Named after Zion National Park’s superintendent, Walter Ruesch, these switchbacks were constructed in 1926. These series of 21 switchbacks lead to the diabolical Angel’s Landing trail but you better be in decent shape to conquer both.
The Neowise Comet travels north of Zion National Park last night.
It was 100 degrees Saturday and smoke from that nearby forest fire was in the air but my friend Jemmy and I made it to the top in about 2 hours. It’s 4 miles up and strenuous! All of theses images were taken with my new Google Pixel 2 smart phone camera, reputed to be the best camera in a phone. I did not edit any of these. Very sharp and great color!
This hike at Zion National Park is for adrenaline junkies. Unfortunately, I only had enough adrenaline to get near the very top but I completed the part with big drop offs left and right.
Buckskin Gulch along the Arizona/Utah border is the longest slot canyon in the United States. I’ve never completed the whole thing but just a few miles into this abyss is enough to gather some good images. I dragged some friends along who made for some pretty good models(No Royalties Due) and for a good sense of scale. It’s about 13 miles and ends at the Paria River which together make a great backpacking trip.
The Taylor Creek Trail at the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park is an easy stroll with a big payoff at the end. The trail follows Taylor Creek for 2.2 miles where it ends at the really cool Double Arch Alcove. The trail is 2.1 miles from the Kolob Canyon Visitor Center which is just off Interstate 15, about 30 miles north of St. George, Utah.
While Angel’s Landing and The Narrows’ hikes get all the pub and hype, the Observation Point Trail at Zion is a classic. You not only will receive a great workout, you’ll also capture some dramatic photos. It’s 4 miles up and of course 4 miles down. An elevation gain of over 2,100 feet will get your heart racing on the way up and put agonizing stress on your quads on the way down. At Observation Point, your are literally and figuratively looking down on those who climbed Angel’s Landing. There are a few places where you encounter huge exposure but there is plenty of room to negotiate the terrain safely. No safety chains on this trail! Autumn is the best time of year to conquer Observation Point as the 100 degree temps have left the area and the fall colors dominate the landscape at Zion. Below are images along the trail. You can purchase prints of these images at http://dawn2dawnphotography.com/ Click on the horizontal photos for a larger view.
Two photos of hikers descending into The Grand Canyon on the Kaibab Trail
