DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Taking My Annual Photo Trip
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 26, (reverse)
AuthorThread
01/19/2010 02:03:11 AM · #1
This years destination is the nothing short of spectacular... "Grand Canyon National Park"
I've already got some destinations at the moment, but seeing as I may never get to go here again, I'd like to do the most with my 1 week time period. Hopefully the DPC'ers are more experienced with the Utah, Arizona and Southern Nevada area. Here are some destinations I've already got picked out...

1. Canyon X - Carved out buy a flash flood centuries ago, and is now frequented by tourists today.

2. Havasupai - If we can find the trail to get in, this will be spectacular.

3. Oak Creek Canyon - A Great drive and Scenic route to Sedona...

4. Montezuma Castle - A sort of monument built right into a canyon-side in Northern Arizona. Quite beautiful!


5. Desert View Watchtower - Beautiful stone tower constructed in 1904... Looks like its got some photographic potential!

6. Horseshoe Bend - A Great view of a geographical wonder just off of Hwy 98...

7. Bell Rock (At Night) - Another geographical wonder of Arizona...

8. Tlaquepaque Artisans Village Interesting Architecture and some nice little shops.

9. The Wirepass Trail A $5 park fee gets you to The Wave, The Wirepass Narrows, and Buckskin Gulch, three of the most amazing sites in Northern AZ.

10. South Kaibab Trail A trail descending into the Grand Canyon, dropping over 2000 if you take it too the bottom.

11. The Las vegas Strip Going to do this on the way out of the Airport the first night.

12. Walnut Canyon A Canyon full of ancient Native American cliff dwellings. They were almost all destroyed when the European explorers came crashing through on horseback.

13. Wupatki Ntnl. Monument This is a site of destroyed Native American dwellings. Supposedly a great photo op.


14. The Rim Rocks These amazingly photogenic rocks in southern Utah are the result of clay being weathered by water. Harder rocks on top are unharmed while the softer rocks are weathered away below, creating "toadstools" or "hoodoos." Supposedly beautiful at sunset!!!

I'll bet you crazy DPC'ers will be able to add to my list of destinations. We are staying for a week towards the end of March. Also, any Arizona traveler's tips would be helpful.

UPDATE Saturday Night: We're in Las Vegas in some horrible motel. At least there's internet!

UPDATE Sudnay Night: Down in Sedona in another hotel, this one isn't any better, and internet costs $6.00 a night. We saw Walnut Canyon today.

UPDATE Monday Night: Saw the grand canyon today, went down into Kaibab trail and Desert View today. AMAZING! Heading to Page tomarrow at 5:00 so we can go into Wirepass...

Thanks in advance, once again!
- ColemanGariety

Message edited by author 2010-03-24 23:58:08.
01/19/2010 04:15:04 AM · #2
I've heard the Glass Horseshoe (Skywalk) is a huge letdown.
01/19/2010 07:32:37 AM · #3
Originally posted by aliqui:

I've heard the Glass Horseshoe (Skywalk) is a huge letdown.

That seems to be a very common opinion.

I would suggest taking a hike down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up, or at least part of the way down if your entourage (parents?) does not have the energy to go the whole way. Much better experience than the Skywalk.
01/19/2010 10:26:51 AM · #4
agree on teh horseshoe, the glass is now really scuffed and no photography is allowed at all. strike it off your list, there are better places to go

Montezuma castle is a waste of time too, you can not actually get any where near it and photography is limited and no flash allowed, go to Sedona instead for the red mountains

the watch tower is at the east end of the canyon, you can go into it, good views,

The thing with the Grand Canyon is that it will take your breath away, for about 20 mins. Then you get bored of it, cos you look left,look right up and down and it is the same thing all over. Once you have taken 4 pictures,you have taken pictures of the whole canyon.

it is best to go into it, you can hire donkeys that will take you down.

01/19/2010 01:12:39 PM · #5
Thanks you guys...
I'll be sure not to waste money on that damn horseshoe.
I had no idea that photography wasn't allowed! :0

A Hike down into the canyon seems fun, but we've only got seven days and a hike into the canyon would undoubtedly take up a full day out of our seven.

Anyway, anything more to add to the list would be helpful!
01/19/2010 01:16:47 PM · #6
The Canyon X tour in Page AZ is pretty sweet :) and there is Lake Powell there as well as Horse shoe canyon is pretty nice as well.

-dave
01/19/2010 01:40:42 PM · #7
Originally posted by JulietNN:

it is best to go into it, you can hire donkeys that will take you down.

Only wimps take the donkeys!
01/19/2010 02:02:50 PM · #8
Originally posted by dknourek:

The Canyon X tour in Page AZ is pretty sweet :) and there is Lake Powell there as well as Horse shoe canyon is pretty nice as well.

-dave


Shyeah, you do remember us having to walk up hill both ways
01/19/2010 02:23:07 PM · #9
Canyon X sounds great!!!
I'll add that to my list...
01/19/2010 02:42:38 PM · #10
Originally posted by JulietNN:

Originally posted by dknourek:

The Canyon X tour in Page AZ is pretty sweet :) and there is Lake Powell there as well as Horse shoe canyon is pretty nice as well.

-dave


Shyeah, you do remember us having to walk up hill both ways


Yea but considering there was no tourists to deal with it was sooooooooo worth the hike :)
01/19/2010 03:59:51 PM · #11
If you go to Page, you are only a short drive (about 2 hours) from Zion. And along the way is Pink Corrals Sand Dunes State Park. Go the other direction and in about 4 hours you can get to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Lots to see and photgraphy in northern AZ. and southern Ut.
01/19/2010 04:09:11 PM · #12
2 hours South (from the South Rim) is Sedona, AZ.

On the way you get to drive through Oak Creek Canyon, touted as one of the top 10 scenic drives in the country.

Sedona ain't too shabby either.



Message edited by author 2010-01-19 16:09:32.
01/19/2010 04:14:14 PM · #13
On your way to or from Antelope Canyon X on Hwy 89 stop off at Horse Shoe Bend. It's about 1 1/2 miles before Hwy 98 and only a short walk down to the view point so it won't take much time.
01/20/2010 01:18:53 PM · #14
I'm really polishing up my list! This is going great!
01/20/2010 02:17:24 PM · #15
Funny, I can't find the exact coordinates of Canyon X anywhere. I went to the "overland Tours" websiute but they only give the location of their tour main building. If someone could get me the coordinates of Canyon X to help me plan my trip that would be great! :D
01/20/2010 02:25:46 PM · #16
Originally posted by ColemanGariety:

Funny, I can't find the exact coordinates of Canyon X anywhere. I went to the "overland Tours" websiute but they only give the location of their tour main building. If someone could get me the coordinates of Canyon X to help me plan my trip that would be great! :D


The Canyons are on Private land that the guides have exclusive rights to, you have to hire them to take the tour but the main bonus is there are no tourists in Hawaiian shirts getting in your way ;)

ETA: a couple of my pics from Canyon X tour...


Message edited by author 2010-01-20 14:28:09.
01/20/2010 03:14:45 PM · #17
You should check out Schnelby Road just outside Sedona.You can drive it yourself--about halfway up out of town it gets really hairy but the scenery is breathtaking.The Pink Jeeps Tour use it but they won't stop just anywhere so you can take a pix.

Message edited by author 2010-01-20 15:43:48.
01/20/2010 03:19:53 PM · #18
Originally posted by Digipixer:

You should check out Schnelby Road just outside Sedona.You can drive it yourself--about halfway up out of town it gets really hairy but the scenery is breathtaking.The Pink Jeeps Tour use it but they won't stop just anywhere so you can take pix.


I havent been up that road but Sedona has some gorgeous landscapes as well.
01/20/2010 04:16:51 PM · #19
Originally posted by Digipixer:

You should check out Schnelby Road just outside Sedona.You can drive it yourself--about halfway up out of town it gets really hairy but the scenery is breathtaking.The Pink Jeeps Tour use it but they won't stop just anywhere so you can take a pix.


That area is part of (I believe) Oak Creek Canyon that stretches down from Flagstaff to southern Sedona. Beautiful area and yes we will be going there!
01/20/2010 06:34:33 PM · #20
I don't remember how far it is, but bryce is truly incredible -- we did that on our grand canyon trip. bryce canyon
03/07/2010 06:14:11 PM · #21
Packing up for the trip...
Leaving in two weeks...
On the phone scheduling a Canyon X photo tour! :D

If anyone has anymore site I should visit, please post em'.
We're going all over southern Nevada, northern Arizona, and a bit of southern Utah.
Unfortunately, Bryce Canyon is too far north.
Thanks all!

Message edited by author 2010-03-07 18:16:57.
03/07/2010 06:20:01 PM · #22
Originally posted by PhotoDave:

... the main bonus is there are no tourists in Hawaiian shirts getting in your way ;)


<<<
Ray

Message edited by author 2010-03-07 18:20:26.
03/16/2010 11:45:15 PM · #23
Bryce Canyon is way up in Utah and we won't be going there...

UPDATE: May be meeting up with Artifacts around Page on our third day.
UPDATE (again): LEAVING in three days!!!!

UPDATE: We're in the Grand Canyon! On my iPhone! Only got 3 bars. Heading to Page tomarrow to see wirepass, the wave, and possibly buckskin gulch.

Message edited by author 2010-03-23 00:49:20.
03/24/2010 11:51:50 PM · #24
Wednesday March 24th:

Just got back from shooting Canyon X today with Overland Canyon Tours! They're located in Page Arizona, and their tour guide, Charly, gave me an amazing tour of the slot Canyon. Definitely worth the money, and no tourists!

Last night I was up at the southern Utah "Rim Rocks" for sunset, that was amazing.

I never got a permit form the lottery to go into Wirepass to tomorrow, I'll hit Montezuma Castle, Wupatki N.M, eat some Navajo Tacos, and head back towards Vegas. After Canyon X we headed to horseshoe bend. That was a photographic disappointment since there were no clouds in the sky.

I will post all of my photos here on Sunday when I get back. Thanks for all the help guys! This will be my last update. You've all been a great help, and I hope this was helpful to the people tracking my trip and also to Arizona photographers in the future.

- ColemanGariety

Message edited by author 2010-03-24 23:57:30.
03/25/2010 12:00:28 AM · #25
I'm looking forward to seeing them :-)

R.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 04:20:29 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 04:20:29 PM EDT.