Things to see and do Côte Ouest Etats-Unis

Canyonlands National Park was proclaimed a national park on September 12, 1964. With an area of 1 366 km 2 and three districts separated from each other by Colorado and the Green River, it is a huge territory whose different parts are visited fairly unevenly. The three districts are Island in the Sky, the Needles and The Maze. Each of them presents its own particularities and requires a particular organization. Exploration of the park on the waters of Colorado and Green River by boat is possible but requires at least two days of navigation.

The most famous geysers in Yellowstone are more frequent than other large geysers. The average interval between two rashes varies from 65 to 92 minutes. It lasts 1.5 to 5 ¾ minutes, expels 14 ¥ 000 to 32 ± 000 ¥ liters of boiling water and reaches heights of 30 to 55 ¾ meters. Although the average interval has elongated over the years due to earthquakes, Old Poli is always as spectacular and predictable as it was a century ago. The attraction is very popular, so wait not to be alone.

In Biscuits Basin, the mineral deposits formed, until the 1959 earthquake, as a stack of biscuits. The Sapphire Pool has been a geyser since 1955.

This is the Yellowstone area where geothermal demonstrations are hottest and most variable. Throughout the 4 ½ km of trails, we can discover the largest active geyser in the world (Steamboat Geyser, 90 to 120 meters) and the most acidic (Echinus Geyser, pH 3.5), hot springs of all colors and microscopic manifestations in one of the most important environments extremes of the earth. The Norris Museum describes the geological origins of the sources. From there there are two trails to safely observe the areas of Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Arches, whistle vapors and stinging odors combine to create a unique environment. In Porcelain Basin, in an open setting, we walk amidst a high density of geothermal phenomena (hundreds) while in Back Basin, through wood, these phenomena are more dispersed. Exploration of the One Hundred Springs Plain area is discouraged without guide, because very acidic, rugged and without trails. Artist Paint Pots is a small, but pretty geothermal zone just south of Norris Junction. A walk of a mile in the surrounding area leads to very colorful hot springs, two large volcanoes and part of the forest burned in 1988. Other nearby areas, Sylvan Springs, Gibbon Hill Geyser Basin and Geyser Creek Thermal, are not advised without guidance.

South of Canyon Village, Hayden Valley is the bed of an old lake formed in the ice age. Its fatty herb and some swampy points attract abundant wildlife (bears, bison, elk) and birds (swans, herons, Canada geese).
It is one of the best places in the park to observe wildlife, including the grizzly bear that, in the spring and early summer, is looking for bison and elk babies. Large bison herds can be admired from spring to early fall. Coyotes notice in the valley. Birds abound along the river. There are many in the Alum Creek vases. America's white ducks, geese and pelicans swim on the river. You can also follow the flight of the white-headed eagle and the northern harrier falcon.

Artist Point offers an impressive view of the Upper waterfalls and Lower Falls. Panoramic path along the edge of the canyon directly. Of Canyon Village, Canyon Rim Scenic Road wins the north wall of Grand Canyon with several beautiful viewpoints including Lookout Point, from where a path to the foot of the canyon, and by a junction, Inspiration Point, from where you have a splendid view of the latter.

There are three Visitor Centers, close to the park entrances. To the north, the Oasis visitor center located in the village of Twentynine Palms. In the west, the Joshua Tree visitor center located in the village of Johua Tree. To the south, Cottonwood Visitor Center is located 40 kilometres east of Indio's town.

Like Rainbow Vista, this area offers beautiful views of the park and surrounding silica domes, including one in particular. It is reached by a 1 km envrion track that is part of Rainbow Vista.

They are the Mormon pioneers who named the region Capitol Reef, the rocky domes found recalling there as that of Capitol.

The Capitol Reef national park covers an area of 979 mi ², east of Dixie National Forest and Large Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and north of Glen Canyon national recreation Area. It was created to preserve Waterpocket Fold, a huge fold winds over 160 km from north to south. There are massive cliffs, rocky multi-coloured domes, winding canyons and impressive natural arches, as well as the raging waters of Fremont River.

The Scenic Drive which forks of Hwy 24 in Fruita, where farm built by the Mormons at the beginning of the 20th century, ends in a deep grand canyon and a grandiose landscape.

Guides of Scenic Drive as well as Cathedral Valley and Strike Valley are available to Visitor Center. Other unpaved road are accessible for 4x4 vehicles or peaks on wheel. Visitors will find at the visitor center from the menu or the guides and can get informed about the conditions of the slopes. It is possible to go on some tracks. A location and two primitive locations are in the park. Note that the magnificent orchard in Fruita is made available to visitors who can crunch its fruit there.

Yellowstone Lake (elevation 2,357 meters), one of the world's largest mountain lakes is traversed from the south to the north by the Yellowstone River. It measures 32 km in its longest length, 22.5 kilometers in its widest width. With 176 kilometers of banks, it covers a total area of 360 km ². Its maximum depth is 91 meters in West Thumb Bay. This fish lake, surrounded by high mountains, is the refuge of countless waterfowl.

It is frozen almost half of the year (from late December or early January to late May or early July), with ice thicknesses ranging from a few centimeters to more than 60 centimeters. Situated at an altitude of 2 ¾ 300 meters, the lake remains cold all year long; its average temperature is 5 ° C, the upper layer rarely exceeding 19 ° C. This lake has the largest population of North American 'ferocious trout'. Lake trout, an exotic species that is illegally introduced, threatens its existence. In the larger part there are three small islands: Frank Island, Dot Island and Stevenson Island. From West Thumb, following the north shore, the road leads to Lake (38 km). Lake Yellowstone Hotel dominates the lake and offers magnificent views of the Absaroka Range.

On the left, a 2.4 km road rises to Natural Bridge, a rock arch created by erosion.

The rangers distribute a map and a practical information log to the park. The Visitor Centers are located at the entrance or main parts of the park, in every re-establishment. It is essential to go back to the park in order to obtain canned brochures and all information on the park, i. e., hiking trails, hours of guided tours, closed roads, site activities (rash of geyyosis) serve)… You can also buy books and souvenirs there. Five centers are installed in Yellowstone.

Located only a few minutes from visitor center, Sulphur Works is one of the smallest geothermal areas in the park (but also the most accessible, visible from the sidewalk!). It combines both mud-mud and fumaroles, which escape from the suffering. Clay minerals, volcanic rocks and warm acid water give the earth almost irréelles colours ranging from yellow to red.