America’s Southwest offers some of the most stunning photographic venues on his plane. Among my favorite places to shoot are:
Arches National Park. Located just north of Moab, Utah, Arches NP is America’s single largest concentration of natural arches. http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm Below are some of the best times to photograph the major features an Arches National Park:
Early Morning Late Afternoon
Moab Faul Park Avenue
The Three Gossips Courthouse Towers
Sheep Rock Petrified Dunes
The Great Wall Balanced Roc
Turre Arch The Garden of Eden
The Spectacles North and South Windows
Double Arch Delicate Arch
Cache Valley Fiery Furnace
Wolfe Ranch Skyline Arch
Landscape Arch Fins in Devil Garden
Double O Arch Tower Arch
And the site is very helpful: http://www.discovermoab.com/arches-national-park/
As long as you are in Moab, check out Fishers Tower and the photo ops along Utah roue 128, particularly in the late afternoon: https://www.discovermoab.com/scenic-byways/
And even more, from Moab, you are only 40 minutes from Canyonlands NP https://www.discovermoab.com/canyonlands-national-park/. Get up at 0-dark-hundred and head out to Canyonlands to walk to the short trail to Mesa Arch for sunrise photography. Capturing the orange glow of the sunrise on the underside of the arch has become part of the iconic photographic experience of the Southwest. You need to get early because are at best only about 4-6 really good vantage points in front of this smallish arch – and it helps immeasurably if you do not arrive on the same morning that Scott Kelby irresponsibly chooses to bring 39 would-be photogs to this splendid location! You can also shoot Dead Horse Point State Park – best in the early morning: http://www.discovermoab.com/stateparks.htm.
Southern Utah boasts two more of America’s crown jewels: Bryce and Zion National Parks.
Bryce Canyon NP — Although called Bryce Canyon, it really isn’t a canyon at all. http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm Bryce is an east-facing cliffside. As the cliff has eroded and retreated to the west, in numerous places, hard capstone has resisted erosion. As a result, Bryce bristles with thousands of glorious orange spires called hoodoos. And because Bryce faces east, the best time for photography is at daybreak. Be sure to walk down the Queen’s Garden Trail and/or the Navajo Trail for close-up photos of the hoodoos and to get to the dramatic slot canyon called Wall Sreet, where a couple of trees shoot up straight as an arrow from the canyon floor to this rim: https://www.afar.com/places/wall-street-bryce-canyon-bryce. But you’ll need to check whether the trail is open – it is sometimes closed when tourists get hit by falling rocks: http://www.nps.gov/brca/parknews/rockfall2010.htm. The lodge a Bryce is notoriously difficult to book, so be prepared to stay, as I have, at Ruby’s Inn: http://www.rubysinn.com/.
Zion is a wonderland for photographers. Some of my favorite venues are:
• Weeping Rock Trail is 0.3 miles long, and the average round-trip time is about 45 minutes. Beginning at the Weeping Rock parking area, the trail climbs gradually to the Weeping Rock. The abundant vegetation is due to the available water; Weeping Roc is made up of layers of shale, which are water-resistant. The downward percolation of water from the highlands is interrupted at this point and runs down the face of the rocks so that it weeps
• Canyon Overlook Trail is ½ mile long, and the average round-trip time is about 1¼ hours. The trail begins across the highway from the parking area at the east end of the Zion-M. Carmel tunnel. Starting quite steeply, it becomes gradual after the first 200 feet and follows the rock ledges above Clear Creek and Pine Creek Canyon o a point directly above the Grea Arch of Zion. From his point you a wonderful panorama of Pine Cree Canyon and lower Zion Canyon. The West Temple, the Towers of the Virgin, and the Streamed Wall make a breathtaking backdrop for the canyons of Zion. Early morning is best for this walk as the summer afternoons are quite warm.
• Narrows Trail is 1.2 miles long, and the average round-trip time is about 1½ hours. Starting from the Temple of Sinawava at the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, the trail follows the Virgin River up the narrow canyon to a point where it is no longer room for both river and trail. This is a naturalist-guided walk during the summer season, but you may take it on your own if you wish. One of the easiest and most popular trails in Zion, it is entirely paved and climbs less than 100 feet from start to finish. The Canyon is shady in the early morning and late afternoon, but mid-morning is best for photographs.
• Emerald Pools Trail sars from two locations and may be taken as a loop trail or as a two-way trail. The average round-trip time to the upper Emerald Pool from Zion Lodge is about 3½ hours. The Lower Emerald Pools Trail is naturalist-guided each afternoon during the summer season. Starting across the roadway from the parking area next to the Zion Lodge swimming pool, he rail crosses the Virgin River by a footbridge. The trail to the right is a gradual climb into Emerald Pools Canyon and is shaded during most of the day. The entire canyon is shaded during the later afternoon, but mid-morning is best for photographs. See http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/albums/index16.htm.
Zion also offers challenges for photographers taking a somewhat more strenuous challenge – but with equally wonderful photographic opportunities – everything from hikes in the river to hikes to high places. http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm Hikes in the river: The Narrows is a classic hike through a slot canyon formed by the Virgin River cutting through a plateau and creating, in places, 1000-foot cliffs. You can’t do it in the spring – the snowmelt runoff turns the river into a raging torrent that often overflows is bans. Do his hie in September – the lower incidence of thunderstorms, relatively high air and water temps, low water flow, and sill strong sunlight. Rent booties, shoes, and sticks from http://www.zionadventures.com/. You’ll need to keep your camera in a dry bag, which inhibits random snapshotting – but do stop often and shoot the wonderful canyon walls and water scenes. If you want the opposite adventure, hie Angels Landing: http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/zion/angels_landing.htm and http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-angels-landing-trail.htm. Just be aware that the last ½ mile is the tough part – the trail narrows down to a 10-foot wide saddle with 800-1000 dropoffs on either side: http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/album2/pages/angels-landing-u_jpg.htm. Fortunately, the Park Service has installed a sturdy chain in the middle of the saddle to use as a handhold. The hike gets a bit strenuous at this point, but the photos from rail’s end are so worth it!
Cedar Breas NM: Resting on top of the Colorado plateau, at over 10,000 feet in elevation, breathing awakes. Millions of years of sedimentation, uplift, and erosion are carving ou a giant amphitheater ha spans some three miles, and is more than 2,000 feet deep. http://www.nps.gov/cebr/index.htm Thus Cedar Breas is like Bryce-Wes. Hoodoos and cliffsides, just like Bryce, only 2000 fee higher and facing west. The result – a great place for afternoon sun photos – just remember to take your fleece and windbreaker. It’s hard to handhold when your body is shaking from the cold.
Coral Pin Sand Dunes: For something different, stop at Coral Pin Sand Dunes – especially for early morning photography. The Park encompasses 3,730 acres of southern Utah’s color country. The par itself is breathing, with coral-colored dunes, surrounded by red sandstone cliffs, blue skies, and deep emerald forests. This is a photographer’s paradise. http://www.utah.com/stateparks/coral_pink.htm Unfortunately, the park allows ATVs, and their tracks can be both ubiquitous and right where you want to photograph. But take heart, it’s always possible to hike to a better angle that eliminates the tracks.