A travel report by Thomas Haensgen. Images exclusively by mauritius images.

Yippie-Ya-Yay, we can travel again! After spending most of our time more or less 'cooped up' within our own four walls, there is now fortunately time again to see the world, experience adventures and let our eyes wander to the end of the horizon. Only: where? A good answer to this question can be found here: in the South-West of the USA. On a dream trip through the most beautiful National Parks in California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.

Before the tour starts, the first question is: How to get there in the first place? There are a few ways to get from A to B, and they all have their own peculiarities. Let's take a look:

Option 1 - Classically by rental car. Drive around by car during the day, explore individual hotspots on foot and spend the night in a comfortable hotel or motel - or take a small tent with you to stay in constant adventure mode.

Option 2 - Rent a motorhome. This has many advantages! You get close, stay close and benefit from the luxury of having your home with you everywhere. However: not all routes and detours are suitable for motorhomes. With the smaller version in a van or car with camping equipment, you are on the safe side - but you have to sacrifice some comfort.

Option 3 - Off-road vehicle and trailer. The perfect solution: you have your home with you and at the same time the freedom to unhitch the trailer at any time and park it on the campground. This gives you flexibility, for example to take some of the fantastic off-road routes.

Option 4 - Just somehow: bicycle, rickshaw, hitchhiking, train, bus. On foot. The main thing is to travel.

Our theme is the southwest of the USA. And here is a route recommendation that takes most of it into account, but at the same time can be planned variably in terms of time - simply by leaving out one or the other region and thus adjusting the travel time accordingly. The route described here can easily be completed in four weeks. But it can also be done in less time.

About an hour from Las Vegas you can find the oldest and largest state park in Nevada. Fire red is the dominant colour here. And it's hot, too. Especially in the figurative sense: around every corner there is a new almost surreal sight. And all quite easy to reach. When hiking, don't forget: water! Lots and lots of water.

Recommended minimum stay: 1 day.

Personal highlight: Drive the entire Scenic Drive, taking in as many of the short and medium-length trails as possible.

Just under 580 square metres in size and equipped with 240 kilometres of hiking trails, you can spend weeks here and still be miles away from having experienced Zion National Park in its entirety. Dominant colour here: green. You feel like you are in an oasis of forest, water, gigantic canyons and mountains.

Recommended minimum stay: 1-2 days. Better: 2-4 days.

Personal highlight: The Angels Trail. An exciting and strenuous climb that is rewarded with sensational views.

The onward journey towards Bryce Canyon takes us along the Mount Carmel Highway. This is not only the fastest connection between Zion and Bryce National Parks, but first and foremost a very impressive road. Even if "highway" sounds like a motorway, many cars and little enthusiasm - exactly the opposite is the case: this highway is a dreamlike little panoramic road that winds through the mountains in larger curves. With many parking bays it virtually invites you to stop to take pictures or simply enjoy the view.

Next stop: Bryce Canyon. A short photo stop at the passage through the rock face of Red Canyon (if you like, you can also take the hike through the canyon) and you are already in Bryce Canyon National Park. And there is much to see!

Around half a dozen lookout points from which you can marvel at the uniqueness of this natural wonder. An unbelievable rock world, bizarre stone columns as high as houses (the so-called "hoodoos") and open canyons (amphitheatres) in between. Practical: if you have limited time, take the Scenic Drive - a good 33-kilometre stretch of road that leads past magnificent viewpoints.

Recommended minimum stay: 0.5 days. Better: 1-2 days.

Personal highlight: Sunrise and Sunset Point. Experience how the sun bathes the tops of the hoodos in orange light, making them look like blazing flames.

Being rather contemplative and less spectacular than the other parks, in this park you get the chance to look at the chimney-like rock elevations up close, all to yourself and without other tourists.

The park owes its name to the many different shades of colour, which were compared to Kodak colours by National Geographic Magazine in 1948 - later the state park was named after Kodak's famous slide film.

Recommended minimum stay: 0.5 days. Better: 1 day.

Personal highlight: Just enjoy the tranquillity, away from the usual tourist hot spots.

The practical thing about Capitol Reef National Park is that most of the highlights are right next to Highway 24 or can be accessed directly from the 13 km Capitol Reef Scenic Drive. You don't have to travel long distances to get to the hiking trails and viewpoints. Short views of the impressive cliffs are just as much a possibility as hour-long hikes through the canyons.

Also recommended: take the turn-offs that are only allowed to be driven on with an off-roader. Here it is worth leaving the caravan at the campground and driving the jeep over the sandy track.

Recommended minimum stay: 1 day. Better: 2-3 days.

Personal highlight: The Hickman Bridge Trail is relatively short, relatively easy - but has a lot to offer and is not without reason one of the most popular sights in Capitol Reef National Park.

Moab is not a national park, but a good starting point for two worthwhile national parks and a state park. The town of 5,000 inhabitants is nothing special, but offers plenty of tour operators, restaurants, hotels and a few comfortable campsites - in case there is no space left in the parks.

Recommended minimum stay: 3 days (1-2 days per park).

Personal highlight: The short distance to the national and state parks nearby.

Photos and text by Thomas Haensgen. The images can be licensed exclusively with mauritius images.

For larger image selections we offer attractive package prices. Of course, you can also license single images. If you are interested, please contact your customer service representative (Contact) or get in touch with our sales team:

Phone: +49 8823 42-67 | Email: sales@mauritius-images.com.