Expedition to the West - Day3

=== Monument Valley ===

The drive from Bluff to Monument Valley offers a much better view of the red canyon than the drive from Arizona.  If you have option, take this route.

When you are approaching Monument Valley from Route 163 south bound, you have the open view of towering sandstone buttes.  This is also the most photographed view (remember Forest Gump's quote on this road?  I'm pretty tired... I think I'll go home now. )

Monument Valley is operated by Navajo Tribal.  You can see Native American tribe artworks throughout the park.  The buttes and mittens are very famous formation of the red sand stones.

No wonder why so many western movies were shot here. 

=== Lower Antelope Canyon ===

We continued our day to the second stop - Antelope Canyon.  This underground canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flooding from the rain.  The rainwater during monsoon season rushes into the canyon's narrow passageways (picture below), causing high speed circulation of water.  The movement erodes the sandstone in the flowing shapes.  Depending on the circulation direction,  it makes different sharp lines and edges in the stones.  Spectacular natural wonder!

=== Horseshoe Bend ===

Our last stop for the day was Horseshoe bend.  What an intimate experience!  I had to be on my stomach to take a good picture of the 1,000-foot cliff drop into Colorado River turn.

In the evening, we lodged at Best Western at Kanab, getting ready for Bryce Canyon.