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(TGA) - Travel - Hi,
I was wondering if anyone would be able to suggest any amendments to my itinerary for the beginning of June from Vegas to Colorado via the national parks of Utah and Arizona.
I have incorporated the helpful information from my previous posts and from other posts in the forums and was just after some clarifications and any advice on the trip. (Apologies for the long post)
8th June:
Drive from Vegas to Bryce Canyon. Shoot Bryce at Sunset from the amphitheatre and take some star shots.
Q) MapQuest says it will take 4 hours 15 minutes to drive, how long should I add on for getting out of Vegas?
Q) Which route should I take I-15 to UT-20 then US-89 or I-15 to UT-14 at Cedar City to US-89?
Q) Is the Kolob Canyon section of Zion worth visiting on the way or would it put too much stress on making it to Bryce for the Sunset?
Q) Which amphitheatre point would be the best for sunset?
Q) Is the scenic road to the end of the park worthwhile or are we better focusing on doing a hike into the canyon?
9th June:
Bryce Canyon sunrise from Inspiration Point.
Hike the Navajo and Queens Garden loops (hopefully visiting Wall Street if the trail has reopened)
Drive to Grand Canyon - North Rim, Sunset at Bright Angel Point, Night shots.
Q) Is Bright Angel good for Sunset photography?
10th June:
Sunrise at Cape Royal
Drive to Page
Antelope Canyon in the afternoon, Glen Canyon and Wahweap Marina towards evening followed by Horseshoe bend for sunset
Q) Is Cape Royal or Point Imperial better for Sunrise and should we consider either of them for sunset instead of Bright Angel Point?
Q) Where in Page would the best spot for sunset be? I have conflicting information about Horseshoe Bend for it
11th June:
Full day Antelope Canyon and surround, Evening at Monument Valley
12th June:
Dawn / Sunrise shoot at Monument Valley
Drive to Moab, stopping at Newspaper Rock on the way
Scope out Mesa Arch for the next morning and visit the view points in Canyon lands
Sunset at Dead horse State park
Q) Apart from Mesa Arch / Dead Horse State Park, and a couple of viewpoints in Canyon lands is there anything else that we should photograph Or are we better to focus on Arches?
Q) Should we photography Dead Horse in the morning after Mesa Arch instead of sunset and shoot a sunset in Arches instead?
13th June:
Dawn / Sunrise at Mesa Arch
Arches specifically for Landscape Arch, Turret Arch and
Delicate Arch
Sunset at Delicate Arch
Star shots at Turret Arch
Q) Are there any other must see areas of Arches?
14th June:
Dawn / Sunrise at Turret Arch
Drive to Denver.
Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions, we have been looking forward to this trip for about 3 years now and
I just want to make sure that we can make the most of it.
Thanks
Aaron
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So you will be at North Rim for the Astronomy Festival.Lucky you! That runs from June 5-12.Its great you will love it.
Depending on when you leave Vegas,you sholuld definitely stop at Kolob Canyon on the way to Bryce.In fact,I'm sort of wondering why you are leaving out Zion from your trip.(except for the Kolob part).Straight thru give yourself 5 hours Vegas to Bryce.I would head I15 to hwy14 out of Cedar City.Also see Cedar Breaks Natl Monument.You should also plan a drive to the top of Brian Head Peak(snow permitting).
The scenic road to the end at Bryce very pretty.Go all the way to the end and hit the viewpoints on the way back to the entrance.
At the NR, enjoy the views thru the telescopes.They set up on the patio of the lodge,and dim the lights of the lodge.There are professors on summer break that have laser pointers to show all the planets ,stars ,etc.We were amazed to see the space station streak across the sky.By the way,bring a flashlight for the walk back to your room.It is so dark out there you can't see the ground beneath your feet.
On the drive to Page,see Lees Ferry and the Colorado River up close.See Lonely Dell Ranch nearby.As for good shots of Horseshoe Bend,I believe around noon is best.That way the whole canyon is lit up.At sunset you will be looking into the sun.From my experience,you want to be looking east at sunset,to see the rocks glow.
I'let the Moab people take over from here
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Well I'm neither Moab people nor much into photography. I know enough now to look which way the shadows are, but I'll give you my thoughts about your questions.
*If you leave LV first thing you will definitely have time for Kolob (it may make you wish you'd put Zions in your plans :-0). Add at least an hour in LV if you are arriving that day. If you are arriving that day only later then you'll have to judge whether you can stop at Kolob or not. It really shouldn't take too much time (an hour could do it). If you head up hwy 14 then you should plan to stop at least at the visitors center area at Cedar Breaks. You could drive faster hwy 20 but since it is longer it might be just as quick to go 14. Remember you have till 8:30 before sunset.
*There are some nice things to see along the scenic drive though except for the Natural Bridge not to compare with the other hoodoos. But I expect you'll want to see Natural bridge, so hopefully you'll give yourself time for that. But not at the expense of a hike down into the amphitheater. Navaho via Wallstreet to Queens' garden would be the best.
*Remember I'm not a photographer, but I'd head to Inspiration point for both sunrise and sunset,,,,it really is inspirational.
*Sunset at Grand Canyon at Bright Angel is good, but all most anywhere along the rim will work. The last time I was there I stood on the Transept trail just below the Lodge. It was looking west and we had stupendous views.
* You'll be getting up real early if you are planning to get to Cape Royal for sunrise....I'd watch it from Bright Angel or the Old Bridle path east of the lodge. If you head out to CR for sunrise ( and yes I would suggest it over Point Imperial), just be mindful of animals on the road in the early morning.
*I'd be at Wahweap overlook for sunset. Great views of the lake and surrounding cliffs.
*Dead Horse Point is great anytime. Canyonlands could fill a book of photos and actually has, so I'm sure you could find plenty to photograph if you spent the time...but on a limited time frame what you have planned is best.
*On the way to Denver drive 128 out of Moab and stop in the Fisher Tower area.
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I'd spend time in Kolob at Zion, even up until sunset. Plenty to see and shoot there. Bryce is great at all hours of the day, and if you have a clear blue sky, I love shooting midday from down in the hoodoos.
Don't fret so much about getting all the way to Cape Royal for sunrise at the NR. get out and shoot from closer to the lodge. it's till amazing and no rushing through the forest.
Horseshoe Bend is better at mid day. At sunset you'll be looking right into the sun and the river will be dark.
I doubt that you'll have enough time in the day to 'scope out' Mesa Arch on June 12th. Focus on shooting from Dead Horse Point.
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Hi All,
Thanks for the quick comments, much appreciated.
I didnt even know that there was a festival at GC until a couple of weeks ago so that should be great fun. We dont get easy access to areas that dont have much man-made light here.
We are leaving getting our car from Vegas at 9am after having spent a few days there so will be on the road reasonably early. Hopefully we can stop at Kolob, we didnt do Zion as we had to make some descisions based on the time we have - next time!
MapQuest says it is only a few minutes difference between Hwy 20 and Hwy 14 so if 14 is more scenic we will go that way. Is that way full of curves or fairly straight?
We were thinking Inspiration Point for at least one of the shoots, and definently going down under the rim to get into the hoodoos. Natural Bridge did look quite different and the Agua canyon looks good to, so we shall play it by ear and do what we can.
Ok, so anywhere in the GC is great, cool. We will plan on seeing when we get there, heres hoping for good weather.
Thanks for the tip on Horseshoe, we will visit on the way in to Page at Midday, and shoot Waeweap overlook for sunset.
Cheers
Aaron
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Don't worry about the weather. it will be whatever it is. Some clouds usually make for better sunsets and sunrise. Storms above the Grand Canyon are spectacular. Hope you can catch at least one of those. You'll be there just before the summer monsoon.
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