Highlights from a Great American Road Trip

Late this summer I took off with the Dutchman on a classic American road trip. Beginning in Detroit, we looped up through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and continued across the country all the way to Southern California. It was a beautiful ride cruising from the American Midwest, to the open plains, into the Rockies, and over to the Mojave Desert.

Throughout the five-thousand mile trek, we camped and hiked and photographed the scenery while capturing tons of fun GoPro footage. This was the Dutchman’s first road trip in the USA, so I was eager to introduce him to a few of my favorite photogenic sights.

Getting Drenched in Colorado

By the time we rolled into Colorado from Kansas, our clear prairie skies were long gone. We drove straight into a rainstorm that didn’t quit for days. All throughout the Rockies and down into the desert we were enveloped by “bad” weather. While I wasn’t able to capture the golden hour shots I had originally planned, instead, I ended up with much moodier, vibrant images that I love. We drove through evergreen-speckled mountains, wide open valleys, and quaint small Colorado towns.

The Valley of The Gods

After a couple wet days into Colorado, we cut through the Southern Utah for a drive through Valley of the Gods.

A Stormy Night in Monument Valley

We arrived at Monument Valley with just enough time to set up camp and shoot scenery in the twilight. That night, a storm rolled overhead and pounded our tent for hours. It was worth it: the cloudy weather made for incredible desert photography.

Sacred Sites in Arizona

We headed for Canyon de Chelly to hike down to the White House ruins. It’s a long and vigorous hike, and the Dutchman recorded it all with a GoPro strapped to his head. Later, we cruised up towards the Grand Canyon stopping at more ancient pueblo dwellings on the way.

A Quick Stop at the Grand Canyon

Since no American road trip is complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon, we made a point to stop at the South Rim on our way to Las Vegas. The South Rim is an unfortunate tourist trap: overpriced and overcrowded, it feels more like a visit to Disneyland than a serene stop at a national park. The viewpoints all yield an overly photographed perspective, so I made a point to shoot a different viewpoint from the outskirts of the canyon. This view is not what you normally think of when you picture the Grand Canyon:

Of course, we entered the park and snapped a few of those quintessential shots of the Grand Canyon, too:

A Long Weekend in Las Vegas

We took a break from camping and spent a few nights having some fun in Las Vegas, including a visit to the Fremont Experience, and a drive through Red Rock Canyon.

A Night in Death Valley

Driving up through Beatty, Nevada, we entered Death Valley for a night of camping followed by a day of sightseeing. We took a short hike on Mesquite Dunes, a stroll on Badwater salt flats, and a long drive through the open road of the valley.

Utah Beauty

Continuing on to Utah, we spent a few nights recharging at Zion Ponderosa, followed by a stopover to hike in Bryce Canyon. All the while we saw the best nature and geology Southern Utah has to offer.

It was a great trip, and the drive back to Detroit was far too quick. I’ll be back in the desert next spring for more hiking, exploring, and landscape shooting. Can’t wait!

Trackback URL: https://hillaryfox.com/highlights-from-a-great-american-road-trip/trackback/