From the Pacific coast of California, through the volcanic regions of Oregon, to the red sandstone formations of Utah, unique landscapes stretch all the way to the Rocky Mountains.
We have visited the national parks of the West four times. Our starting point was always San Francisco. This port city is renowned for its Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and Victorian architecture. As well as its culture, San Francisco has become the technological centre of the Western world.
California's national parks include Yosemite NP, home to the granite formations of El Capitan and Half Dome, spectacular waterfalls and sequoia trees in the southern part of the park. The neighbouring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are also home to some of the world's largest trees. In northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park commemorates the 1915 volcanic eruption. Crater Lake National Park is located in neighbouring Oregon to the north. The deepest lake in the US is an intensely blue body of water in an extinct volcano.
Utah has many national parks. Zion National Park is characterised by deep sandstone canyons around the Virgin River. Bryce Canyon National Park resembles an amphitheatre adorned with strange hoodoos. Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 sandstone arches that form a spectacular desert landscape. Monument Valley, which extends into Arizona, is renowned for its iconic mesas within the Navajo Reserves.
The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders. The Colorado Gorge, which runs through the park, is 450 km long and 1.6 km deep. By comparison, the Petrified Forest National Monument, with its fossilised forests from the Triassic period, and the Chiricahua National Monument, with its tuff formations, pale in significance. In Colorado, you can admire the well-preserved cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans in Mesa Verde National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yellowstone National Park covers a large area of the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone was the world's first national park. It actually consists of four different parks containing geysers, hot springs and canyons. Large herds of animals, such as bison, are native to the area. To the south, the striking Rocky Mountain range, clear lakes, and abundant wildlife of Grand Teton National Park border the park.
During our visit, we made sure to visit the desert city of Las Vegas, famous for its casinos and shows. San Diego is also a recommended destination thanks to its climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean and Mexico. After detours to the film metropolis of Hollywood, we ended our trips twice in Los Angeles.
