DREAMING IN COLOR

David Gross Fine Gemstone Collection Dreaming In Color

From left to right: 8.09 carat emerald pink sapphire with .89 carat diamonds

11.29 carat vivid blue sapphire with two cushion brilliant 1.03 carat diamonds

15.20 carat oval yellow sapphire with two elongated tappered baguette diamonds

7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377

Hours Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080

GraceReneeGallery.com

Horseshoe Bend

While Antelope Canyon is best experienced and photographed midday, its neighboring landmark Horseshoe Bend looks most impressive at sunrise and sunset. Below the rim, the Colorado River makes a wide sweep around a sandstone escarpment, creating a roughly 1,000-foot-deep, 270-degree, horseshoe-shaped bend in Glen Canyon.

There is an easy 1.5-mile round-trip hike to the overlook over a hardened path. This — combined with recent exposure on social media — has made Horseshoe Bend one of the most popular tourist destinations in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, drawing more than 2 million visitors each year.

However, between the tranquil turquoise waters gently flowing below and the remarkably vibrant colors of the canyon and distant horizon, you will have no trouble tuning out the crowd, finding your zen and capturing the perfect shot of an iconic Arizona landmark.

The Wave

The most exclusive landmark on our list, The Wave is located in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Utah-Arizona border. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issues just 64 permits — selected via a lottery — to visit the stunning sandstone rock formation per day.

Needless to say, demand to experience what has been dubbed the premier photographic destination in the U.S. Southwest far exceeds the supply. And as if the difficulty obtaining a permit did not make visiting The Wave challenging enough, you will need to hike three miles through the unmarked desert — guided only by a vague map of visible landmarks — in order to get there.

However, once there, you will be mesmerized by the trippy rock formation’s smooth, flowing shape and striking red and yellow stripes that prove that Mother Nature is the greatest artist of all. With its swirling layers and undulating forms, The Wave is not only an Instagrammable site but also a geological wonder 190 million years in the making.

Forrest Gump Point

It is only appropriate that we conclude our road trip in the place where Forrest Gump ended his ultra-ultra marathon of more than 15,000 miles in the eponymous movie starring Tom Hanks.

With the majestic Monument Valley as a backdrop, this spot on Route 163 at mile marker 13 near the Arizona-Utah border is extremely wellknown among fans of that 1994 film. Though one could argue that there are many remarkable vantage points of Monument Valley, this one has become one of the most iconic and frequently photographed — and for good reason.

In addition to being an instantly recognizable piece of cinematic history, it also offers one of the most spectacular and archetypal views of the entire American Southwest, accentuated by Monument Valley’s gorgeous crimson mesas and towering sandstone buttes in the distance.

TTwo years ago, Images Arizona showcased a selection of Cassell Archinuk’s photography that invited viewers to see themselves down the road. The intention was to beckon you, our readers, to visualize and embark on venturesome road trips of your own. After all, as any adventurer will tell you, the journey itself is oftentimes more memorable than anything experienced at the destination.

The response was remarkable. So, naturally, we just couldn’t wait to get on the road again.

“I think what is unique about Arizona’s roads is the fact that it does not take long for the scenery to change,” Archinuk says. “If you are in the Southwest, you will see the desert and cacti along your drive.

“Only two-and-a-half hours north, you have majestic mountains — like the San Francisco peaks in Flagstaff along with snow and skiing in the winter. Along the east, you get the Mogollon Rim with forests and lakes where you can camp and fish. Not to mention one of my favorite Arizona places — Sedona, with its stunning red rocks that surround the town.”

With this special summer edition’s photo essay, Images Arizona is again hoping to call our readers to the open road in search of adventure, wonder, amazement and — most of all — fun.

And this time, we want to see where that road takes you. Send photos of your Arizona expeditions to images@imagesaz.com or tag #imagesaz on Instagram for possible publication in the second of our special summer issues!

Happy Trails

Since we last spoke with Cassell Archinuk, the photographer has been able to fulfill one of her bucket list dreams — hiking to the Havasupai Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon.

“I had been trying to get a permit there for the last seven years,” she says. “With the area being closed for the past two, this was the first year they reopened since the COVID shutdown. I was able to get on the cancellation list and snag a permit for mid-February. The waterfalls were beyond beautiful and the whole experience — from camping to hiking to just being there — was surreal for me and one I will never forget.”

Archinuk has, of course, also embarked on a few out-of-state adventures.

“This past year, I did an amazing summer hike at Mt. Rainier in Washington,” she says. “It was really amazing to see all of the colorful summer flowers, yet snow on the mountain where we were hiking.

“In the fall, I took a road trip to Durango and Telluride in Colorado to catch the last of the fall leaves — which were spectacular with the gorgeous mountains there. The Million Dollar Highway to Silverton and Ouray was definitely thrilling, as the elevation gets up to 11,200 feet and there is not much of a shoulder on these roads. But the mountains and views there make it worth driving. You just need to keep your eyes on the road.

“I also did a road trip in January to Moab and was pretty excited to see snow among the arches and red rock at Arches National Park. It was a great time to be there because the crowds were at a minimum during that time.”

As for the road ahead, Archinuk is looking into traveling to Iceland — another one of her bucket list dreams. She is also planning to explore areas around Page, such as White Pocket and the Vermillion Cliffs.

Arizona has a lot of history and there are many places that still tell their stories — from ghost and western towns to Indian ruins. One year, I visited 13 Indian ruins and had a blast learning about how these people lived here so long ago. You learn so much by visiting these places. Cassell Archinuk

My favorite season in Arizona is spring, because of the variety of wildflowers that line the roads — including the highways. Sometimes, there is a super bloom and so many places in the desert have poppies and other flowers scattered throughout, which makes for interesting hikes and Sunday drives. Cassell Archinuk