One free day in St. George, UT- where to go for maximum photo ops?

[smmokan]

My wife and I are heading down to St. George UT next weekend to visit family, and I'll have one (mostly) free day to head out on my own for photo opportunities. On the way down there, we're already planning to hit up a handful of places like Arches NP, Goblin Valley, Capitol Reef, and Bryce Canyon.

I'm thinking my time will be best spent in either Zion (Angels Landing and/or Emerald pools) or heading over to the Page, AZ area to do Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. I'm not super familiar with the area other than reading the "Photographing the Southwest" book.... so, any recommendations?

[jm2e]

Grand Canyon North Rim?
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary outside of Kanab. Take the tour. Take the pics.
Or you could poke around St George/VRG/Mesquite looking for rock climbers.

[smmokan]

Best Friends is probably off limits since my wife would kill me if I went there without her.
I'll look into the North Rim, but for some reason I thought I saw where it wasn't going to be open yet...

[PowderAlltheTime]

Zions is closer to St George. Go there. You spend more time taking photos, not driving. You'll spend 6 to 7 hours driving back and forth to Page.

[otter]

snow canyon is really cool.

[Touring_Sedan]

What weekend?

Keep in mind there's gonna be some road closures this weekend (5/1/2010) that might completely fuck your plans.

http://www.ironmanstgeorge.com/
http://www.ironmanstgeorge.com/2010STGClosures.pdf

[Lonnie]

It's a no brainer. Go to Zion. On your way home, head up on top of Gooseberry mesa for sunset shots.

[smmokan]

I'm going next weekend- 5/6 through 5/11.

Otter- I'll definitely hit up Snow Canyon, but since that's right next to where our relatives live, it'll be easy to sneak out.

[jm2e]

Is it safe to assume you've thoroughly explored the immediate vicinity?
I've seen some beautiful spots climbing around there.

[RedWolf]

The GC's North Rim isn't open yet, though the road through Kolob should be clear by now, if you wanted to see the northern reaches of Zion. Keep driving North on 18 past Snow Canyon into the Pine Valley area and explore a bit - there's some good scenery, hiking and solitude to be found all through there. There's a lot of good red rock and bouldering to be seen right in Santa Jorge, too. Stop by Benja Thai after and gorge yourself...

[smmokan]

Is it safe to assume you've thoroughly explored the immediate vicinity?

I haven't ever been there- but I know that since I'm down that way, I'd like to hit up one of the more prominent areas... unless you have something else suggested? I'd be up for a slot canyon hike too. Really, I'm pretty open.

[jm2e]

I don't have any specific suggestions for a prominent area. I just know that St. George is in an amazing place and if you only had a couple hours here and there it's worth just exploring locally. You'll get the point when you get there. My prediction is that your drive to Zion (or wherever) will take 3x longer because you'll be stopping every couple miles to shoot something cool that you see!
Hey, maybe they'll let you shoot the Temple all day!

[RedWolf]

Bunch of slots in the area, if that's what you're looking for, but it's gonna be a cold slog this time of year, especially with the winter we had. Behunin in Zion is pretty f'ing sweet, and you'll get to see a lot of the park at the same time. Win-win?

[jm2e]

Not knowing really, but wondering about slot canyons filling up with water during this snow melt season. Oh yeah, and being like 100 Degrees colder than out in the sun.

[smmokan]

Zion it is... I may end up doing the Observation Point/East Rim hike depending on weather and/or time. I'd love to do the whole East Rim hike from the East Entrance, but it looks like the road may have temporary closures for some work on the switchbacks. My other option looks like Angels Landing.

[Lonnie]

Steve,

Good shots of Angles landing can be had from a couple of spots. A good one is just off the trail by the Virgin River looking NE. Use something wide and bring a GND.

(this one was shot with a P&S and the sky is totally blown out)


Come early before the sun gets too high in the sky.

Another good shot of AL can be had from Scout's look out.



Good luck hauling your camera gear up that!

But there are decent shots to be had along the way.


When you get into refrigerator canyon on the approach hike to AL, slow down and shoot some longer exp shots of the interesting sandstone walls and alcoves. You can really get some neat abstract stuff that 99.9% of people pass right by.



Don't overlook Kolob canyon for good afternoon shots of the red rock. It's a little bit of a drive, but worth it.

[AstroPax]

Don't overlook Kolob canyon for good afternoon shots of the red rock.

True. Good place to shoot subjects other than just the red rock. Kolob Canyon:

[smmokan]

Well, plans changed and I wasn't able to hit Zion while in St. George.... damn food poisoning. However, I did get to stop by Arches, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Escalante, Goblin Valley, and Snow Canyon.

Pictures forthcoming.