Sam Dog

Hello all! We will be going to Utah arriving August 3rd, Plan is to go to Arches Nat'l. Park that evening and night. While there I want to photograph the Milky Way. I've only done it once and wasn't thrilled, yet satisfied for a first timer. So I plan on really getting that "one" photo if you will. I have photo pills on the phone but I am looking for first hand knowledge from you living in Utah when the Milky Way is rising, arching. I would love to get one arched across the sky. I know during that time that my time is limitied due to the moon's rise and setting etc...any help here is appreciated. The plan is to also to go to Little Wild Horse Canyon, The House of Fire, and Monument Valley. Anyone here if you have photographed any of these what's your preferred time of day, and psossily settings? I'm not to worried about settings because I'll photograph until I can't photograph no more...We leave Utah on the 6th to head back to Denver to fly out on the 9th. A stop along the way just not sure where yet. in Colorado anyone have suggestions for RMNP? Cripple Creek? Royal Gorge? Thank you for any input.

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

I've been to Monument Valley and any time is the right time for photography. John Ford point is the place to go. A polorizing filter helps a lot. You'll love it.

Ken S.

anotherview Loc: California

While in Utah after visiting Arches NP, you may wish to visit Canyonlands NP, nearby to ANP.

The town of Moab, Utah, lies near both NPs.

Note that if you plan to stay in Moab, then make your room reservation now, not later. The lower-priced rooms go fast, leaving only the more expensive ones available.

I speak from experience having visited both ANP and CNP several times.

Green River Overlook, Canyonlands NP

Rhl0630

Stop at COLORADO monument. Only A few hours to drive through it. It’s on your way. I’d go to RMNP —-or mount Evans to see the mountain sheep and bristlecone pines

Sam Dog

Ken S. Thank you for the John Ford Point info.

Sam Dog

Rhl0630 Thanks for the Colorado national moniment suggestion as it is on the way.

woodworkerman Loc: PA to FL

From Denver, go up to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park is fun. And the RMNP is amazing for photography of scenery and animals. Take a long and a wide angle lens, too, if you can.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Do use a Haze remover?

wwright Loc: Tucson

We just got back from a loop around Utah. Night photography will be a challenge, the sun doesn't set till almost 9PM (although this is June with its longer days). Arches was fantastic, but crowded. We stayed in Green River UT, about 30 miles away, and 100 dollars a night cheaper. To get the best color, avoid midday. Its been a while, but I lived in Denver for many years. Royal Gorge is very touristy, and really not much more than a bridge over a ravine. Although, near there is the Great Sand Dunes, which might be the ideal spot for night photography. RMNP, east side is spectacular. You can do a loop going up the one way dirt road (Fall River road), and coming back to Estes Park on the paved road. Mount Evans is also great. One thing about mountain visits in Colorado, go early in the day, especially if hiking. During the summer months, storms start forming at about noon in the high country. They are isolated, but can be intense. Above 11,000 feet, you are above the tree line, and typically the highest thing around for lightning to hit. I was stuck in a storm on top of Mount Evans once. We were in a vehicle, but between the marble sized hail and being IN THE storm cloud - it was a bit stressful. Below is a snap from the sun roof of the line into Arches at about 10 in the morning.

gunflint Loc: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

Either direction you go on I70, I would definitely go up Mt Evans as suggested. On your way back to Denver, if you want to go to RMNP, turn at highway 40 and go up thru Granby and then over Trail Ridge Road in the park. Take highway 36 from Estes Park to I25 and then to Denver. This year there is virtually no snow left even driving the highest continuous road in America. I went up for the usual Memorial Day road opening and was shocked at the least snow I have ever seen up there. But...the water falls were flowing at the highest level I have seen. (I live 1 hr away)

I have been to Mon Valley 3 times in the past year or so. If possible stay at The View Hotel, amazing and great food. My personal favorite times are sunsets with the Mittens and then sunrise at various points on the loop road. Both morning and evening give you much different looks to the formations. Star photos can be amazing even from the View Hotel. That time of summer you could get some interesting clouds, thunderstorms, and lightning.

I hope the smoke from our forest fires has cleared for you by then!

Dave

billnourse Loc: Bloomfield, NM

I shot in Arches last night. Got some good sunset and blue light shots, but there was too much moon for the Milkyway to show though it was arched right over the windows arches. I did get a bit of Milkyway at balancing rock. Left the park at 12:00 and the moon was still high.

Bill

Sam Dog

Rellay liking the replies, and I thank you all. According to Photo Pills looks like every night the best time to shoot will be around 10pm to 1am. Not a prob as my motto (and it's on cards) "To get the shot, you must be willing to take the shot" no matter what you have to do to get the shot, you do it.

PeterBergh

I was at Royal Gorge once; never again. IMHO, it's the archetypal tourist trap.

Cripple Creek is a modernized gold-rush town, now primarily known for legal gambling. Nearby Victor (~ 6 miles away), another gold-rush town, is much less modernized and so probably more authentic. It's certainly more run down.

Once you are in Victor, at the east end of town, there's a road (Teller County 81 (?)) going south and taking you through Phantom Canyon. Phantom Canyon is very scenic. If you go through Phantom Canyon, you can stay on the road, cross US 50, and end up in a small town, whose name escapes me, with lots of antique stores. Should you wish to return to Colorado Springs after Phantom Canyon, take US 50 east and turn north onto CO 115.

If you stay on the road out of Victor, you will encounter Teller County 8 (Gold Camp Road) whose first half is quite scenic and whose second half is kind of boring but eventually lands you in the south part of Colorado Springs.

If you don't want to take either of these byways, keep going until you hit a stop sign, then go right on CO 67, and continue until you run into US 24. Go east and it will take you to Colorado Springs.

Both Phantom Canyon and Gold Camp Road can be crowded on week ends, so try to take these roads on week days.

Another worthwhile destination near Colorado Springs is Calhan Paint Mines. To get there, take US 24 east out of Colorado Springs until you get to Calhan. Just at the east end of town, take the road (Paint Mines Road (?)) south and follow the signs to the Paint Mines interpretive park. It has some, geologically recent, very interesting rock formations.

Of course, in Colorado Springs itself, there's Garden of the Gods. Again, crowded on week ends.

vinnya Loc: connecticut

Looked at the moon phase and it will be 60 percent at that time so it may hinder in getting a good shot of the Milky Way still being so bright

wwright Loc: Tucson

Florence? I used to own some land just outside of there - Locke Mountain Ranch