Experience the Colorado Plateau by witnessing the influence of the Colorado River, time and weather that created the majestic and spiritual sandstone rock sculptures at Lake Powell, Monument Valley, Rainbow Bridge, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef.

 The Colorado Plateau drained by the Colorado River is mainly high desert with scattered forests.   Once an ancient sea bed where deposits of sand, mud and clay were transformed under pressure into rock, the Colorado Plateau was uplifted by tectonic plates and its surface was sculpted by water and weather over millions of years producing majestic and spiritual formations called buttes, mesas, hoodoos, arches and many other shapes.  The plateau contains the states of western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, southern and eastern Utah and northern Arizona. 

On our way to Lake Powell, we travel through Monument Valley owned by the Navaho Nation.  Since the 1930’s, Monument Valley has been featured in western films and television.  We stopped at the visitor center to view the scenic buttes, have lunch and shop.

After the Colorado River crosses Utah into Arizona, the Glen Canyon Dam forms Lake Powell, a man made reservoir some 186 miles long.  The area near Lake Powell has the greatest number of national parks and national monuments including Rainbow Bridge, the world's largest natural bridge formed by water.   Zion and Bryce Canyon are near Lake Powell. 

We visited Capitol Reef on return to our Colorado home.