Zion National Park Field Report
Shot with Nikon D7000, Nikkor 16-85 and Nikkor 70-300 f3.5-f5.6
I spent time in Zion as part of my recent Bryce/Zion visit. I visited the Zion Canyon on my way to Bryce and then the Kolob Canyon area on the way back. Total mileage starting and ending in St George of around 320 miles. Not a bad drive, especially spread over seven days. This loop over state routes 9, 89, 20 and I-15 allowed for a stop by Red Canyon, near the entrance to Bryce and Snow Canyon in St George, in addition to my primary destinations. For more about Bryce Canyon, please check out my Bryce Canyon field report.
I stayed at Zion Lodge in the canyon itself. It’s a dramatic location with towering mountains on all sides, but it doesn’t buy much from a photographic light perspective - the valley itself has very few good sunrise and sunset locations. Assuming I make another visit, I will likely look at the less expensive accommodation in Hurricane just outside the park entrance.
Virgin river near Zion lodge, late afternoon
From the spring through the fall, cars are not allowed on the scenic road in the park and you need to use the shuttle bus. The service appeared to run every 5 to 10 minutes, so using the bus was not any great hardship. Aside from the trail to the Narrows, the it was fairly easy to shoot without too many people wandering into the field of view.
Locations Visited
Within Zion valley, there are a wide range of hikes, many of which provide spectacular views back into the valley. Some of these, such as Angels Landing are very steep with long drop offs - best not attempted by those with a fear of heights! The Emerald Pools trail to the lower and upper pools provides some great views and nice shooting at the pools themselves with the mist of water seeping from the rocks. Opposite Zion lodge there is bridge over the Virgin river and some nice views up and down the river.
Lower Emerald Pools, early afternoon
The Court of the Patriarchs provides easy access to the river and works well for a mid-morning shoot when the sun is lighting up the court. The Pa’rus trail works well in the late afternoon or early evening for shots with the river and/or tree in the foreground and mountains such as the Watchman in the background. Driving out about of the canyon 30 minutes on route 9 to the Checkerboard Mesa will get you on the Zion Plateau and some great eroded sandstone landscapes.
The Zion canyon is aligned roughly north to south, so there isn’t much in the way of sunrise or sunset opportunities. Best light was early morning or late afternoon when the sun is high enough to light one side of the canyon or the other. I struck out with a cloudy morning when I was there, but the Towers of the Virgin behind the museum are reputed to be a good sunrise locations. I had my best shooting experience near the Checkerboard Mesa. I didn’t find any direct views of the horizon, but the golden hour light on the yellows and pinks of the sandstone was excellent. There are a good number of cutouts at the side of the road where you can park and explore.
On the Zion plateau, after sunrise
On my return from Bryce, I stopped by the Kolob Canyon section of Zion. There some great mountain views. The light was fairly flat in the middle of the day when I was there, but judging from the orientation of the landscape, it might work as a good sunset location.