Page 271 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

SPECIAL T Y V A C A TIONS AND A C TIVITIES  269

Mountain biking along one of many red-rock trails near Moab
Rock Climbing
Southwest is a rim-to-rim hike wilderness areas. Moab is
of Grand Canyon along the The Southwest’s dry, sunny famous for the Slick Rock Trail,
Bright Angel and Kaibab trails climate and extensive moun- a demanding run across more
(see pp64–67). It takes most tains, canyons, and sheer rock than 12 miles (19 km) of
hikers two to three days to faces make it a popular precipitous rock with stunning
complete. Longer trips into climbing spot. Favored sites views. However, during the
the vast wilderness of Grand include the sheer cliffs of Zion summer months the trail can
Staircase–Escalante National National Park (see pp158–9), become very crowded.
Monument (see p152) and the rocky landscape around Around Durango, cooler and
the Glen Canyon National Moab (see p145), and Utah’s greener conditions prevail with
Recreation Area (see pp154–5) Canyonlands National Park (see rides through the pine
are among the highlights of pp146–7). Moab has a forests of the Rocky
wilderness exploration. good selection of Mountains. Popular
Organizations that offer equipment shops, bike trails include
guided short and multi-day such as Pagan the level, but
hiking trips in the region’s Mountain eering. scenic, Animas
national parks include the Red Rock Valley Loop and
Grand Canyon Field Institute Canyon, 15 miles the rugged, hilly
and MNA Ventures, run by the (24 km) west of Animas Moun-
Museum of Northern Arizona Las Vegas, is 4WD at wetlands near Moab tain Loop. There
in Flagstaff. another favorite area, with are also several 4WD trails,
guided climbs offered by leading to remote and beautiful
Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. back-country. Again, Moab is
one of the top centers for off-
road drivers, with rentals and
Mountain Biking and tours avail able from Canyon-
Four-Wheel Driving lands Jeep Rentals. Canyon-
All of the region’s national parks lands National Park and Canyon
have trails open to mountain de Chelly are also popular.
biking, but the cen ters of this Monument Valley in Arizona (see
activity are Moab and Durango, pp168–9) is a prime location for
Colorado (see p183). The state of 4WD tours to areas not acces-
Utah has declared itself the sible by a regular car; these are
mountain bike capital of the often led by Navajo guides from
world, and Moab area is Goulding’s Tours in Monument
something of a pilgrimage site Valley. Also in Arizona, Sedona’s
for mountain bikers. Named red-rock canyons and Coconino
after a well-known bike trail, National Forest may be toured
Poison Spider Bicycles sells by 4WD. Bikapelli Adventure
and repairs bikes as well as Tours and local legend Pink
Hikers on the trail to Pueblo Alto at Chaco housing Nichols Tours, which Jeep Tours offer a wide variety
Canyon (see pp178–9) leads groups through of tours.

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