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Arches National Park
National Park for two nights’ stay, as we explore
one of the Wonders of the Natural World. An
advantage of being based at the North Rim is
that more than 90% of the Grand Canyon’s
visitors will be on the South Rim – up to 18 miles
away in places! The views are awesome and, like
so many of the places we will be visiting, are not
to be rushed. With our accommodation being
close to the Canyon’s rim there is once again the
opportunity for ‘personal prime time’. One can
stroll, sit and view at will. The more adventurous
might consider a mule ride down into the
Canyon itself. This is Golden Eagle country and
we shall be on the lookout for eagles and
Peregrines when we are exploring the rim from
the various overlooks during our stay. Ponderosa
Pines and spruce forests line the edges, mixing
with fresh green-leafed aspen away from the
brink. This habitat leads to a diversity of bird
species such as Northern Goshawk, Blue
Grouse, Wild Turkey, Red-naped and
Williamson’s Sapsuckers, Hermit Thrush,
Mountain Bluebird, Pygmy Nuthatch, Grace’s
Warbler and Western Tanager. Among the
mammals are Mule Deer, which are quite
common and may be very confiding, and we
also hope to see the endemic Kaibab Squirrel.
Days 10 & 11
After a last sunrise at the Canyon we drive east to
pass beneath the aptly-named Vermilion Cliffs,
which is one of the California Condor reintroduction
release sites and on our previous
visits we have been fortunate to see free-flying
condors. After a lunch stop by the Colorado River
we enter Navajo country, but probably the only
Indian ponies we see will be in fields, for the 21st
century Navajo prefers a pickup from Detroit! By
late afternoon we reach Kayenta, and our motel
for the next two nights. During our stay we visit
the magnificent Monument Valley, which to many
epitomises the West as portrayed in films and
advertisements. With the help of a Navajo guide
we explore the backcountry tracks that wander
among the buttes and mesas, visiting quieter,
less-visited areas only accessible to the Navajo.
Some of the most well-known features are The
Mittens, rising like fingers from the valley floor.
Others are the Three Sisters, Camel Butte, Artist’s
Point and John Ford’s Point, named after the
filmmaker, who featured so much of the area in
his Western movies. Photographic opportunities
abound. A few miles away at Betatakin are the
ruins of the Anazasi cliff dwellings in the Navajo
National Monument. We wander through piñyonjuniper
scrub on our way to the overlook, where
the flowers form a natural rock garden as they
seek shelter beneath the gnarled tree trunks.
Below us, are square houses that nestle in a huge
alcove in the canyon wall, which were built
around 1250 AD and abandoned within 50 years
as climatic change, resulting in poor crop yields,
forced the inhabitants to move elsewhere. Birds
to look out for here include Western Scrub-Jay,
Bushtit and Juniper Titmouse.
Day 12 & 13
This morning we head north, returning to Utah and
transferring to Moab for the Arches National Park –
a fitting climax to this tour of scenic superlatives.
Birding on the way might produce Prairie Falcon
and Golden Eagle, as well as some woodland
species such as Plumbeous Vireo and Blackheaded
Grosbeak when we stop for a picnic by a
cottonwood-lined stream. Nearby we will look for
the elusive Sage Sparrow. As with so many of the
tour’s transfers we shall be passing through more
magnificent scenery. Once checked into our motel
at Moab, where we spend two nights, we will take
our first look at Arches National Park during the
latter part of the afternoon. Our last full day of
exploration will be amongst the sandstone natural
arches, buttes and trails of Arches National Park,
where we will combine driving and walking to see
the best that the park has to offer. This is a place for
those early and late photographs as the rocks glow,
illuminated by the low sun. The trail through the
Devil’s Garden leads to the graceful span of
Landscape Arch that, with a width of 92 metres, is
one of the world’s widest natural freestanding
arches. Birds today could include Red-tailed Hawk,
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Canyon
and Rock Wrens, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse and
Black-throated and Brewer’s Sparrows.
Day 14
Before we leave for Salt Lake City we visit one
more park – Dead Horse Point State Park to view
the meandering Colorado River cutting through
the canyons below. On the way we shall be
looking for Horned Lark, Western Scrub-Jay and
Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Sage Thrasher
and Spotted Towhee. If the last rains were good
then the grasslands on top of the plateau may
hold some of the best displays of spring flowers
seen anywhere on the tour. We finally head north
to Salt Lake City, where we stay overnight.
Days 15 & 16
The next day we head to the airport to catch our
return flight which arrives into London early the
following morning.
California Condor
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Salt Lake City
Day 2 Salt Lake City
Days 3-4 Bryce Canyon National
Park
Days 5-7 Zion National Park
Days 8-9 Grand Canyon North Rim
Days 10-11 Kayenta
Days 12-13 Moab
Day 14 Salt Lake City
Day 15 Depart Salt Lake City
Day 16 Arrive London
Party Size
Maximum of 14 clients (two leaders with
more than eight clients).
Accommodation
Comfortable accommodation in twin/double
and single rooms, with private facilities.
Transport
By minibuses driven by the leaders.
Includes
All flights, meals, accommodation, transport,
entry fees, services of the leaders, airport
taxes and tips.
Gradings
Good
150
Warm
Moderate
Normal
Moderate
Excellent
Moderate
Scheduled
Sage Sparrow
U S A – U TA H & A R I Z O N A
To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445
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