reasons for this: excellent infrastructure, numerous viewpoints, the free shuttle bus, and several hotels and restaurants right on the rim. The South Rim is open year-round.

The best viewpoints on the South Rim:

• Mather Point — The first stop for most visitors and one of the most impressive. Only a 5-minute walk from the Visitor Center. Especially overwhelming at the first view into the canyon.
• Yavapai Point & Geology Museum — Panoramic view with a small museum explaining the geological history. Great at sunrise.
• Desert View Watchtower — At the eastern end of the South Rim. The 21-meter-high watchtower (designed by Mary Colter in 1932 in Pueblo style) offers the widest view over the canyon and the Colorado River. The drive here alone (40 km from Grand Canyon Village) is worth it.
• Hopi Point — The most popular sunset point. Only accessible by shuttle (Hermit Road Route).

The Rim Trail (21 km, mostly paved and flat) connects most viewpoints on the South Rim and is also suitable for families and less fit hikers.

North Rim

The North Rim is 300 meters higher than the South Rim and receives only 10% of the visitors — yet it is in many ways even more spectacular. Denser forests (spruces, firs, aspens instead of pines), cooler temperatures, and a view into the canyon that appears even more dramatic due to the steeper cliffs. The North Rim is only open from mid-May to mid-October (the access road is closed in winter).

The Bright Angel Point Trail (0.8 km, easy) leads to a breathtaking viewpoint. The Cape Royal Trail (1.3 km) ends at a point where you can see the Colorado River. The North Kaibab Trail is the only official descent trail from the north side — and significantly more challenging than the south side.

Descent into the Canyon

The descent to the Colorado River is the ultimate Grand Canyon experience — but also a serious undertaking. The most popular trails:

• Bright Angel Trail (South Rim) — 15.3 km to the river, 1,340 m elevation change. Most hikers only go to Indian Garden (7.2 km, 915 m descent) and turn back.
• South Kaibab Trail — Shorter (11.3 km to the river), steeper, but with better views. No water on the way!

Las Vegas is the most surreal city in the world — a glittering neon oasis in the middle of the Mojave Desert that has no business being in this landscape and works precisely because of it. The famous Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) is a 6.8 km long hallucination of mega-casinos, replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, fountains dancing to Sinatra's music, and an energy that never stops 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Strip

The main casino resorts from south to north:

• Luxor — The black pyramid with the world's strongest beam of light at the top.
• MGM Grand — The largest hotel in the USA (6,852 rooms!).
• Bellagio — The legendary fountains dance every 15–30 minutes to music (free). Inside: a gallery with paintings by Picasso, Monet, and van Gogh, and the famous poker room.
• Caesars Palace — Roman opulence casino with the Forum Shops, one of the highest-grossing shopping malls in the USA.
• The Venetian / The Palazzo — Replica of Venice including St. Mark's Square and gondola rides on the indoor canal ($29 per person).
• Wynn / Encore — The most luxurious resorts on the Strip. The Wynn garden is a work of art.

Shows & Entertainment

Las Vegas is worth a visit even without gambling — the shows are world-class:

• Cirque du Soleil — Six different shows in Vegas, from "O" (water acrobatics at Bellagio, the best show in town) to "Love" (Beatles tribute at Mirage). From $70.
• Residencies — Top artists like Adele, Usher, and Garth Brooks have permanent shows in Vegas. Tickets from $100, often sold out months in advance.
• MSG Sphere — The largest spherical structure in the world with the highest-resolution LED facade. Inside, an immersive audio-video experience like no other.

Off the Strip

The Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Vegas is the original — where Las Vegas began in 1905. A huge LED canopy spans the street, classic casinos like the Golden Nugget (with a shark aquarium in the pool!) offer cheaper tables and a more relaxed atmosphere. The Arts District (18b) south of Downtown has developed into a gallery mile. And the Neon Museum ("Neon Boneyard") displays retired casino signs from the golden decades — particularly impressive on the evening tour with lighting ($28).

Monument Valley is not a national park but a Navajo Tribal Park — sacred land of the Navajo Nation and simultaneously one of the most iconic landscapes in the world. The massive sandstone rocks (buttes and mesas) rising from the flat desert plain are the quintessential image of the American West. John Ford began filming his Westerns with John Wayne here in 1939, and since then, Monument Valley has appeared in countless films, commercials, and music videos — from "Forrest Gump" to "2001: A Space Odyssey".

What to Expect

The main attraction is the 17-Mile Scenic Drive — an unpaved dirt road that loops through the valley and passes all the major formations. You'll need a vehicle with ground clearance (no sports cars!), and the drive takes 2–3 hours with photo stops. The most famous formations:

• West and East Mitten Buttes — The "gloves" are the quintessential postcard image.
• Merrick Butte — The massive mesa right next to the Mittens.
• John Ford's Point — The viewpoint the director chose for his Westerns. Here you can pose on a horse for a tip.
• The Totem Pole — A narrow, 91-meter-high rock spire that seems to defy gravity.

Guided Tours

Vast areas of the valley are only accessible with a Navajo guide — and these tours are worth every dollar. The guides lead to hidden petroglyphs, explain the spiritual significance of the landscape, and take you to places self-drivers never see. Highly recommended: Sunrise or Sunset Tours (from $75 per person, 2.5 hours) and the Upper Monument Valley Tour (from $95, 3.5 hours).

The "Forrest Gump Point"

21 km south of Monument Valley on US Highway 163 is the spot where Tom Hanks, as Forrest Gump, ended his run across America — a perfectly straight road leading directly to the buttes. One of the most photographed road sections in the world. Caution: The road is in use! Park your car safely at the side and watch for traffic.

The Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona, is one of the most photographed places in the world — and when you enter it, you'll immediately understand why. For millions of years, water has carved narrow slots into the Navajo sandstone, creating shapes that look like they were sculpted by a surrealist artist: flowing waves of red, orange, and violet stone, with sunbeams falling like spotlights.

Upper Antelope Canyon

The more famous of the two canyons is at ground level — you simply walk in, no climbing required. The light beams that fall through the narrow openings between March and October (best from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM) create the famous light columns. Tours last about 1–1.5 hours and cost $60–90 per person. Reservation is mandatory — often booked weeks in advance, especially the midday slots.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Less known but equally impressive — and even better for photographers. Access is via narrow metal stairs leading down into the slot. The shapes are tighter, more twisted, and intimate. Tours: about 1 hour, $40–65 per person. Less crowded than Upper.

Horseshoe Bend

Just 10 minutes from Page lies another natural wonder: The Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River has carved a perfect horseshoe shape into 300-meter-deep sandstone cliffs. The viewpoint is accessible via an easy hiking trail (2.4 km round trip). No railing! — exercise caution in wind, wet conditions, or with children. The view is most impressive in the morning or afternoon when the sun illuminates the river.

Entry Horseshoe Bend: $10 parking fee.

The Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is technically not a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters eroded into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The result: thousands of slender, tower-like rock formations — called hoodoos — in vibrant shades of red, orange, pink, and white. There is no comparable concentration of these formations anywhere else on Earth.

The Best Viewpoints

• Sunrise Point — Perfect for (surprise) sunrise. The first rays of sun make the hoodoos glow in fiery orange.
• Sunset Point — Starting point for the Navajo Loop Trail and the most popular viewpoint in the park.
• Inspiration Point — An elevated view over the entire Bryce Amphitheater. The most dramatic viewpoint.
• Bryce Point — The best overall view of the amphitheater. Also the starting point for the Peekaboo Loop Trail.

Hiking

Bryce Canyon offers the unique opportunity to hike among the hoodoos — not just look at them from above.

• Navajo Loop Trail (2.2 km, 1–2 hours) — The most popular trail descends steeply into the canyon, through the spectacular "Wall Street" slot (so narrow that only a strip of sky is visible) and back up. Moderately challenging.
• Queen's Garden Trail (2.9 km, 1–2 hours) — The easiest descent into the canyon, past the "Queen Victoria" hoodoo formation.
• Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden Combination (4.6 km, 2–3 hours) — The best hike in the park. Down via the Navajo Loop, through the canyon to Queen's Garden, and back up via the Queen's Garden Trail.
• Peekaboo Loop Trail (8.8 km, 3–4 hours) — More challenging but less crowded. Fantastic perspectives on the hoodoos.

Night Sky

Bryce Canyon has one of the darkest night skies of any national park. On clear nights, up to 7,500 stars are visible (in the city: a maximum of 50). From April to October, the park offers Astronomy Rangers Programs with telescopes and guided stargazing — free of charge. The Milky Way over the hoodoos is one of America's most unforgettable natural experiences.

Zion is the counterpart to the Grand Canyon: Instead of looking down into a canyon, you stand below and gaze up at 600-meter-high sandstone cliffs. Over millions of years, the Virgin River has carved a spectacular canyon into the red rock, resulting in a place of overwhelming, almost sacred beauty — the Mormon settlers who first entered the valley aptly named it "Zion" (heavenly paradise).

Top Hikes

• Angels Landing — The most famous and notorious hike in the American Southwest. The last 800 meters lead over a narrow ridge with drop-offs on both sides, secured only by chains. The 360° view from the summit is breathtaking. 8.7 km round trip, 453 m elevation change, 4–5 hours. Permit required since 2022 (lottery on recreation.gov, $6 fee). Only for those with no fear of heights!
• The Narrows — You hike in the Virgin River itself — through an ever-narrowing canyon with walls rising up to 300 meters above you. One of the most unique hiking experiences in the world. Neoprene socks, hiking poles, and waterproof shoes are mandatory (rental in Springdale, about $25). 16 km round trip, 6–8 hours. Closed during flood risk!
• Observation Point — Even higher than Angels Landing, but less exposed. 12.9 km, 655 m elevation change, 5–7 hours. The view down to Angels Landing and the canyon is spectacular.
• Emerald Pools Trail — Easy hike (1.2–4.8 km depending on the route) to dripping rocks and small pools. Ideal for families.

Practical Tips

On the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (April–November), private vehicles are prohibited — you must take the free shuttle bus (runs every 7–15 minutes from Springdale into the valley). Arrive before 8 AM as parking in Springdale fills up quickly. Alternatively: book accommodation in Springdale and walk to the park entrance.

Sedona is set amidst one of Arizona's most dramatic landscapes: Massive red sandstone rocks rise from green forests, Oak Creek babbles through a wooded valley, and the light — especially at sunrise and sunset — bathes everything in surreal red and gold hues. No wonder the New Age movement declared Sedona a spiritual power spot: Four "vortex points" are said to emit cosmic energy.

The Red Rocks

Sedona's red rocks are the result of 300 million years of geological layering and erosion. The most famous formations:

• Cathedral Rock — Sedona's landmark, especially breathtaking at sunset from Red Rock Crossing (Crescent Moon Ranch). The hike to the top (1.2 km, steep, scrambling) rewards with a 360° panorama.
• Bell Rock — A bell-shaped formation right off Highway 179. Easy hike around the base (2.4 km) or challenging scramble to the summit.
• Devil's Bridge — The largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona. The hike (6.4 km round trip) is moderate, and the arch is a fantastic photo opportunity — stand on the arch for the "Instagram photo" (but only if you're not afraid of heights!).

Jeep Tours

Sedona's backcountry is only accessible by off-road vehicle. The Pink Jeep Tours (since 1960) are the original — the pink jeeps are a Sedona icon. The "Broken Arrow" tour (2 hours, about $110) leads over extreme rock formations and offers spectacular views. Alternatively: rent a jeep yourself and drive the Schnebly Hill Road — the dustiest, bumpiest, and most beautiful dirt road in Arizona.

Oak Creek Canyon

The drive from Sedona to Flagstaff through the Oak Creek Canyon (Highway 89A) is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the USA. The canyon is reminiscent of a miniature version of the Grand Canyon, only greener and with a babbling brook. Stop at Slide Rock State Park — a natural water slide over smooth rocks, which is great fun in summer ($20 park fee).

The Route 66 — the "Mother Road," the "Main Street of America" — is more than just a road: it is a myth. Established in 1926 as one of the first continuous east-west connections, it stretched 3,940 km from Chicago to Santa Monica and became a symbol of freedom, adventure, and the American dream. Officially replaced by interstate highways and "decommissioned" in 1985, Route 66 lives on today as a nostalgic pilgrimage route — with decaying motels, neon signs, quirky roadside attractions, and an atmosphere straight out of a Springsteen song.

The Best Stops in the Southwest

• Seligman, Arizona — The "birthplace of the historic Route 66." This is where the movement to preserve the road began. Angel Delgadillo's Barbershop is now a museum and souvenir shop. The whole town is a nostalgic open-air museum with vintage cars, neon signs, and the Snow Cap Drive-In (since 1953), where mustard squirts from a hole in the lid — intentionally.
• Hackberry General Store — An iconic vintage store on Route 66, packed with memorabilia, old gas pumps, and Coca-Cola signs. The perfect photo stop.
• Oatman, Arizona — A former gold mining town where wild burros roam the streets (descendants of the miners' donkeys). Daily at 1:30 PM, there's a "Wild West shootout" on the main street. Kitschy but entertaining.
• Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Texas) — Ten Cadillacs buried nose-down and covered in graffiti. The most famous roadside attraction on Route 66. Bring spray paint — painting is expressly allowed and encouraged!
• Wigwam Motel (Holbrook, Arizona) — Stay in one of the 15 concrete teepees of this 1950s motel (from $80). Original condition, with vintage furniture and neon sign.
• Petrified Forest National Park — Right on Route 66. Petrified logs from the Triassic period (225 million years old) lie like colorful gemstones in the desert. The Painted Desert at the north end of the park displays rock layers in all the colors of the rainbow.

Planning a Route 66 Tour

A complete Route 66 drive from Chicago to LA takes at least 2 weeks. For those who only want to drive the Southwest section (Albuquerque–LA): 3–4 days. The road is not continuously preserved — you constantly switch between historic Route 66 and modern interstate. A GPS with Route 66 navigation or the EZ66 Guide (a detailed route book) is indispensable. And remember: gas stations can be 100 km apart — fill up when you can, not when you must.