photog17

Greetings, my wife and I have planned a long-awaited trip in about a month to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. We also plan to take in Grand Staircase and the Page, Arizona, the latter of which includes Horseshoe Bend. We'll do the whole trip in a week so it'll be a busy time. We have never been there before but purposely chose this season of the year in hopes the crowds will be smaller. And if we can capture some fall color at Zion, that would be great (from what I hear, we'll be too late for Bryce because of the higher elevation).

Based on your experience, I'd appreciate any tips you may have about photographing all these areas. Which are must-do's? Which do you consider the best sites for sunrise and sunset? In particular, which prime areas are safe to get to before sunrise in the dark? I want to get great images but I don't want to risk my life doing it. What travel restrictions do we need to be aware of? And which equipment would be best for these areas? I have a Nikon D750 with a 16-35, 24-120, 70-200 as well as a 50 and 105/2.8 macro. Many thanks for your help.

brucebc Loc: Tooele, Utah

How are you traveling once you get in the area? Do you have off highway driving experience?

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

If you get good weather, October is a great time to visit Utah. What will you be driving and how much adventure do you want to subject yourself to? You can drive a sedan to pretty much all the vantage points in Bryce Canyon and there are numerous hiking trails. Zion restricts private vehicles so you must take a shuttle to the various drop off points and then walk. The Grand Staircase Escalante is more remote and the only time I drove through it I had a four-wheel drive vehicle and I needed it. There are tour boats on Lake Powell and I found the trip to Rainbow Bridge to worth the price. The possibilities are many and you should plan carefully to take full advantage of your week.

photog17

Just renting a sedan. I'm not really an off-road driver. So I just want to drive (or ride) to good jumping-off spots and hike from there as needed.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

It is beautiful out there.
It is a great month to visit.
A lot of driving though to hit all those places.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Do not shy away from Bryce. The weather shouldn’t be that bad, and if you do, you’ll miss some great views.

RSpinney Loc: Maine

I visited those areas back in the good old days of 35mm cameras (1971). I had with me two of them: one with a 28mm lens; the other with an 85-205mm zoom. Now, I would take my trusty bridge camera (Kodak PIXPRO AZ901) from macro and 22mm to 1980mm optical. None of the hassle of changing lenses.

Have fun on your trip!

jtwind

It's hard to go wrong in So. Utah when it comes to photo opps. Just about anywhere can be good. Do some scouting and planning midday. As for crowds, there probably isn't much of a slow time. Half the people go in the fall in hopes of fewer people, that makes for lots of people.

CYR

I would wait until after 11/01 to do Zion. The leaves are typically changing about then and the shuttle you must use to get around the park shuts down so you can use your own vehicle which makes it easier to get around with camera gear. Also, don’t miss the Kolob Canyon section of the park.

David Lyon

Horseshoe bend it a 3/4 mike walk from the parking lot, over the hill. Having been twice, it is something you need a ultra wide angle to get in one shot (seeing how I shoot film, the 21mm covered it).

If you have a chance, go to Monument Valley, and then just NE, Gooseneck State Park in Utah, you will find 3 bends in the river vs Horseshoe’s one.

You could make one very large loop, starting at Zion, through Page and Look through SE Utah back around to Hanksville to catch Capital Reef on the way back to Bryce. This will cover Three if the Five parks.

Roice

Check this website for Zion . . . Joe's Guide to Zion National Park
https://www.citrusmilo.com/zionguide/

ltj123 Loc: NW Wisconsin

Been to all most all 2 and 4 years ago AND working our way there now from northern California probably less then a week. Going for items missed during prior trips...

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

That will hamper travel in Grand Staircase. No paved roads. If you get any rain the roads through GS will be impossible.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Kolob closed due to road work.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

If the road isn’t snowed in the north rim of Grand Canyon is kinda on your way from Zion to Bryce.

The standard sunrise place in Zion is behind the Visotor’s Center. It is OK to walk out beyond the fence.

One place to be sure to visit is the Overlook trail that departs from just above the tunnel. It is an easy hike but not for those afraid of height.

Angels Landing and some other trails were closed a couple of weeks ago from storms in July so may still be closed. Angels Landing not for those afraid of heights also...and requires stout legs and lungs.