Best vantage point at Grand Canyon: I am traveling to Sedona, AZ over Christmas and driving up to the Grand Canyon for a couple of days...bucket list...check. As I will have a car and...

Jerry Bruzek

I am traveling to Sedona, AZ over Christmas and driving up to the Grand Canyon for a couple of days...bucket list...check.
As I will have a car and coming from the south, is there a "best" vantage point to shoot that "hang it over the fireplace" keepsake?
Thank you!

ELNikkor

There are many such vantage points, but much of the amazingness can be attributed to the season, time of day, cloud arrangements, sun location, lens choice, polarizer, post processing etc. I took some last year right near sun-down of my son out on a forbidden pillar, (he's a teen, I didn't know he was going out there!), which would make a great wall-hanger. A half-hour later, an almost-full moon was coming up in a different location, as the sun lit the canyon walls from another angle. I was only there that evening, but the photos were amazing. (South wall, common areas, NOT the glass overhang.)

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

This time of year, I think the South rim is better late afternoon to early evening. The sun is lower at that time and gives nice shadows on the North rim walls. It's all good and is truly "GRAND" !!!!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Jerry Bruzek wrote:

I am traveling to Sedona, AZ over Christmas and driving up to the Grand Canyon for a couple of days...bucket list...check.
As I will have a car and coming from the south, is there a "best" vantage point to shoot that "hang it over the fireplace" keepsake?
Thank you!

Mine were all from the north rim about 1/4 way down.
But most anywhere on the south rim is good.
Just get some shadows to give a sense of depth.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Living in Phoenix in the mid 90s, I've been to the Grand Canyon several times, always entering from the Sedona area. My last trip in 2017 started in Colorado and had me entering the park from the East end instead of the South. As it was last afternoon, I was driving into the sun / sunset as I headed to a rental on the South Rim, Bright Angel Lodge (I think). Below is an image from the first evening, driving along the rim from the East entrance. Staying on the rim, I have others from sunrise the next morning. After hiking to Bright Angel Point and back the next morning, I have plenty from the trail, but nothing more from the rim, being exhausted and all.

South Rim by Paul Sager, on Flickr

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Some useful information directly from the park. Scroll down past the basic stuff, but I liked the "Zoom in with your lens, not your feet". It is a long ways to the bottom!
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/photography.htm

JBRIII

North rim will almost certainly be closed by now! If North open, likely no services, over flowing toilets, etc. Honest, that is how we found it one year weather allowed it open after normal closing date which is in Oct. I believe.

WGWATSON

Jerry Bruzek wrote:

I am traveling to Sedona, AZ over Christmas and driving up to the Grand Canyon for a couple of days...bucket list...check.
As I will have a car and coming from the south, is there a "best" vantage point to shoot that "hang it over the fireplace" keepsake?
Thank you!

Hike down the South Kaibab trail about 1 mile to Cedar Ridge to be there at sunrise. Great 270* panorama. Stop 1st at "OOH-AAH point" on the way down

williejoha

I have always received the best info from the park rangers. Years ago I shot the moonrise from the point recommended by the ranger. Turned out to be a true wall hanger. The spot became very popular after I took my place by showing up early. Sorry but I can’t remember the corner.
WJH

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I walked along the south rim for a couple of miles; every step was a photographer's dream! The photo I wanted to attach is too big and it's the only one I have on this device.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Geez... I didn't think it had been so long, but just realized the last time I shot the Grand Canyon it was with 4x5 film! I keep meaning to have those transparencies scanned to digital, don't have means of doing it myself or enough sheet film images to justify buying a high resolution flat bed scanner.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

When I was there decades ago, there wasn't a glass overhang yet. Back then the north rim closed to tourists this time of year. I doubt my experience back then will help you now.

JBRIII

PHRubin wrote:

When I was there decades ago, there wasn't a glass overhang yet. Back then the north rim closed to tourists this time of year. I doubt my experience back then will help you now.

Glass overhang is at the west rim, quite some distance from Flagstag, etc.

Rugger

Jerry Bruzek wrote:

I am traveling to Sedona, AZ over Christmas and driving up to the Grand Canyon for a couple of days...bucket list...check.
As I will have a car and coming from the south, is there a "best" vantage point to shoot that "hang it over the fireplace" keepsake?
Thank you!

I cann’t find my copy, but a fellow I know WADE THORSON, wrote a booklet about the best places and times to shoot the Grand Canyon. Phone 520-774-7397. If phone is no good, mother’s email is thorsond@commspeed.net. She runs a small vacation house rental. Good luck

Rugger

PS. One of his photos made cover of Arizona Highways. He use to do photo guided tours.