{Scenic 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona, Arizona}

Of course, already being in North Arizona, we also did want to drive the scenic 89A route from Flagstaff to Sedona, viewing the fabulous Red Rocks. So we did, after viewing Humphreys Peak we continued south on said 89A.

Yep, we got to see Cathedral Rock! 

Red Rock Scenic Byway ←(click it) or 179, is what we took after the 89A, all the way down from the Grand Canyon, via Humphreys Peak (from previous post). 

When we drove up from Phoenix airport, I took the I-17 up north...

This time we enjoyed so much the scenery and as a matter of fact we want to go back to Sedona for a stay of a couple of nights!

The scenery from 89A is just breathtaking!

Beautiful Ponderosa pines...

Red Rocks start revealing themselves along 89A...

Switchbacks as the 89A follows Oak Creek...

Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive Just North of Sedona, Arizona ←(click it)
This article from May 14, 2014 mentions that Route 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Most Scenic Drives in America by Rand McNally.
So we actually were descending 4,500 feet from the Flagstaff area down to Sedona.
Indeed, breathtaking through very picturesque forests. 

What a view!

Sign that points to Slide Rock... 

5 Most Scenic Drives of Arizona ←(click it).

Indeed: Hwy 89/89A where Old West meets New West

The 30-mile stretch of Hwy 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff (we did it the other way around!) rises up through dramatic Oak Creek Canyon. Be sure to stop at Slide Rock Park (see previous photo), where the rollicking Oak Creek pushes swimmers through a rock slide. The road levels off and glides through ponderosa pine, into fun and funky Flagstaff...

We just went south from Flagstaff to Sedona!

Can you see WHY we really want to go back in order to enjoy this area?!

Somewhere I read that in Arizona, the Grand Canyon has 5,000,000 annual visitors and Sedona 4,000,000...

Husband Pieter was photographer, while I drove and enjoyed the ride as well!

You are really surrounded by the beauty of these Red Rocks!

This iPad photo I took from the curb, going to Hyatt Piñon Pointe, A Hyatt Residence Club ←(click it) that we want to try out next time! Overlooking 89A.

Also this iPad photo, showing you the view more to the right...

Wish we could have spent a couple of days there!

Cathedral Rock...

What a view!

We continued the Loop Road and we should have followed Red Rock Crossing... that would have given us far better views but we actually did not have the time as we still had to continue about 2 hours south to Scottsdale, to our Hyatt Place Scottsdale/Old Town for that night...

Love that scare crow to the left and what a lovely view of Cathedral Rock!

Looking to the other side of the road, I took this iPad photo...

We for sure will be back for more Red Rock views and for hiking somewhat in the area!

On April 18, 2014, Sedona, Arizona got also mentioned as: 10 most sacred spots on Earth by Fox News Travel...

We WILL be back!

Related links:
{Humphreys Peak, a 12,000 footer in Arizona} | previous post by me

{Maswik Lodge & Grand Canyon Flora & Fauna} | previous post by me

{Our Dinner at the 1905 El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon National Park Lodges} | previous post by me

{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

{Humphreys Peak, a 12,000 footer in Arizona}

Northern Arizona has lots of surprises and we did not know, like many others, that there are 12,000-foot (3,657 m) mountains in the area!
Sure, Arizona is about a whole lot more than just desert without trees...

We're so glad we selected a scenic route, going from Grand Canyon Village to Sedona,  in order to see this magnificent tall Humphreys Peak at Elevation: 12,635' (3,851 m).

Looking at the ►you can follow the route we took from Grand Canyon National Park, southbound.
Following the 180 which leads to Flagstaff and you see Humphreys Peak just above Flagstaff.
Just took this off Mapquest.com's site for: Village Loop Dr, Grand Canyon, Arizona, 86023.

Taken from Flickr which shows you Humphreys Peak, as seen from I-40.

On the road towards Humphreys Peak... we had such perfect weather the entire 7 days!

The previous photo above, Pieter took with the Nikon camera and this is taken with my iPhone, showing the hood of our Buick rental car. Love the sun rays in this picture.

After one hour and 15 minutes we're nearing the San Francisco Mountain.

Humphreys Peak ←click it and scroll down to see this segment...
So San Francisco Mountain was once about 16,000-20,000 feet (4,876-6,096 m).
It is also Arizona's only strato-volcano.

We traveled right through KAIBAB National Forest ←click it.
Kaibab National Forest ←click it for more info.

Link from fs usda government ←(click it) enlarged mountain range.
You can see where we came southbound, via the 180...

Pieter took this photo from Red Mountain Volcano—A Spectacular and Unusual Cinder Cone in Northern Arizona ←(click it), just before we reached San Francisco Peaks, to the right of the 180.

This photo is from the above mentioned Red Mountain Volcano link.
You see how the 180 passes by Red Mountain before it reaches San Francisco Moutain.

Coconino National Forest with San Francisco Peaks

COCONINO National Forest ←click link for above info.
Indeed, the Coconino National Forest is one of the most diverse National Forests in the country!

We are nearing our goal: Humphreys Peak the tall 12,000 footer in Arizona is in sight!
Keeping in mind, that all the time we are driving at an elevated level!

One last shot through the window, with my iPad... Again those sun rays make it look rather unique.
Hope you enjoyed this ride...

Related links:

{Maswik Lodge & Grand Canyon Flora & Fauna} | previous post by me

{Our Dinner at the 1905 El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon National Park Lodges} | previous post by me

{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

{Maswik Lodge & Grand Canyon Flora & Fauna}

We stayed for 2 nights at Maswik Lodge, one of Xanterra's Grand Canyon State Park Lodges to chose from.

This is just outside of Maswik Lodge, the sign is visible to the right, next to the blue bus stop.
We preferred to walk. This is just after we got back from our hike into the Grand Canyon...

We stayed in WHITE FIR, second level a North Room with 2 Queen Beds. No King available...

Indeed, Maswik Lodge ←(click it) is NESTLED IN THE PONDEROSA PINE FOREST...

Like I already pointed out before, all of Xanterra's Grand Canyon Lodges work for breakfast, lunch and dining. Your choice!

The morning of our hike down into the Grand Canyon, we also caught part of the Condor Talk by a State Park Ranger.

As two California Condors were circling over our heads, Pieter was not yet prepared with his Nikon camera as he had to change his lens. Nevertheless he captured one above head!

LOOKOUT STUDIO ←click it. A California condor near Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.  Photo: National Park Service, Mark Lellouch.

Part of the vulture family and an adult California Condor can reach a wingspan of 9 and a half feet or 2.90 m! And weighing up to 22 pounds or 10 kg.

More info here: California Condors ←click it.

While riding the Grand Canyon Railway, I did spot lots of these INDIAN PAINTBRUSH.

So when I drove north bound by car, I made a stop and got out of the car, into the Ponderosa Pine Forest, to capture them with my iPad.

Poor Pieter who is color blind, cannot spot them...

There were lots of them!

My fingers for comparison...

Thrilled to find this Common Juniper or Jeneverbes in Dutch!

I used to cook with them, whenever I prepared Sauerkraut, I added Juniper Berries, Bay Leaves and Pepper Corns...

Funny how we always think about FOOD!

Pieter took this photo with the Nikon from a Prickly Pear.

There is so much to see at the Grand Canyon!

MULE CORRAL ←click it and scroll down to lower left...

When we came back from our Dinner at El Tovar Hotel, I selected a short-cut in-between the place where they keep the mules for hiking down the Grand Canyon trail.

Low and behold: there were ELKS roaming around around 19:00 o'clock and I could not fast enough get my iPad out!

Mules are behind the fences to the left, a baby is near them and his/her parents are very close to where we walked!

Another iPad photo from the Elk family. Guess there were feed spills from the mule transport. This male is very, very skinny! It is prohibited to feed ANY animals at the Grand Canyon State Park!

But we felt so lucky for spotting this on our walk back to the Maswik Lodge, our last evening.

We also saw lots of deer in the Ponderosa Pine Forest near our Lodge. Too dark under the trees for taking any photos but we got them on our retina.

Such fond memories all together!

Hope you enjoyed it too.

Related links:

{Our Dinner at the 1905 El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon National Park Lodges} | previous post by me

{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me

{Our Dinner at the 1905 El Tovar Hotel | Grand Canyon National Park Lodges}

Historic El Tovar Hotel that got opened in 1905, is really quite a landmark at the Grand Canyon's South Rim. The good thing with all of Xanterra's Lodges is, you can dine at any location you want. So we did walk from our Maswik Lodge to the El Tovar Hotel for dinner. We'd loved to stay here too but because of Labor Day weekend, they were fully booked!

This is the historic hotel from the outside, Nikon photo, taken around 18:00 o'clock in the evening.

THE ELEGANT EL TOVAR

Grand Canyon Lodges El Tovar ←click it.
With its mix of luxury and charm, it is widely considered a crown jewel among national park lodges...

Lovely veranda in the front and also to the side where you can sit and watch the Navajo Hoop dancers in the afternoon, at next door's Hopi House... seen to the right on the previous photo.

We also ate lunch on their back porch, overlooking the Grand Canyon.

A magical place...

At nearby Verkamp Visitor Center, they have the Grand Canyon history laid out on the floor...

With my iPad, I captured the all wooden structure as good as I could.

Do you see the wooden beams, to the right from Pieter?

Such unique atmosphere!

Even though we were dressed casual, we felt like making a trip back in time at the Elegant El Tovar!

We traveled light with only one carry on each!

Their Menu is excellent, also for lunch!

Nine years ago, El Tovar Hotel celebrated A Century On The Rim...

Pieter had taken already a few bites before I took my iPad out for capturing his selection of: Sautéed Rainbow Trout with Red Pepper Marmalade...

My choice of: Loch Duart Scottish Salmon Tostada on OrganicGreens was delicious as well!

A nice dinner and well deserved after having hiked for a part into the Grand Canyon that day.

To the right you can see the spectacular view over the rim, from the veranda...

Those are the combined restaurants at the Grand Canyon Rim.

The Story of El Tovar

When the Santa Fe railroad reached Grand Canyon, construction of this first class hotel began.

Built of native boulders and Oregon Pine, the majestic, 100-room hotel opened on January 14, 1905.

Named El Tovar in honor of the Spanisch explorer Pedro de Tobar who had led the first expedition to Hopi Indian country in 1540.

Related links:
{Hiking Part of Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon} | previous post by me

{Grand Canyon South Rim Motorcoach Tour} | previous post by me

{Riding the Grand Canyon Railway} | previous post by me

{1881 Williams, Arizona - Gateway to Grand Canyon & Wild West} | previous post by me