Help with trip to Sedona and Grandcanyon
Sep 18, 2016 12:38:49 #
barbie.lewis
Loc: Livingston, Texas
A lot of great info here, especially from NorthPacific! But I don't think anyone mentioned hot air balloon rides over Red Rock Canyon. Absolutely incredible photo ops! Do it!
Sep 18, 2016 12:51:58 #
after that hot air balloon crash in Texas some weeks ago, I like the ground better all the time......
pilot saying: "I would rather be down here wishing I was up there rather than being up there wishing I was down on the ground".
pilot saying: "I would rather be down here wishing I was up there rather than being up there wishing I was down on the ground".
Sep 18, 2016 13:04:40 #
ALN wrote:
ALWAYS test links that you post. Here is corrected link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing,_ArizonaOn this route, you will also pass Nothing, AZ - another photo op. But don't blink as you approach iy or you will miss it! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing,_Arizona
Sep 18, 2016 13:05:25 #
Hooman wrote:
Hello dear Hedgehogers
This week I'll be traveling to north Arizona, and need ideas where to see and where to shoot some good pictures.
Thank you all in advance
This week I'll be traveling to north Arizona, and need ideas where to see and where to shoot some good pictures.
Thank you all in advance
For the Canyon the south rim is the most open to tourists and is closest to the Sedona area. Actually just drive the back roads, you'll find more things to shoot that you can shake a stick at. It's a beautiful area.
Sep 18, 2016 13:29:14 #
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Sep 18, 2016 14:14:00 #
I will limit my response to the Sedona area. I live in Sedona and I am a volunteer for the Forest Service in the Red Rock District. I also lead a volunteer photo team documenting sites and providing photo material for the Forest Service in the area.
There are many and highly variable photo opportunities in the Sedona area. I strongly recommend doing a quick check of http://www.sedonaredrocktrails.org/ This is a website established on behalf of the Forest Service in the Red Rock District. Not a lot of pictures but it does have the best information available regarding sites and other issues. In the not too distant future, we will be adding a separate category for favorite photo spots.
The best thing to do upon arrival in the area is to do a quick visit to the Forest Service Visitor Center on route SR179 just south of the Village of Oak Creek. It is staffed by Forest Service personnel and volunteers. It is open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every day. No body will try to sell you anything other than a parking pass if you do not have a National Park Pass. Tell the volunteers how long you will be in the area and that you are interested in photography. Pending who is on duty, you will need to excuse yourself to get out into the forest because there are so many places they can tell you about.
The balloon and jeep tours are really nice and popular but pending how much time you have, they will limit your general touring time. For some variety go to one of the archaeology sites. Palatki and V bar V are both historic ranches in beautiful settings with some very interesting features. The drive to either one can be done in a regular car and will go thru some great scenery. If you have a 4WD or high clearance vehicle there are even more opportunities.
My vote for best sunset photos are from Red Rock Crossing (from Crescent Moon or Baldwin Loop). Take a look at some of the pull offs on upper Red Rock Loop Road. If you are willing to hike a bit, there are great photo opportunities everywhere but West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon and Chuck Wagon Trail in West Sedona are among the most favorite. There are many others that are relatively easy and have great variety.
If you will be coming in or going out from the north, don't miss Antelope Canyon (pay for the special photo tour, it allows you more freedom and time), Horse Shoe Bend and needless to say, the Grand Canyon.
There are many and highly variable photo opportunities in the Sedona area. I strongly recommend doing a quick check of http://www.sedonaredrocktrails.org/ This is a website established on behalf of the Forest Service in the Red Rock District. Not a lot of pictures but it does have the best information available regarding sites and other issues. In the not too distant future, we will be adding a separate category for favorite photo spots.
The best thing to do upon arrival in the area is to do a quick visit to the Forest Service Visitor Center on route SR179 just south of the Village of Oak Creek. It is staffed by Forest Service personnel and volunteers. It is open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every day. No body will try to sell you anything other than a parking pass if you do not have a National Park Pass. Tell the volunteers how long you will be in the area and that you are interested in photography. Pending who is on duty, you will need to excuse yourself to get out into the forest because there are so many places they can tell you about.
The balloon and jeep tours are really nice and popular but pending how much time you have, they will limit your general touring time. For some variety go to one of the archaeology sites. Palatki and V bar V are both historic ranches in beautiful settings with some very interesting features. The drive to either one can be done in a regular car and will go thru some great scenery. If you have a 4WD or high clearance vehicle there are even more opportunities.
My vote for best sunset photos are from Red Rock Crossing (from Crescent Moon or Baldwin Loop). Take a look at some of the pull offs on upper Red Rock Loop Road. If you are willing to hike a bit, there are great photo opportunities everywhere but West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon and Chuck Wagon Trail in West Sedona are among the most favorite. There are many others that are relatively easy and have great variety.
If you will be coming in or going out from the north, don't miss Antelope Canyon (pay for the special photo tour, it allows you more freedom and time), Horse Shoe Bend and needless to say, the Grand Canyon.
Sep 18, 2016 15:56:21 #
We just returned from a 5 week tour of the western us...Sedona...hwy 89 stop on lookouts....take a pink jeep tour ....you cannot take to many shots....painted desert....petrified forest...grand canyon...
So much to see...took 1500 photos
So much to see...took 1500 photos
Sep 19, 2016 00:56:43 #
jethro779 is correct, I live in AZ and I visited many of those places just last weekend. I have a friend that lives there, so I go up there often.Be sure to take in Tlaquepaque which is a Mexican village shopping area, in Sedona many picture opps. there as well. Check out their web site. tlaq.com
Sep 19, 2016 10:39:02 #
Dear North Pacific,
I recently moved to Camp Verde Az. To be near Sedona. I have started to take up landscape photography because of Sedona. The information which you have provided blows me away. I am most grateful for your generosity with regards to photo ops and locations. Thank you, thank you!!
I recently moved to Camp Verde Az. To be near Sedona. I have started to take up landscape photography because of Sedona. The information which you have provided blows me away. I am most grateful for your generosity with regards to photo ops and locations. Thank you, thank you!!
Sep 19, 2016 17:09:24 #
linelink wrote:
Dear North Pacific,
I recently moved to Camp Verde Az. To be near Sedona. I have started to take up landscape photography because of Sedona. The information which you have provided blows me away. I am most grateful for your generosity with regards to photo ops and locations. Thank you, thank you!!
I recently moved to Camp Verde Az. To be near Sedona. I have started to take up landscape photography because of Sedona. The information which you have provided blows me away. I am most grateful for your generosity with regards to photo ops and locations. Thank you, thank you!!
sorry again for typos and syntax errors..i hope this additional info helps....
BE SURE to obtain the Big Three pass that includes Crescent Moon Ranch for unlimited visits for one year!!....This is the best picnic park as well in the USA IMHO....the place only gets crowded on weekends in the summer...otherwise it is just a wonderful spot and AGAIN unknown to the vast majority of visitors to the area..
Take 40 dollars cash to pay for this annual pass at the entry gate however since they do not take credit cards due to the lack of a cell signal or something to that effect...take cash....The entry fee per visit is 10 dollars a car load so I have seen people drive there and do a U turn around the kiosk booth and just LEAVE!!!!! OMG!!!
This Big Three Pass includes CALL OF THE CANYON AKA West Fork up Oak Creek Canyon which is spectacular with fall colors that happen a bit earlier than around Sedona since it is at a higher elevation.. THIS ANNUAL PASS IS A MUST SINCE THE NP SERVICE CARD WILL NOT COUNT AT THESE THREE "CONCESSIONED" OFF PARKS...AND REMEMBER IF YOU are AGE 62, GET THE 10 DOLLAR ONE TIME FEE FOR LIFE SENIOR NATIONAL PARK PASS....YOU CAN PICK THIS UP AT THE VISITOR CENTER ON HWY 179...West Fork trail at Call of the Canyon park has a grotto with a creek under it MUST be seen....the colors on the first 1 mile or so are just amazing...
http://redrocknews.com/news/88888896-city-news/5381-usfs-introduces-new-recreation-pass
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5341872.
additionally if you don't have it already, get the State of Arizona State Parks annual pass as well...that will eliminate entry costs to all the state parks around you...a must have!!!
https://azstateparks.itinio.com/register/
I will be spending a full month again in Sedona starting at the end of October....can hardly wait!!!
And now you live right there!!!! Congratulations....!!!!! Try my other links .....all of the places in and around Flagstaff are doable for easy day trips for you know up I-17!!!! omg!!
oh here is one I forgot in FLG...well worth the visit!! Museum of Northern AZ...
https://musnaz.org/
I often take AMTRAK to FLG and rent a car (I am from SOCAL) and the FLG train station is a classic for photos since they have kept a lot of old time baggage carts . that are on the south side or rail area of the station..And they still actually use them since FLG is luggage capable stop on this route.....classic shots can be had there ..Dusk/twilight and night shots are cool there due to the lighting at the station....very cool. The old Route 66 town frontage area is across the street from the train station....
Two Amtrak trains come here one westbound and one eastbound.... The eastbound train depending on the time of year gets in around 5 AM (approx) and the westbound train pulls in around 9 PM (approx) but check the train schedule to be sure due to the time of year though most of AZ does not do Daylight Mountain time, the AMTRAK does make changes according to the time of the year.....For train foamers like myself, this is the cat's meow to see the Southwest Chief pull in...omg! I am foaming at the mouth just thinking about it....
This train also stops in Winslow, AZ at the La Posada Hotel!!! How neat is that!!!! The La Posada is a totally refurbed Fred Harvey Santa Fe RR hotel...A must see...and dinner and breakfast at the Turquoise Restaurant is another must ...The expansive grounds and interior of the La Posada demand at least an overnight stay!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagstaff_station
https://www.amtrak.com/southwest-chief-train
Navajo Nation observe daylight savings time ....but the Hopi Nation doesn't!!! Gets kind of odd therefore around Tuba City, AZ!!!
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/28310616/why-does-arizona-not-do-daylight-saving-time
La Posada Hotel link (again)
http://laposada.org/
And you have Fort Verde Days running from Oct 7-9.....wow!! Buffalo Soldiers and all!!!! What a photo op that is....I have stood by that huge flag pole (a ship's mast) in the Fort Verde parade ground for an hour one summer day shooting it from every angle due to the thunderclouds one afternoon....a full hour on the flag alone....and you live right there!!!!!!!!!!
http://sedonaverdevalley.org/event/fort-verde-days/
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/FOVE/index.html
OMG..the Cliff Castle Casino...OMG...that can be a good and a bad thing....mostly bad for me....ouch!
Cliff Castle Casino
http://www.cliffcastlecasinohotel.com/
and oh yeah ...the other must do things there......Jerome of course but these two as well....
the Verde Canyon Railroad ride ..one of the BEST in the USA!!! A must do..only 25 minutes or west of the city of Sedona!!
http://verdecanyonrr.com/product_categories/reservations/
and the relatively new Copper Art Museum in Clarkdale (near Cottonwood) in the converted Clarkdale H.S. The man that runs it is very personable...well worth the stop in that area which include Jerome, the Verde Canyon RR, downtown crawl of Cottonwood, and Tuzigoot Indian Ruin in Cottonwood, the Jerome State Historical Park
Tuzigoot
https://www.nps.gov/tuzi/index.htm
Jerome state historical park
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/JERO/
Copper Museum
http://www.copperartmuseum.com/
Jerome visitor site
http://www.azjerome.com/jerome/attractions/
Also at the Montezuma Well closer to you...make SURE you walk down the steps and see the water flowing OUT of the well..this is very interesting and they have made an excellent pave path to see it...which is at a different location than Montezuma's Castle...classic site with beautiful views of the Beaver Creek and all the trees...
Montezuma Well
https://www.nps.gov/moca/planyourvisit/exploring-montezuma-well.htm
Montezuma castle
https://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm
one more cool red rock parking area that is amazingly easy to do right at the traffic circle near the Tlaquepaque Arts and Craft Village
http://www.tlaq.com/sedona/home/
Rene French Restaurant is pretty darn good here
http://renerestaurantsedona.com/
is Schnebly Hill Road which is paved until Munds Wagon Trail where there is nice big parking area ...You can hike to the E from the lot and get a lot of unobstructed red rock views THOUGH it is so close to the city itself. They have weddings on the large tired red rock bench area there ..there is a dry creek (when it not raining) that you can follow with some great photos you would not imagine to be there this close to the inhabited area of Sedona. The Pink Jeep Tours go up this road ....it is a pretty rough dirt road AFTER the Munds Wagon Trail parking area but the one mile is paved from HWY 179 to this lot which is not more than 3 minutes from 179... Well worth the stop...
Schnebly Hill Road goes all the way to I-17 and it has been talked about to pave this road to offer another route into the city of Sedona itself....But for now most of it is a dirt road with some of it being pretty edgy/iffy if you are not driving the proper vehicle...the Pink Jeep Tours however have no problems on this exciting route... This little stop is unexpected....
Of course you have the traditional sunset viewing area at the airport to see the sun go down over the Cockscomb pinnacles in the distance to the West....Seeing the sun go down through those pinnacles depending on the time of the year is a big deal tourist stop I think also associated with that Sedona Vortex stuff... So expect a big crowd up there....The dusk photography at that spot is pretty amazing since you can see the immensity of the city of Sedona with all the lights below...with snow this is a pretty incredible sight as well.... Halfway up Airport Road is pull out to hike around that is well worth the stop and a trail that eventually ends up down at Crescent Moon Ranch as you navigate a trail on the north side of the huge mesa that the airport sits on....good views of Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock...
At the NW part of Sedona is the Aerie Trailhead parking lot which offers a unique trail from the parking lot to the south. Local hikers and mountain bikers go here....
You have to just walk a few hundred yards south from the trailhead parking lot on the marked trail to get a great view of the Cockscombs and you can even see Sedona H.S. and Cathedral rock in the distance...If you don't do this you will see Doe Mountain and Bear Mountain and the area where the Pink Jeep tours kick up a lot of dust!! So you will never know another magnificent view awaits if you do not start out on the Aerie Trail.....the sunsets here from the Aerie parking lot are the best in Sedona IMHO and you have to stay beyond the actual sunset for an afterglow period that can last 40 minutes on one of the West's biggest vistas....and then see the lights of Jerome twinkle on as the evening approaches...This area of Sedona is just 9 miles or so on a paved road from Highway 89A via Dry Creek Road initially then continually bearing left on Boynton Pass Road.......Next to Crescent Moon Ranch, this is my favorite place in Sedona....Boynton Pass Rd soon turns into dirt after the Aerie turnoff...this is widely used by Pink Jeep Tours...they seem to go to this flat plain the most of any of their tours below the western flank of Bear Mountain....You can drive a regular car on that dirt road but I would not due to the dust ...best to use Pink Jeep Tours I guess if you want to do that...
For me 4wheel drive means that you can get stranded and stuck further out...
Bear Mountain is illuminated brilliantly by afternoon western light since it faces west...the evening mountain silhouettes to the WNW are incredible at dusk and for at least 40 minutes into the western horizon afterglow....This must be experienced ...very unexpected for Sedona since the major concentration is all of the red rocks....I have seen at least 4 of the top 10 sunsets/afterglow sequences of my entire 68 years of life at the Aerie Trailhead vista view parking lot if you are patient and appreciate this kind of unlimited type of horizon landscape photography....The sunset image below is looking at Bear Mountain and the silhouetted mountains would be to the left of the Verde Canyon and then further left to Jerome... Like I said, nobody much bothers to come out there ...all of nine miles from Highway 89A from Sedona itself...!!!!
The cloud formations over Bear Mountain are incredible if you are patient both lower cumulus and cirriform ....Additionally with a dusting of snow...this area along Dry Creek Rd. to Aerie can be jaw dropping ....I would say Aerie is the least visited parking area in all of Sedona.....but for pure western panoramic vistas, it can't be beat...Remember to display your NP card or the Red Rock card in this lot...
.I have included some images below of Aerie....The Aerie Trail takes you towards the Cockscombs but you can turn on another trail right after the parking lot and go west instead of south to two small outcrops on a kind of peninsula that offers simply spectacular views..and NOBODY around except down below the busy as bees Pink Jeep Tours kick up the red dust for miles to NW...The photo looking at the west facing side of the Cockscombs is from the little side trail off the main Aerie Trail right...which forks off not more than 200 yards from the parking lot... Normally the only view most tourists will get of the Cockscombs is the silhouetted eastern slopes at sunset from the north end of the runway viewing area from the airport...
one last PS...on Highway 89 there is a road that turns off east bound to Tuba City (and eventually Monument Valley)....but only 3 miles or so as you climb to Tuba City is a place called Dinosaur Tracks...MAKE SURE YOU SEE THIS if going up to Page....the red cliffs in this area are magnificent as well...99% of the people or more driving on Highway 89 never know that this is here and so easy to get to...
http://www.placestoseeinarizona.com/tuba-city-dinosaur-tracks/
Elvis Presley movie "Stay Away, Joe" was filmed in Sedona.. the gorgeous initial scenes of this movies starts at the Cockscombs briefly...
https://youtu.be/YmC9q_tH33E
http://movies.nm-unlimited2.net/1960s/24stay_away_joe.html
http://www.cottonwoodhotel.com/elvispresley.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063643/
I have not dined here (yet) but Elvis and John Wayne did and it is supposed to have the best steaks in Sedona...The Cowboy Club. Just never got around to gong there...
http://www.cowboyclub.com/#cowboyclub
Included is a fall color image at the watermill in Crescent Moon Ranch Park..
Again...my hat's off to you for making this move!! dang!!!!
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Sep 19, 2016 19:50:14 #
correction....at the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, it is called the Turquoise Room not restaurant though that's what its....sorry. Their menus often feature local Native American selections .....wonderful place!!!!
Sep 19, 2016 21:44:00 #
Dear NorthPacific,
You are more than an encyclopedia of valuable information on the Sedona area and Northern Az. Did you ever live in the area? How did you gather so much info? Again, I am very grateful for what you have shared and it will keep me busy for some time. Thanks again.
You are more than an encyclopedia of valuable information on the Sedona area and Northern Az. Did you ever live in the area? How did you gather so much info? Again, I am very grateful for what you have shared and it will keep me busy for some time. Thanks again.
Sep 19, 2016 21:54:29 #
Definitely stop by Black Bart's in Flagstaff one night for dinner. You'll have a nice time, we had a blast.
Sep 19, 2016 22:19:57 #
linelink wrote:
Dear NorthPacific,
You are more than an encyclopedia of valuable information on the Sedona area and Northern Az. Did you ever live in the area? How did you gather so much info? Again, I am very grateful for what you have shared and it will keep me busy for some time. Thanks again.
You are more than an encyclopedia of valuable information on the Sedona area and Northern Az. Did you ever live in the area? How did you gather so much info? Again, I am very grateful for what you have shared and it will keep me busy for some time. Thanks again.
never lived there....just go there constantly but avoid the summer months....October to April usually....It is such an immense place and the sky/light conditions change everything .....so it never seems to the same to me....and the entire area of from Kingman to ABQ 100 to 150 miles either side of I-40 can fill your days with endless photographic possibilities...
This Festival of the Lights (Luminarias) at Tlaquepaque is pretty nifty if you get a chance ..I guess one could go all cynical about it but I really enjoy what they do......good photo re low light subject matter......nice family type of event....just up the road from you now!!! Helps to get there early though re parking...
Festival of Lights December 10, 2016 Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village - Sedona, AZ
http://festivalnet.com/44297/Sedona-Arizona/Holiday-Celebrations/Festival-of-Lights
Now back to see if Carson Wentz can engineer a victory against the Bears...!!! The Bears are knocking him around but good....Don't think it was a great idea of Lurie to trade Bradford to the Vikings for future draft picks...see what happens next....take care.
Sep 20, 2016 17:52:56 #
Looks like young Mr. Wentz is holding his own. Lurie may have won. Time will tell as it takes about five games and Wentz has not seen stiff competition yet. Next, you have generously given me such a wealth of information that has taken years to compile. I selfishly have questions for you, but promise not to be a pest. Is this the proper forum? Or do folks exchange emails. Anyway, mine is linelink@hotmail.com. If you feel that you have reached your limit, I understand and respect your privacy. Thank you once more for all your help.
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