Photo locations in Kanab Utah and surroundings

[MFstooges]

Any advice for winter photo spots in Kanab UT and surroundings within 30-45 miles? Other than sand dunes?

 

[DWThomas]

Hmm -- as someone who has spent most of my life in the Mid-Atlantic, northeastern part of the country, I found southern Utah and northern Arizona to be loaded with pictures at every turn, although I was there in warmer weather. Local friends of ours have his family homestead in Fredonia AZ, and we visited them to find Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon North Rim national parks within about an hour or so from that spot. Arches and Grand Staircase-Escalante are also not too far from there. I suppose some access may be closed for "off season" as at those high altitudes, snow is not uncommon. But I can assure there are more than sand dunes -- although there is a Utah state park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes that has such dunes and is quite a fascinating spot. You should find plenty to point a lens at.

On our road trip we couldn't help but wonder what the first wagon driving settlers from the east thought when they crossed the Rockies. It's almost like suddenly landing on Mars after green wooded mountains on the east coast.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hmm -- as someone who has spent most of my life in the Mid-Atlantic, northeastern part of the country, I found southern Utah and northern Arizona to be loaded with pictures at every turn, although I was there in warmer weather. Local friends of ours have his family homestead in Fredonia AZ, and we visited them to find Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon North Rim national parks within about an hour or so from that spot. Arches and Grand Staircase-Escalante are also not too far from there. I suppose some access may be closed for "off season" as at those high altitudes, snow is not uncommon. But I can assure there are more than sand dunes -- although there is a Utah state park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes that has such dunes and is quite a fascinating spot. You should find plenty to point a lens at.

On our road trip we couldn't help but wonder what the first wagon driving settlers from the east thought when they crossed the Rockies. It's almost like suddenly landing on Mars after green wooded mountains on the east coast.

Also Gobblin Valley in the middle of Utah.

 

[MFstooges]

Hmm -- as someone who has spent most of my life in the Mid-Atlantic, northeastern part of the country, I found southern Utah and northern Arizona to be loaded with pictures at every turn, although I was there in warmer weather. Local friends of ours have his family homestead in Fredonia AZ, and we visited them to find Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon North Rim national parks within about an hour or so from that spot. Arches and Grand Staircase-Escalante are also not too far from there. I suppose some access may be closed for "off season" as at those high altitudes, snow is not uncommon. But I can assure there are more than sand dunes -- although there is a Utah state park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes that has such dunes and is quite a fascinating spot. You should find plenty to point a lens at.

On our road trip we couldn't help but wonder what the first wagon driving settlers from the east thought when they crossed the Rockies. It's almost like suddenly landing on Mars after green wooded mountains on the east coast.

I have been to all of those parks so I am trying to find something else. Except maybe northeastern part of Zion but in winter the road maybe unplowed and I am avoiding hazardous road.

Also Gobblin Valley in the middle of Utah.

> 40 miles

 

[markjwyatt]

These shots were taken N of there in the mid-70s, but not sure how far. Maybe Cedar City and just east of there in the mountains. Beautiful area.

Flickr Search — “utah”

www.flickr.com

 

[Sirius Glass]

Also Goblin Valley in the middle of Utah.

Goblin Valley at night with the star trails.

 

[MFstooges]

These shots were taken N of there in the mid-70s, but not sure how far. Maybe Cedar City and just east of there in the mountains. Beautiful area.

Flickr Search — “utah”

www.flickr.com

Looks like Bryce Canyon

 

[markjwyatt]

Looks like Bryce Canyon

It might be. We did go to Panguitch sometimes, and I think that is close to Bryce. That is in that area N of Kanab, but may be more than 40 miles. I think some of the pictures are closer to Cedar City.

 

[Arthurwg]

The movie hotel in Kanab itself might be of interest. Apparently hundreds of westerns were staged from the hotel over the years, and hundreds of western movie stars stayed there. They might be able to give you some advice, and you might enjoy staying there as well.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Lee's Ferry and environs.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Vermillion Cliffs on the way to the North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyon less than an hour. See attached map.

Kanab to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

goo.gl

 

[DREW WILEY]

The North Rim itself is generally snowed in this time of year. South Rim is a long drive from there or Kanab. There are a number of major polygamist colonies in the larger Kanab area too, often distinctly unfriendly to the curious.

 

[MattKing]

Thread title tweaked - because we already have thousands of threads about "spots" and photos .
Hope you get some good suggestions.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

If you been through the main attraction at Zion, head out to the western area Kolob Canyon which I found pretty interesting.
Navigation map: https://goo.gl/maps/r5GgoB3sxPHc4krQ8

 

[MFstooges]

Lee's Ferry and environs.

Vermillion Cliffs on the way to the North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyon less than an hour. See attached map.

Kanab to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

goo.gl

I've been to Lee's ferry and Vermillion.

If you been through the main attraction at Zion, head out to the western area Kolob Canyon which I found pretty interesting.
Navigation map: https://goo.gl/maps/r5GgoB3sxPHc4krQ8

Thank you, this sounds good.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

If I recall, in the main area of Zion you're driving in the valley. In the Kolob section you drive to the top.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Kolob Canyons has a completely different entrance on the highway south of Cedar City. It's higher in altitude than Zion Canyon per se.
It has a nice short drive which can be stunning in Fall color. It's even more rewarding to the backpacker. Second longest sandstone arch in the world is down in there, maybe seven miles in. Don't exactly remember. But I sure do remember how ridiculously cold it could get at night in November. I used my backpack as a pillow to discourage critters. But a particular ringtail was persistent, and kept climbing on my sleeping bag trying to get to the pack. They're a slender raccoon-like creature with a long banded tail and enormous eyes, almost entirely nocturnal, and incredibly cute. But this one pestered me all night. The last thing I needed digging through my Sinar gear was that critter.

Kolob Can is a pretty long drive from Kanab; but well worth it if you are heading that direction anyway. No facilities at all there except the
Ranger Station.

Anywhere in that country a serious sleeping bag, extra food and water, and good footwear and clothing is a MUST, especially in Winter. A stall due to weather or an auto breakdown which might just be an inconvenience in the burbs can turn out downright fatal in stretches of the West where help and accommodations can be far and few between off-season, and cell phone reception unreliable.

 

[DWThomas]

Another interesting spot between Colorado City and Fredonia in Arizona is Pipe Spring National Monument, a sort of fortified outpost tied to the Mormons that even had a telegraph line to Salt Lake City in the mid-1800s. Again, likely more fun in warmer weather, but there's a museum in the old buildings and some examples of farm equipment, plantings, and livestock.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Red rock and snow make for great photographs. Sometimes the snow sticks for different layers in different amounts.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Red rock and snow make for great photographs. Sometimes the snow sticks for different layers in different amounts.

I caught Bryce coming down from Capitol Reef when a hail storm broke out. We got there just in time before it all melted later the next day.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Dave - I've been stopped and hassled pretty bad a few times by cops and park rangers connected to Colorado City, who, seeing me operating a big view camera around Freedonia and the North Rim of GC were convinced I was some kind of FBI agent spying on them. That might have changed by now, with the Colorado City cult partially broken up due to the arrest and imprisonment of their leader, Warren Jeffs. Panguitch is another place I've been hassled, and my gear rooted through. They have no problem with drunken deer hunters each autumn, but big cameras is a different story. Once up the road a little to Ruby's Inn and beyond there, things are fine.

 

[reddesert]

Goblin Valley and Capitol Reef are far from Kanab. Bryce Canyon is beautiful the day after a snowstorm. The NPS rangers may close some of the trails due to the combination of ice and utterly unprepared visitors (sigh), but you still get a great view from the rim. Often overlooked, Kodachrome Basin State Park is near Bryce and worth a stop, plus if Bryce is winter cold and windy, Kodachrome Basin is a bit warmer. They do not require that you use Kodachrome to take pictures.

The Wave is a famous rock formation down Wire Pass Road off US-89 that is now both over visited and over photographed - hiking permits are hard to get. There are other scenic places off that road, but in the winter you may approach that road with caution. The one time I was on it, it had rained the night before and it would have been foolish to continue in an ordinary car, so I stopped and walked to satisfy my curiosity, then left. It's not hard to find something interesting to look at along US-89 between Kanab and Page.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Goblin Valley and Capitol Reef are far from Kanab. Bryce Canyon is beautiful the day after a snowstorm. The NPS rangers may close some of the trails due to the combination of ice and utterly unprepared visitors (sigh), but you still get a great view from the rim. Often overlooked, Kodachrome Basin State Park is near Bryce and worth a stop, plus if Bryce is winter cold and windy, Kodachrome Basin is a bit warmer. They do not require that you use Kodachrome to take pictures.

The Wave is a famous rock formation down Wire Pass Road off US-89 that is now both over visited and over photographed - hiking permits are hard to get. There are other scenic places off that road, but in the winter you may approach that road with caution. The one time I was on it, it had rained the night before and it would have been foolish to continue in an ordinary car, so I stopped and walked to satisfy my curiosity, then left. It's not hard to find something interesting to look at along US-89 between Kanab and Page.

Sunset Point is closer walking distance to a parking lot than Sunrise Point in Bryce. (300' vs. 1000') And it's paved if you're wheeling heavy equipment. Sunrise looks fine enough even from Sunset Point. I just didn't feel like walking that far in the cold that early in the morning.

Bryce Canyon National Park Sunrise Point to Bryce Canyon National Park Sunset Point

goo.gl

 

[DREW WILEY]

Since I had a 4WD, I had someone at work who was a budding photographer pester me half to death asking me to take him to "The Wave". Guess he wanted to be within the privileged first ten thousand people to photograph it. Not me. I'll spare my tires for something less publicized.

 

[xkaes]

You can't get to the North Rim this time of year -- and Bryce might be closed as well. Check out UT Route 12 -- the most beautiful road in America -- east of Kanab.