I noticed that there isnt much information here about Northern Arizona, so I thought I would write something about some of my favorite areas, some would be a bit unsuspecting for some and right up the alley for others.
I lived in Flagstaff for a year and a half but my job led me all over the northern part of the State, as I drove over 200 miles a day in the most remote areas of the state. I really enjoy the textures of old buildings and the old west. So if you are interested in seeing a little more than the Grand Canyon, Ill point out a couple places which are full of photographic opportunities.
Probably the best times to photograph in Northern Arizona are in August during the monsoon season or during the winter months if you have a 4x4 vehicle. I am partial to the monsoon season because of the dramatic light, so plan accordingly.
1. Flagstaff. In the old town area, you will find some unique opportunities. I would often go into old town with my 645 and look for interesting shots in the alleyways, behind old buildings, and storefronts.
2. Head just south of Flagstaff on Lake Mary Road (Hwy 3) and the are a series of lakes (Upper and Lower Lake Mary, Morman Lake, Ashurst Lake, Marshal Lake, and Vail Lake just to name a few). and some old structures which are fun to shoot. There are some small communities in this area which also present great photo ops. For nature photographers: During the start of the monsoon season herds of Elk can be photographed at dusk along the Upper and Lower Lake Mary areas. Youll need some big glass to capture decent shots though.
3. Just north of Flagstaff, off Highway 89, Forest road NF-552, there is a nice area called Lockett Meadow, which has some aspen trees and makes for some nice landscape opportunities. N Schultz Pass Rd (NF-420F) will take you back into Flagstaff from the Lockett meadow area. A nice detour.
4. Further north via the 89 on Highway 264 going east there are plenty of areas of photographic interest. Tuba City has a lot of old buildings, the vast northern stretch along the 264 to Kykotsmovi, Jeddito, and Ganado offer plenty of landscape and the rural lives of the native populations in these areas make for interesting and challenging photography.
5. An out of the way place where cattle and horses share space with vehicles on paved roads can be found about 50 miles north of Winslow in the Navajo town of Dilkon. For Landscapers, this is known as the Hopi Buttes area and would be worth spending some time, google it.
6. West of Dilkon at the junction of Hwy 15 & 99 is the town of Leupp, pronounced Loop. Right around this area is an old wooden barn and there are other structures worth photographing. Nearby is Grand Falls of the Little Colorado which is worthy of some creative landscape photography and is one of the few waterfalls in the state.
7. Canyon de Chelly National Monument near Chinle is another of my favorites as you can get access the lower canyon fairly easy and the vistas are incredible and the area is a lot less traveled.
8. In between Kaibeto and Shonto on highway 98 (Just west of a dirt road which runs parallel with hwy 16) is a series of dirt roads that take you into small mountain area with steep cliffs and rock formations. Youll see local natives raising mountain goats living in relative obscurity and a rock formation that looks like a giant amphitheatre. In the winter this area is spectacular.
9. Near the north rim of the Grand Canyon, one can find awesome views in the Vermillion Cliffs area off highway 89. Stopping in the small border town of Fredonia there are some interesting buildings to photograph. For example, there is a gas station that also sells guns. Ya, fill me up on number 5, and give me a box of 12 gauge double aught buck. Further into town theres some agricultural equipment and vehicles which might interest some photographers. I should mention this town is in the habit of parking a police car on the side of the main road with a mannequin inside.
10. A bit further southeast is an interestingly small town of St. Johns on highway 180, which Ive always found to be a fun location. In this area youll be able to find windmills and some other older buildings. The last time I was there I watched as a police officer and a woman chased a full grown bull around the streets. Apparently, the bull had made its way loose and was running free on the streets of St. Johns, I only wish I had my camera ready to capture the hilarity of it allI thought I was living out a scene from a Reno 911 episode.
11. A little west of St. Johns on Hwy 61 and 180A is the small town of Concho. Concho is a little gem waiting to be documented. There are several old and interesting abandoned structures in this area going back to the late 1800s. There is an adobe structure located right off the road which is not a common site in AZ.
12. Hwy 260 east towards Springerville offers some great grassland shots right around the Greer area.
13. Also I should mention the mining town of Globe and Miami on Hwy 60 and Hwy 188, that area has a lot of character and is still an active mining operation. Further north out of Globe on Hwy 60, theres another opportunity to see a waterfall at Salt River Canyon. Under the bridge there take the road heading north and youll have over 30 miles of primitive road fun leading to some old abandoned structures. You might see a couple real cowboys in this area as well.
Well thats it for now, if anyone is interested in other areas of Northern Arizona just shoot me an email as Ive been to most places on the north end.
I lived in Flagstaff for a year and a half but my job led me all over the northern part of the State, as I drove over 200 miles a day in the most remote areas of the state. I really enjoy the textures of old buildings and the old west. So if you are interested in seeing a little more than the Grand Canyon, Ill point out a couple places which are full of photographic opportunities.
Probably the best times to photograph in Northern Arizona are in August during the monsoon season or during the winter months if you have a 4x4 vehicle. I am partial to the monsoon season because of the dramatic light, so plan accordingly.
1. Flagstaff. In the old town area, you will find some unique opportunities. I would often go into old town with my 645 and look for interesting shots in the alleyways, behind old buildings, and storefronts.
2. Head just south of Flagstaff on Lake Mary Road (Hwy 3) and the are a series of lakes (Upper and Lower Lake Mary, Morman Lake, Ashurst Lake, Marshal Lake, and Vail Lake just to name a few). and some old structures which are fun to shoot. There are some small communities in this area which also present great photo ops. For nature photographers: During the start of the monsoon season herds of Elk can be photographed at dusk along the Upper and Lower Lake Mary areas. Youll need some big glass to capture decent shots though.
3. Just north of Flagstaff, off Highway 89, Forest road NF-552, there is a nice area called Lockett Meadow, which has some aspen trees and makes for some nice landscape opportunities. N Schultz Pass Rd (NF-420F) will take you back into Flagstaff from the Lockett meadow area. A nice detour.
4. Further north via the 89 on Highway 264 going east there are plenty of areas of photographic interest. Tuba City has a lot of old buildings, the vast northern stretch along the 264 to Kykotsmovi, Jeddito, and Ganado offer plenty of landscape and the rural lives of the native populations in these areas make for interesting and challenging photography.
5. An out of the way place where cattle and horses share space with vehicles on paved roads can be found about 50 miles north of Winslow in the Navajo town of Dilkon. For Landscapers, this is known as the Hopi Buttes area and would be worth spending some time, google it.
6. West of Dilkon at the junction of Hwy 15 & 99 is the town of Leupp, pronounced Loop. Right around this area is an old wooden barn and there are other structures worth photographing. Nearby is Grand Falls of the Little Colorado which is worthy of some creative landscape photography and is one of the few waterfalls in the state.
7. Canyon de Chelly National Monument near Chinle is another of my favorites as you can get access the lower canyon fairly easy and the vistas are incredible and the area is a lot less traveled.
8. In between Kaibeto and Shonto on highway 98 (Just west of a dirt road which runs parallel with hwy 16) is a series of dirt roads that take you into small mountain area with steep cliffs and rock formations. Youll see local natives raising mountain goats living in relative obscurity and a rock formation that looks like a giant amphitheatre. In the winter this area is spectacular.
9. Near the north rim of the Grand Canyon, one can find awesome views in the Vermillion Cliffs area off highway 89. Stopping in the small border town of Fredonia there are some interesting buildings to photograph. For example, there is a gas station that also sells guns. Ya, fill me up on number 5, and give me a box of 12 gauge double aught buck. Further into town theres some agricultural equipment and vehicles which might interest some photographers. I should mention this town is in the habit of parking a police car on the side of the main road with a mannequin inside.
10. A bit further southeast is an interestingly small town of St. Johns on highway 180, which Ive always found to be a fun location. In this area youll be able to find windmills and some other older buildings. The last time I was there I watched as a police officer and a woman chased a full grown bull around the streets. Apparently, the bull had made its way loose and was running free on the streets of St. Johns, I only wish I had my camera ready to capture the hilarity of it allI thought I was living out a scene from a Reno 911 episode.
11. A little west of St. Johns on Hwy 61 and 180A is the small town of Concho. Concho is a little gem waiting to be documented. There are several old and interesting abandoned structures in this area going back to the late 1800s. There is an adobe structure located right off the road which is not a common site in AZ.
12. Hwy 260 east towards Springerville offers some great grassland shots right around the Greer area.
13. Also I should mention the mining town of Globe and Miami on Hwy 60 and Hwy 188, that area has a lot of character and is still an active mining operation. Further north out of Globe on Hwy 60, theres another opportunity to see a waterfall at Salt River Canyon. Under the bridge there take the road heading north and youll have over 30 miles of primitive road fun leading to some old abandoned structures. You might see a couple real cowboys in this area as well.
Well thats it for now, if anyone is interested in other areas of Northern Arizona just shoot me an email as Ive been to most places on the north end.
