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Treads - Drive - California

Tioga Pass Road

Cresting the Sierra at Yosemite's eastern boundary

By gowestusa Staff

When travelers form mind pictures of Yosemite National Park in California, the snapshots are inevitable: towering waterfalls and a long scenic valley surrounded by towering granite peaks like Half Dome and El Capitan.

But the territory above the rim of the valley actually encompasses a much greater area of the park. The crest of the Sierra Nevada forms the park’s eastern boundary and the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers originate here among th ... [continued]

Ripples | Fish - "Even the dumb fish in here have their PhDs". [more]

Experiences | Adventure Sports - Well, at least for sixty miles.... [more]

Treads | Jeep - Eighty remote miles bordering Capitol Reef. [more]

Cowboys | Indians | Ghost Towns and Forts | It Happened Here

Monument Valley

Stagecoach. The Searchers. How the West was Won. The Legend of the Lone Ranger. My Darling Clementine. Fort Apache. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Cheyenne Autumn. Sergeant Rutledge. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Easy Rider. The Eiger Sanction. National Lampoon’s Vacation. Forrest Gump. Mission Impossible II. Back to the Future III.

And that doesn’t count the DVD covers, music videos, comic books, video games, television series and commercials that all had the same star. Monument Valley, Utah.

Monument Valley is a Navajo Nation Tribal Park l...[continued]

Old West | Indians - A taste of the past on a lazy Northwest evening. [more]

Old West | It Happened Here - The first attack on US soil since the war of 1812. [more]

Old West | Indians - One of the most accessible cliff ruins in the U.S. [more]


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	Heads Up! Flash Flooding in Canyonlands National Park: In late August, severe storms caused flash flooding and rock falls that blocked or washed out many Canyonlands roads. Due to the total failure of the switchbacks on Mineral Bottom, it is impossible to complete the White Rim as a loop. Shafer Trail is open, but many four wheel drive trails are closed in the Needles District, including Elephant Hill. Related Story: Canyonlands' Needles District Mariachi Sundays on the Plaza: September and October are the perfect times to visit Old Mesilla, New Mexico. And they're even better on Sundays, when free mariachi concerts are held in the center of the plaza. Mariachi Sundays begin on September 20 and continue till the last Sunday in October. Related Story: Old Mesilla Crow Canyon Adventures for 2011: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center hosts outstanding domestic trips during the year, most led by well-known archaeologists. In 2011, there are special trips to Chaco Canyon, Cedar Mesa, Slickhorn Canyon and even a Hopi Pottery workshop. If trips are booked before December 31, special discounts apply. Related Story: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Evening Tours at Taliesin West: On Thursday and/or Friday evenings through October, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona offers twilight tours. You’ll have the unusual opportunity to view Wright’s desert masterpiece in a nighttime setting. In the evening the site assumes a luminous, jewel-like quality. The fire-breathing dragon is lit and the lights from the valley below create a dramatic, romantic setting. Reservations are strongly recommended. Related Story: Taliesin West: A 'Shining Brow' Want to Dig for Dinosaurs?: A wonderful variety of digs, ranging from one to five days, are offered by the Museum of Western Colorado in Fruita. Related Story: The Mygatt-Moore Quarry [more Heads Up!]


	Qs and Tips Q: I've taken some of the more popular hikes in Zion and Bryce National Parks, and there are always a lot of people on the trail. Especially in peak season. Are there hikes in the same area that are more peaceful? I am looking for something with moderate difficulty and distance. --John F., Santa Ana, California TIP: The Grand Staircase Escalante Wilderness is a spectacular area just northeast of Bryce. One of the m... [read] ASK