dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

I monitor this forum nearly every day, but post infrequently. Now I have a reason to ask for your help. My children are treating me to a trip the 3rd week of March to the Grand Canyon with possible stops at Bryce, Zion, and Sedona, AZ. I read earlier someone's comments about jeep tours at one of these locations. Any suggestions for the best tours at any of these places would be much appreciated. I will be shooting with a 5D Mk II and a 5Ds. Lenses can range from my Canon 24-105L to the Tamron 150-600mm and/or the Canon 28-300L. Lens suggestions are welcome but buying one new one would be my limit in the lens category, and only if necessary. I'm mostly asking about where to spend my available shooting time. I understand that we will be shooting from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and I don't know about the other locations. No experience from earlier trips to draw from. Your expert opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...

tinplater Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Sedona is the spot, number of tours, but the oldest and best established are the Pink Jeep Tours. I have done this once and the two hour tour was unforgettable. Your timing in March is perfect, should be perfect temperatures. You have a nice selection of lenses, but I personally favor a high quality prime in the 20-24mm range. This is not going to look like Indiana....bold colors, amazing vistas, huge rock structures and facades. Your Tamron is likely to see little if any use. When we have visitors to Scottsdale, if they are only to see one thing, we recommend Sedona. It is amazingly beautiful.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Your 24-105 will be your best bet. If two cameras, which ever you think is the better (or lighter) zoom that covers the 300 to 400mm range.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

For Sedona, I also suggest the Pink Jeep Tours. They are first-rate, and go off-road to several locations. They have several different tours. I suggest you Google their website, Sedona Pink Jeep Tours, to see which of their tours best fits your needs and wants. it also lists prices and lets you make reservations online in advance. My wife, brother- and sister-in-law, and I were on one of the tours in late October, 2016, and the experience was great. Expect to use the wide-angle lenses the most, and take a large SD card and extra batteries. It's too beautiful there to be caught unprepared. However many photos you plan on taking, you will take more--guaranteed.

yochumd Loc: Wisconsin

You might go to Flickr and type in your locations. You'll get a great selection of what other people have found important to capture.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

There are no jeep tours of Zion or Bryce at least inside the park. Bryce at that time will be extremely cold so prepare. The North Rim of Grand Canyon will be closed because of the weather and will not open until May. And in May it will be cold also. The South Rim is open all year. Bryce is high in elevation while Zion is low in elevation but has extremely high cliffs that are 2000 feet. So the floor may be warm but up top there may be snow. It depends. Zion park has gone to the shuttle system at least part of the year and during the winter you can drive yourself. There are not a lot of roads in either Zion or Bryce. Basically one main road with some off shoots. There are two parts to Zion with one being the main and the other being Kolob. Kolob has access only off of I-15. Most people skip the Kolob section because of the accessibility. Zion is mostly a hiking park where Bryce is an on top of looking down park. Bryce has many hikes also but not sure how that will work out in March. A wide angle lens 28mm FF would be a requirement in all of these parks. A tripod would be helpful also. In Zion if you hike take a light Tripod because the trail are steep. March is a funny month weather wise and some parts of the canyons might be closed due to snow.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

I have been to all of your spots many, many years ago. I agree with the Pink Jeep recommendation for Sedona.

For Bryce and Zion, I recommend a horseback trail ride, if they still offer one. I would warn you however, not to do both in one day as I did. I am not a rider, and can still feel the saddle sores. Note that I found Bryce especially to be one of the most beautiful and memorable experience of my life.

Also, on horseback you probably do not want to try to switch lenses. I would carry 2 bodies, one with a moderate wide and one with a moderate tele.

Another suggestion in that general area (if time/budget permits) is Lake Powell.

Enjoy your trip.

jack30000

There are photography tours to some of these places also. Seriously considering this one: http://www.ahpw.org/workshops/2017/Bryce-Canyon-National-Park-Photography-Workshop-2017-10-12/

photonutbob Loc: ME,CT,MA

Have done the Pink Jeep tour, it was well worth the price, Have a nice trip.

Photonutbob

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

We have taken the Pink jeep tour in Sedona. Very good and popular

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

If you are going to have the time or make time ~ I'd make the slot canyons in the Lake Powell are my #1 priority

shutterbob Loc: Tucson

I agree with the suggestions for taking one of the Pink Jeep tours in Sedona. The one going up Schnebly Hill Road is fun and gives you many chances for photos of some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. You can book a tour online or in person while in Sedona. I would recommend taking a single lens since this area is very dusty and changing out lenses is not going to do any favors for your sensor. I shoot Nikon and have found my 24-120 to be a great choice here. You rarely need anything wider here and moderate cropping will get you as "close" as you need for most shots. Weather is usually nice in March but be prepared.....it can snow. The air here is dry so bring water....and drink it. You can dehydrate in the desert air even if it's cool. Enjoy your trip to this beautiful corner of the country.

topcop

I have visited Sedona for over 20 years and hiked is extensively. You can drive almost anywhere a jeep tour goes. That's ALMOST anywhere. Make sure you go to Red Rock Crossing at sunset for a shot of Oak Creek and Castle Rock. I is a must. The color is amazing. Another spot for sunset is Schnebly Hill Rd. Only have to drive till the pavement ends and there is a parking area on the left, but if you have a high clearance vehicles, you can go to the top of the rim. Avoid the airport overlook at sunset. Very crowded.

Get out into the back country by heading west on Dry Creek Rd. Just keep turning left until you are on some good gravel roads where you can go miles in open country.

Also, take a hike up the West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon for some amazing scenery and water shots. Plenty of easy hikes in the area, but everything from easy to strenuous.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

Thanks to all for your thoughtful suggestions. I'm forwarding your ideas to my daughter who is planning the trip. Sounds like the 24-105 will continue to be my main go-to lens for this trip. You have all been very helpful.

cdayton

In addition to these good suggestions, I would include Montezuma's Castle off I17 south of Sedona. Also, the Oak Creek drive from Sedona to Flagstaff has lots of photo opportunities. A fabulous, but expensive, way to see the canyon is via a helicopter ride.