Easy access photo sites in Bryce and Zion Canyons: My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I...

riskot Loc: Texas

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

If you have an tablet, download The Photographer's Ephemeris, http://photoephemeris.com, which will work with your GPS to tell you where be best locations are for Sunrise and Sunset.

It's been years since I've been to Bryce, but I remember some easy to drive to locations for S/S photography. Just be aware of Dears standing in the road behind blind corners!

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Once you get to Zion interior there is a shuttle you have to ride, the drivers should be able to point you to some great locations.
I shot a sunset and the Milky Way from Canyon Junction and was pretty happy.
Btw Zion kicks but for stars/MW.
Bryce has a multitude of scenic photo ops with easy access.
Have fun, these parks are jaw dropping beauty! I am Jealous! :-D

MW

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

Any place you can pull off the road between the eastside Zion entrance (north of Kanab) and the tunnel will have something. The something depends on the angle of the light. Although this may sound strange, pray for rain.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Bryce has a number of accessible locations for photos. The NPS website gives info and maps to help you plan.

http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/directions.htm

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

if you are going that far, you may as well travel on and see Canyonlands and Arches also. Many areas to stop at the side of the road and take great photos. if you do not already have one, a lifetime federal parks pass is $10.00 for seniors and good for all passengers in your auto to any national park in the USA for the rest of your life.

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

There are abundant locations at Bryce for fantastic photo ops - here are a few. Don't miss the sunrise for sure - the colors are amazing.

Sunrise Point
http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/sunrise.htm

Sunset Point
http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/sunset.htm

Bryce Point
http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/brycepoint.htm

Can't help you with Zion as I haven't been there.

MtnMan Loc: ID

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

In Zion the favorite sunrise spot is right behind the museum.

Bryce provides an abundance of great spots you can drive to. The best for sunrise is just inside the park. It might be called sunrise point. I have made the mistake of driving by it in the morning.

MtnMan Loc: ID

BassmanBruce wrote:

Once you get to Zion interior there is a shuttle you have to ride, the drivers should be able to point you to some great locations.
I shot a sunset and the Milky Way from Canyon Junction and was pretty happy.
Btw Zion kicks but for stars/MW.
Bryce has a multitude of scenic photo ops with easy access.
Have fun, these parks are jaw dropping beauty! I am Jealous! :-D

The shuttle doesn't run all year but I think starts in early April for weekends at least.

If you have a handicap license you might be able to get a car pass anytime. Check their Web site. Also if you stay at the hotel ($$$$$) you can get a pass to drive to it.

Be sure to drive up through the tunnel. Nice pullouts along the mesa. Keep an eye out fot bighorn sheep up there. Along the river watch for deer and wikd turkey.

micolh Loc: NYC

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

We are going in September. Keep us posted. Have a great time.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

If you have an tablet, download The Photographer's Ephemeris, http://photoephemeris.com, which will work with your GPS to tell you where be best locations are for Sunrise and Sunset.

It's been years since I've been to Bryce, but I remember some easy to drive to locations for S/S photography. Just be aware of Dears standing in the road behind blind corners!

I tried the link and it's bad.

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

rmm0605 wrote:

I tried the link and it's bad.

try this.
http://www.photoephemeris.com/
the one above doesn't have the www.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

b2bjacks wrote:

try this.
http://www.photoephemeris.com/
the one above doesn't have the www.

I should have noticed! Thanks!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

I, too, will be in Zion the end of April and one of the references I used for researching where and how to access photographic locations was this website: http://www.citrusmilo.com/zionguide/

I've been to Zion a few times before and, as others have mentioned, the bridge over the Virgin River is one of the nicest and easiest to access places to set up nice shots. You may also find some easy ambling trails in 'Joe's Guide to Zion' in the link I gave. It provides distances and degree of difficulty. As a senior, I look for easy!

Maybe I'll see you there!

Fayle Loc: Seward, Alaska and Rionegro, Colombia

riskot wrote:

My wife and I will be visiting Bryce and Zion National Parks in late April, 2016. Being plagued with advanced age and a bad back I wonder if any Ugly Hedgehog members can recommend any easily accessible photo spots for great sunrise and/or sunset photography.

Thanks for any suggestions

One of the classic shots at Zion is "The Watchman" taken from the bridge at sunset. Be sure to get there early to get your spot picked out. You won't be alone.
http://www.fayledvisionphotography.com/SouthWestUS/Zion-National-Park-2011/i-zGCxf9Q

As MtnMan mentioned, sunrise behind the museum is a classic shot of the Towers of the Virgin.
http://www.fayledvisionphotography.com/SouthWestUS/Zion-Bryce-Valley-of-Fire-2012/i-d42WQCB

Also check out this series of books.
http://www.amazon.com/Photographing-Southwest-Vol-1-Southern-Utah/dp/0916189236/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455725067&sr=8-1&keywords=laurent+martres