Help with Utah Trip

[TSJ1927]

I have a friend that's planning a photo trip.  I have been on a similar route in the same 10-12 day schedule , but with fewer locations.  I think their schedule is over optimistic but what's you guy's opinion.

Their schedule:

Sat. –4/16  Arrive Grand Junction, Co early afternoon, head to Moab via the river route on Hwy 128. Stay in Moab.


Sun.—4/17 Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley, sunset at Arches Window Section.  Stay in Moab. 


Mon. –4/18 Manti-La Sal Loop, Wilson Arch, Needles. Stay in Bluff.


Tue. –4/19 Day trip to Mesa Verde for morning shoot, then back through Hovenweap.  Sunset at Valley of the Gods. Stay in Bluff. 


Wed. –4/20 Moki Dugway early morning, Goosenecks, then down to Monument Valley for moonrise & sunset. Stay near Monument Valley in Kayenta.


Thu. –4/21 Sunrise guided tour at Monument Valley, then to Lake Powell for afternoon and sunset.  Stay in Page. 


Fri. –4/22 Sunrise at Lake, Antelope Canyon mid-day, Horseshoe Bend for sunset. Stay in Page.


Sat. –4/23 Owl Canyon for morning, Navajo Bridge and Lees Ferry, Coral Pink Sand Dunes for sunset. Stay in Kanab.


Sun. –4/24 Morning shots at east Zion, afternoon in the valley, sunset at Junction.  Stay in Springdale. 

Mon. –4/25 Morning shots along Virgin River Zion, then drive to Valley of Fire for late afternoon shoot,
and end up on the Vegas Strip for night shots on way to lodging.  Stay in Las Vegas.

Tue. –4/26 Departure time 8:30am for return flights from Las Vegas 

Thanks for any comments................Tom

[Jens Peermann]

It's an optimistic schedule, indeed. Here are a few thoughts:

Coral Pink Sand Dunes has turned into an ATV paradise. Potential disappointment.

It will be late morning before the sunlight gets down to the Virgin River in Zion Canyon. And the drive to Valley of Fire is at least 4 hours. But since he already did the Canyon the afternoon before he might be able to leave early.

Late afternoon shots in Valley of Fire are possible, but you need to be very familiar with the location to find the spots that still get good light at that time (the mountains to the west are blocking). The best bet would be the Fire Canyon/Silica Dome area (not to be confused with the White Domes area).

Good shooting!

[powerslave12r]

Wow, optimistic is right!

One could spend a whole day at each of those spots you have mentioned! Enjoy the trip, you will want to go back.

Sad to hear that the Coral Pink Sand Dunes is overrun by ATVs.

[francois]

I agree with previous comments, skip Coral Pink Sand dunes unless you like to get some action shots…
I also think that your schedule is on the optimist side.

[B-Ark]

I hope he has a very speedy helicopter.

[sierraman]

I've done all of those places with no problem........in a 3-4 year span. Agree with others that this schedule needs to be more focused on quality time in fewer areas that interest you the most. You could spent 2-3 days alone in the Moab area with Arches/CanyonLands/Dead Horse Point to explore. 

[Wayne Fox]

Sun.—4/17 Sunrise at Mesa Arch, Dead Horse Point, Goblin Valley, sunset at Arches Window Section.  Stay in Moab. 

That’s a lot of driving just to “see” all these places, without actually seeing what the places have to really offer.  May want to put a little more thought into it.

for example it’s 100 miles one way from moab to Goblin Valley   I wouldn’t bother with that drive, better off exploring in Arches or checking out Green River Overlook.  Personally I never visit Moab area without a sunset at Green River Overlook. There’s a reason they are national parks.

[mkihne]

That’s a lot of driving just to “see” all these places, without actually seeing what the places have to really offer.  May want to put a little more thought into it.

for example it’s 100 miles one way from moab to Goblin Valley   I wouldn’t bother with that drive, better off exploring in Arches or checking out Green River Overlook.  Personally I never visit Moab area without a sunset at Green River Overlook. There’s a reason they are national parks.

The very definition of "drive by shooting". Good suggestions by all.

[langier]

IMO, less planning, more serendipity. Know when you arrive. Know when you are leaving and let the subject dictate your time and place, not a paper schedule.

[bretedge]

I would skip the mid-day trip to Goblin Valley.  It's 1.5 hours one way from Moab and in mid-day your friend won't find anything there to photograph unless he/she does the hike into Little Wildhorse Canyon (or one of the other area slot canyons).  If they do that, they won't make it back to Arches for sunset.

Your friend's itinerary is too ambitious to yield any really good photographic results.  I'd pick fewer places and spend more time at each, unless your friend's goal is just to see each location and snap a few record/tourist shots of the scenery.

I would also recommend that your friend pick up a few guidebooks to make the most of their time at each location.  Some I recommend are:

A Closer Look at Valley of Fire

Photographing the Southwest

eFotoGuide: The Ultimate Guides to Photographing the National Parks and Beyond < In full disclosure, this is my own series of ebooks.

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