Road Trip to the American West Canyons: A Photo Adventure
(6 Awesome Parks You Just Have to Visit)
With the coronavirus still a big concern in USA, Americans are looking to vacation safely during the pandemic and the national parks are turning out to be ideal destinations for outdoor adventures, wide open protected areas that allow for physical distancing. Yellowstone park, as an example, typically sees about 4 million visitors a year, was down 32 percent in June compared to June 2019 — but over the last 10 days of the month, the numbers surged: More people came at the end of June this year than at the same time last year. But you need to do a little homework before you go to find out what’s open or not, some parks are at different stages of re-opening. Each state has different rules and masks will be needed in confined areas and in hotels.
So here are some of the top attractions you need to visit in the USA National Parks, especially the American West Canyon area. These parks give you a chance to get back to nature, explore the wilderness, and gaze up at pristine night skies. The western United States has a multitude of National Parks, and each one is distinct and unique – but for this road adventure, I’m going to take you on a road trip we did last year that started in Vegas and went to the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, then on to Zion National Park in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah, then Horseshoe Bend, Arizona before heading back to Vegas.
So, in this American West Canyon photo adventure travel guide, we will take you to some very special places, share with you tips on how to photograph these sites and the best ways to get there. All photos were taken with my Canon EOS 6D camera using my 3-favourite lens – EF-16-35mm F/4L IS USM / EF-24-105mm f/4L IS USM / EF-70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.
Hope you enjoy the photos!
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is a little-known gem of amazing sandstone only 50 miles from Las Vegas. We started our Canyon lands tour here. Early in the morning we left Vegas to catch the sunrise over the valley. The Fire Wave is quickly becoming an icon of the American West. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/8 with an ISO setting of 100 in tripod.
The Wild & Rugged Valley of Fire
The best time to visit the Valley of Fire State Park is in spring and fall. You can get there from Las Vegas in only 1-hour drive. We went in September and decided to hike through the Fire Wave early in the morning to avoid the hot sun. I’m glad we did – bring lots of water – you’ll need it on the hike. This photo of the “Rugged Valley” was taken with my Canon EF-70-200mm lens; in AV mode; at f/8 with an ISO setting of 100 in a tripod.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a 2 ½ hour drive from the Valley of Fire State park and is a southwest Utah nature preserve distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red cliffs. Rising in Utah’s high plateau country, the Virgin River carves its way to the desert below through a gorge so deep and narrow that sunlight rarely penetrates to the bottom. As the canyon widens, the river runs past great palisade walls rimmed with slick rock peaks and hanging valleys. This photo of the Zion Mountains was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; f/11 with an ISO setting of 320.
The Narrows
The Narrows is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon and is probably one of the most legendary canyons to hike in all of Zion National Park. Here, the majestic walls of the main canyon close in on you from both sides to form a tall and narrow canyon with beautiful dark corners and the Virgin River flowing around you as you hike up the river. You will be hiking in knee-deep water most of the time and it gets more challenging the furthur you go down the stream. Permits are needed if you hike sixteen miles downstream over one or two days. This photo “The Narrows“ was taken with my Canon EF-24-105mm lens; in AV mode; f/14 with an ISO setting of 320
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah and is another 2 ½ hour drive from Zion National Park. The major feature of the park is Bryce Canyon, which despite its name is not a canyon, but a collection of giant geological structures called hoodoos, which are the product of the destructive powers of water and time. The canyon is one of the best places on the planet to observe the forces that shape the surface of our earth. Bryce Canyon is a photographer’s paradise of striking landscapes and dynamic light. The hoodoos of Bryce Canyon’s main amphitheatre are spectacular in the morning glow of sunrise. This photo of the sunrise over Bryce Canyon was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/9 with an ISO setting of 100 on tripod.
Bryce Canyon National Park Wall Street
When you hike down Wall St. you will find the following trio of pine trees next to one of the enormous Bryce hoodoo walls. Makes you feel kind of small besides these gorgeous trees. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/13 with an ISO setting of 640.
Bryce Canyon National Park Night Photography
Bryce Canyon is the ultimate place to enjoy the splendour of the night sky. Far from the light pollution of civilization, I stood out here at 4am in the morning hoping I wouldn’t get eaten by a grizzly bear or coyote – but I survived to tell the tale. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in manual mode; 30 sec; f/4 with an ISO setting of 8000 on tripod.
Bryce Canyon National Park Hoodoos
The Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon are tall, thin spires of rock with hooded tops and are situated in the High Plateaus region of the Colorado Plateau in Utah. It’s the biggest cluster of these unusual-looking geological features anywhere in the world. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-70-200mm lens; in AV mode; f/9 with an ISO setting of 1250 on tripod.
Bryce Canyon National Park Fairyland
Rising 8,073 feet above the Fairyland Canyon floor, I was able to capture this view of this canyon, which resembles a Dr. Seuss Artscape gone to stone. Formations rise from the cactus-strewn landscape like earthen citadels. Hoodoos form where soft rock, like sandstone, is covered in a thin layer of harder rock. Weathering processes then erode these rocks into the pinnacles that we see today. These were magical photographic moments for me. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/11 with an ISO setting of 100 on tripod.
White Pocket, Arizona
The next day we joined a photography workshop run by Action Photo Tours in Kanab, Utah. They have the kind of vehicle you need to get into this amazing location. Located deep in the Sand Hills in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, White Pocket is remote area and requires a good 4WD vehicle to reach this destination. We were bounced up & down and all around for a 1-hour drive, but I think the gruelling trip was worth the photos. White Pocket is like entering a fantasy landscape on an alien planet. Some think that the area was liquefied in an ancient earthquake, which distorted the sandstone layers while they were still soft, before they were buried under the oceans for 100 million years and turned to stone under the enormous heat and pressure. These could in fact be sections of some enormous central cortex for the brain. This photo was taken just after sunset, when the cloud formation above the rocks was really interesting and a young girl was practising her yoga poses. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/16 sec with an ISO setting of 4000 in a tripod.
White Pocket Moonscape
This photo of the was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in TV mode; 1/40 sec with an ISO setting of 500 in a tripod.
White Pocket Twilight Tree
There are many places in the southwestern United States that you just can’t describe in words. They are hidden gems and absolutely wonderful and even weird at times, like this rock formation at White Pocket. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/11 with an ISO setting of 100 lying down on my back.
White Pocket Moonscape
The brain rocks area at White Pocket is so amazing with the outcropping of white rock plopped in the sand of the Coyote Buttes area. In every direction there is a fantastic photo opportunity. This photo of the was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/11 with an ISO setting of 100.
Antelope Canyon
From the White Pockets Arizona, we drove to Page AZ to spend 2 nights. Next day we had a photo tour booked at Antelope Canyon. This is a scenic slot canyon on Navajo land just east of Page, Arizona. Rainwater during monsoon season runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways eroded away, making the corridors deeper and smoothing hard edges in such a way as to form characteristic “flowing” shapes in the rock. Truly a photographer’s dreamland. TIP – take the photographers tour, otherwise you will have masses of people crowded into the slot canyons and it will be impossible to get these kinds of photos shown. The photo tour guide makes sure there are no people in the canyon when you photograph. Also, a tripod is needed because of the low light condition. This photo of the was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/9 with an ISO setting of 320 in a tripod.
Antelope Canyon
Deep inside Antelope Canyon cavern slots, there’s lies the heart of Antelope canyon – but you must look up high to see it. Once again a photo tour guide was helpful in pointing out the many canyon features. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/9 with an ISO setting of 320 in a tripod.
Antelope Canyon
Beautiful abstract patterns of nature abound everywhere you look in the Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon. We only had a chance to do the upper canyon on this trip, but if you are able to climb, then the lower canyon is also interesting. If you stare long enough you will see shapes of animals and all kind of things. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; at f/9 with an ISO setting of 320 in a tripod.
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend in Arizona is about 10 minutes from Page, AZ and has offered astonishing views for centuries. It’s where the Colorado River makes a 270-degree turn at the bottom of a 700-foot-deep canyon and it’s quickly becoming an iconic image that represents the Grand Canyon. This is truly one of the Southwest’s “small wonders” near the beginning of Grand Canyon National Park. Hiking to the Horseshoe Bend overlook is relatively quick and easy. You can park your car close by and hike down the trail. I literally had my tripod 2 inches from the edge using a wide-angle lens in order to capture this image. This photo was taken with my Canon EF-16-35mm lens; in AV mode; f/11 with an ISO setting of 100 on tripod.
From our stay at Page AZ, we then drove back to Vegas to catch the plane home the next day.
We hope you enjoyed our photo adventures in the Canyonlands and will stay in touch with us.
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4 thoughts on “Road Trip to the American West Canyons: A Photo Adventure”
Peter and Susan,
Such amazing images! I enjoyed the photos and the narratives and I especially appreciated you listing the lens you shot with and the settings.
This gives me the idea that I should take a similar trip with my photo buddy next year when I get my new Scamp camper!
Peter, I always enjoy your photos on 365.
Jean Paschke AKA Karly
Thanks so much Jean for visiting our site and sharing your thoughts. Look forward to hearing back from you on your trip with the new “Scamper Camper” 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Great ideas for a future trip.
Hi Bill – thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment