Shot by an unknown American amateur filmmaker, this silent home movie takes viewers through Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and to the Grand Canyon. It probably dates to the late 1940s or early 1950s.
The film begins with a visit to Zion in Utah.The camera captures red canyons and colorful red ridges (:22) within the park. The rock formation known as Angel’s Landing (1:26) is captured. This is a 1,488 foot formation with a trail intentionally cut into it in 1926 in order to provide panoramic views of Zion Canyon (1:44). Three cowgirls and a cowboy ready themselves for a scenic ride (2:12). The tour guide, atop a grey horse gallops down “Walter’s Wiggles” (2:44) as a rider would move around barrels at a rodeo. These are famed and very steep switchback trails. The riders are pictured stopped along the trail (2:55). The adventurers cut across a low river (3:17). Red blossoms are pictured on spiny cacti (3:22). The Temple of Sinawava is a sandstone amphitheater carved naturally by the Virgin River (3:53). The Great White Throne is a monolith of white Navajo Sandstone (4:04). A close shot captures its beauty (4:08). Twilight shots follow (4:33) of reds and oranges. Red Canyon; also known as Peek-a-Boo Canyon, is situated near Kanab (4:56). It features a ‘red slot’ and leads to Bryce Canyon (5:17). Students and vacationers arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park (5:25). The camera captures a storm covering to canyon briefly (5:39). White lighting strikes (5:42). An excerpt from a John Greenleaf Whittier poem is displayed (5:52). The red rock formations resemble standing up men (6:28). The filmmakers listen as the tour guide explains erosion (6:40). Three park troopers stand for the camera (7:54). Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is commonly known as the Grand Canyon of Colorado (8:11). The actual Grand Canyon is pictured at (8:35) located in Arizona. The El Tovar Hotel sits directly on the rim of the Grand Canyon (8:48) and has been open since 1905. Native Americans perform the Hopi Dances (9:05) with traditional feathered headdresses and booming drums. Moran Point was named for the prominent landscape artist, Thomas Moran (11:04). Desert View Watchtower is set on the edge of Grand Canyon (11:18) reflecting the architecture of the ancestral Puebloans. The tourists head up the stony steps (11:26) for a view (11:33). The Colorado River cuts through the canyon (11:42). The travelers head off for Phantom Ranch (11:51). This lodge was opened in 1922. It rests at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near Bright Angel trail making it ideal for tourists. They capture a view from Yaki trail (12:04). Wildlife such as deer are captured at Phantom Ranch (12:38). The Black Suspension Bridge spans the Colorado River (12:59). The riders are now on Bright Angel trail (13:12). The sun falls over the south rim (13:54). The Painted Desert follows (14:06). The Little Colorado River appears at (14:12). Kabab National Forest borders the north and south rim of the Grand Canyon (14:39). Deer graze in the foreground (14:47). A mountain lion stalks prey (14:53). Deer interrupt a car passing on the modern highway (15:01). Spotted fawns bump against one another (15:34). The North Rim of the canyon (15:48) precludes the North Lodge (16:17). A plane flies high over the canyon (16:27). The tassel eared Kaibab squirrel resides exclusively in the Kaibab Plateau (16:40).
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