Girl Who Travels

Travel Date: March 2026

From Desert Sunrises to Canyon Sunsets: The Road to the Grand Canyon

Leaving Santa Fe this morning, I didn’t expect to be overwhelmed before we even hit the highway. There is something about the way the light hits the high desert that feels personal. As we started our drive, I glanced over my shoulder as we moved down the highway and was actually brought to tears by the sunrise over the mountains. The colors were so vibrant and the scale so massive that it felt like a moment of pure, quiet clarity—the kind you only get on a long road trip when the world is still waking up. I couldn’t capture a photo of that exact moment because it was gone so quickly, but we did stop at a local Sinclair station for gas, and I was able to catch the light as it broke over the horizon.

A Santa Fe Send-off

To make the morning even more magical, we saw hot air balloons rising into the crisp air as we were leaving town. It is such a quintessential New Mexico sight, but seeing them drift upward against that emotional sunrise felt like a special send-off just for us. It was the perfect way to say goodbye to Santa Fe.

Across the Continental Divide

As we pushed further west, we officially crossed the Continental Divide. It’s one of those milestones that really makes the scale of a cross-country trip sink in, though I have to admit, it is much farther west than I expected it to be! Reaching an elevation of 7,245 feet, it felt like a significant checkpoint on our journey toward the coast.

The view from the Continental Divide was also breathtaking. The landscape of America continues to amaze me and leave me awestruck.

Roadside Treasures and Prehistoric Finds

You can’t drive through the Southwest without embracing the kitsch, and today we found a gem of a roadside stand. It was marked by a massive dinosaur—a perfect companion for our new Sinclair friend—so of course, we had to pull over.

It wasn’t just a photo op, though. The stand had a beautiful collection of local jewelry, and we couldn’t resist picking up a few pieces. Supporting local artists while standing in the shadow of a prehistoric statue is exactly the kind of travel memory I live for.

An Unexpected Winter Wonderland

As we climbed in elevation toward Flagstaff, the landscape did a complete 180. We left the dry desert floor and entered a lush forest where the air turned crisp and cold. Because of the high altitude, we found ourselves surrounded by snow-capped mountains and a forest of evergreen trees. It was a stunning contrast to the red rocks we’d seen just hours before.

Wildlife on the Way to Lipan Point

Finally, we made it to the big one. We headed toward Lipan Point for some of the most expansive views of the canyon, but the journey there was just as memorable as the destination. While we were driving, we saw several elk moving through the trees! Seeing them navigate the forest with such quiet grace really drove home how wild and varied this park truly is.

The Grand Finale: A Sunset for the Ages

No matter how many photos you see, nothing prepares you for the sheer scale of the Grand Canyon. Standing on the rim, looking out at the layers of time carved into the earth, makes everything else feel small in the best way possible.

The beauty of the place seemed to bring out the best in everyone there, too. I offered to take a photo for a kind older couple so they could both be in the shot with the canyon behind them. In return, they insisted on taking my photo, which was such a sweet moment of connection with fellow travelers.

We decided to stay, waiting and watching as the sun began its descent over the canyon. Seeing the colors shift from brilliant oranges to deep purples across the rock faces was the perfect bookend to a day that started with an emotional sunrise. It was the perfect ending to one of the greatest views on the planet.

These images capture the profound transitions of light that defined our entire cross-country journey. They remind us that the road is just as magnificent as the destination itself, provided you’re willing to wake up early and stay late.