Running Across the Red Earth: A Journey Through the Canyons of the American West

Starting from Las Vegas, we drove along the endless desert roads. The view outside the window gradually turned red, and the energy of the city disappeared in no time. Our first destination was the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Standing before the seemingly endless canyon, I realized how small I truly am. We stayed silently until sunset, and the scenery etched itself into a corner of my heart. The next day, we arrived at Antelope Canyon, which had a completely different atmosphere. Rays of light streaming through the rocks, dust dancing in the narrow passageways—every step felt like a photograph. Horseshoe Bend was pure awe. Sitting at the edge of the cliff, I gazed down at the winding Colorado River. Just sitting there brought a sense of tranquility to my heart. Entering Monument Valley felt like stepping into a scene from a Western movie. Endless stretches of red rocks and the silent expanse of land—it was so quiet that even the stillness felt comforting. On the way back, we visited Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon. Though both are called canyons, their shapes, colors, and the emotions they evoke are entirely different. During this journey, I felt like I wasn’t just seeing ‘landscapes’ but encountering the ‘presence’ of nature itself. 📍 American West Canyon Route: Las Vegas → Grand Canyon → Page (Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend) → Monument Valley → Bryce Canyon → Zion Canyon