Bryce Canyon/Zion National Park Advice

[RobFellows]

Hi,

I'm off to Vegas fairly soon and I was toying with the idea of a self drive trip to Bryce Canyon and Possibly Zion NP to so some sightseeing and some photography.
I don't really like the idea of going on a tour as I will be locked in to their schedule and locations.

What I would like to know is, has anyone done a similar trip and can you recommend me a route or particular places of interest for some nice dramatic / dynamic images.

I don't mind a bit of a hike, but the wife wont want to walk miles.

Thanks in advance.

Rob

[Manfred M]

Gee Rob - you and I have opposite problems. I want to take pictures and my wife will want to walk miles.

[RobFellows]

I know how you feel, I have enough credits for 1 day out where I can spend the day on photography while in Vegas. I really want to get to the best spots at the right times. I won't get another chance at this one.

[IzzieK]

One of the best way I have been on a self-tour here in the States before I live here permanently was to take a car (in our case, we have an RV, 'caravan' to you Aussies) and just follow a map with all the national forests on it. That was how we came upon Bryce Canyon and all the rest of the parks, stop at a car park and shoot away. I still have my Passport. I do not know how much it is now, but we paid $50 to visit all the parks along the way at the time. There are some that needs entrance fees and all that, but with a Passport fee of $50, you can go as many times as you like. But then, this was years go now.

[Mike Buckley]

You'll probably receive much more helpful responses if you explain the amount of time allocated to visiting the two parks. I'll certainly keep an eye on the thread with the hope of being helpful.

[rtbaum]

I am a little concerned about the drive to from Las Vegas to Bryce/Zion. I recommend Valley of Fire State Park, http://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire-state-park/. It is much closer to Vegas.

[Saorsa]

Both Bryce and Zion are pretty much one road parks. Unless you plan on doing a lot of hiking you won't be far from the road at any time. There are maps and a lot of information on-line from the national park service.

Here is the one for Bryce and here is the one for Zion. There is a panel called park tools on the left hand side that will provide you with a map.

It's a long way from Vegas and a long way back. Zion is 160 miles and Bryce is a bit over 300. Neither is a daytrip. When I made that trip a couple of years ago, we left Vegas and stayed near a park entrance so the day could start early and go late without the prospect of a long drive.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Rob - If you only have one day for photography I'd suggest you take a little trip out to Hoover Dam. It'll be almost as impressive as Zion if only in a man-made way.
I agree with the others, it's a long ways for a day trip to either National Park. You don't want to spend your day in the car.

[Mike Buckley]

I have enough credits for 1 day out where I can spend the day on photography while in Vegas.

If you're explaining that your one day will be spent in the two parks rather than in Las Vegas, I concur with everyone that neither park is close enough for a day trip. The same is true for Death Valley National Park and the Grand Canyon.

Consider Valley of Fire State Park or Red Rock National Conservation Area, which is the closest of the two parks. Both parks have highways that easily get you to very nice overlooks and pullouts. The Conservation Area is considerably smaller, which may be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your goals.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Rob. Zion is one of my favorite places and I've been there several times. Only been to Bryce once and plan to go back every trip to Zion but once in Zion end up staying there. It is an easy three hour drive from Vegas to Zion. Too far for a day trip but an easy drive if you plan on spending a night or two there. It's also about four hours to Bryce straight from Vegas. But driving from Zion to Bryce is three hours. So it's easy to do one or the other but difficult to do both. Something else to consider if you haven't been there is that for the same four hour drive you can go to the Grand Canyon. Here are a couple of thoughts:

Zion is a canyon which you access from the bottom. There is a road that runs along the river that goes 12 or 15km into the park. During the busy season you have to ride a shuttle but this time of year you can drive in. The shuttle starts back up in mid-March. You can get some beautiful shots from the valley floor, particularly mornings and evenings. But many of the images that you see on-line etc. are taken from somewhere along one of the trails. There is an extensive trail system. Some trail are circuits along the valley and some go up onto the rim or into side canyons. The ones that climb are steep. This time of year they can be treacherous due to patches of ice. There are some fairly flat trails that you only have to walk km or two. To get off the valley floor to any substantial elevation will require at least a 3 to 5km hike (return or round trip as we say). The highway also goes up out of the valley and through a long tunnel. Out the other side of the tunnel are a few parking areas with short hikes to various rock formations and one or two that access the rim of the canyon without having to walk too far.

Bryce Canyon is the opposite. Access is via a road along the canyon rim. Lookout spots overlooking the canyon only require short, flat walks from parking areas to the lookouts on the rim of the canyon. There are trails down into the canyon but not necessary for good photo ops. Shots from down on the trails will be less vistas and more tighter shots of individual formations etc. Sunrises/sunsets at Bryce can be magnificent. Also if there is a dusting of snow to contrast with the red rock you really hit photographic pay dirt.

Bryce is kind of out in the middle of nowhere with only one or two places to spend the night. The entrance to Zion is right in the little town of Springdale. A lovely little town with several hotels, B/Bs, restaurants, galleries, etc. Not sure how many close for the winter off-season.

As I mentioned, for the same amount of driving you can go to the Grand Canyon. It is similar to Bryce in that access is to the canyon rim looking down. There is a shuttle system that visits various pullouts and a flat trail system all along the south rim. You can walk as much or as little as desired. There are also trails down into the canyon all of which are arduous hikes.

This time of year and if photography is your main goal, either Bryce or the GC are the better options IMO. If you like geology and want to see wildlife, then Zion is better. Mule deer and wild turkey are almost a sure thing in Zion.

Hope this helps.

[RobFellows]

Excellent, thanks for that. I had no idea that the drive between the two parks was so long. I'm not too bothered about the drive from Vegas I a a day though, that's not particularly long for me after living in the North West of Australia. I have to fly two hours to get to work and a drive from the coast to the closest mine is a minimum 4.5hrs..!

Looks like Bryce Canyon it is then, unless she talks me I. To going back to GC.

What really surprises me though is that there are day trips via tour companoes. I can't imagine you would have too long to take it in on a schedule with a load of punters.

[Mike Buckley]

Explain to your wife that the stuff she'll see at Bryce is like very few places in the world and that the pullouts and overlooks are really great (no long walks needed).

[rpcrowe]

One of the best resources for photography of that area is the book, Photographing the Southwest: Volume 1--Southern Utah (2nd Ed.) By Laurent Martres

http://www.amazon.com/Photographing-.../dp/0916189120

Many great photogenic locations in the Utah National and State Parks are accessible by vehicle and have viewing areas that don't require a lot of walking. Following the Virgin River in Zion National Park does require some walking. However there are graded trails along part of it. Other parts require wading through close wall canyons which was not my cup of tea (or coffee either)...

Timing can be an essential factor in shooting the desert, both seasonal timing and the time of the day. The book can give you hints as to the best times photograph. Of course, being from Northwest Oz, I suspect that you are very familiar with the impact of the time of the day on the desert terrain. An area that can be quite mundane at one time of the day can turn into a spectacular view at other times.

Generally speaking, early morning and late afternoon are the best times to shoot in the desert. However, many locations in the National Parks of Utah include deep canyons and the best (possibly only) time to shoot these is mid day when the sun illuminates the depths of the canyon. Like in this image of the Virgin River of Zion National Park


Here are some of my images from the Desert Southwest: https://rpcrowe.smugmug.com/Other/DESERT-SOUTHWEST/

BTW: A tripod, a lens hood, and a polarizing filter are pretty darn handy accessories for shooting in this area...