Topic: Fall trip to Zion Canyon (Read 15729 times)

2jbourret · « **on:** October 14, 2010, 10:39:06 am »

Can anyone report on the ideal time for fall color and hiking in Zion Canyon?

I'm planning on going the week of Oct. 24 and would like to hike the Narrows (from below). Any suggestions? For the Narrows, what is better, flyfishing waders, or the wetsuits that they rent?

Thanks!

Paul Sumi · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2010, 10:31:42 am »

You might also ask this question on the Landscape Photography forum at FredMiranda:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/46

Paul

Wayne Fox · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2010, 06:11:56 pm »

For anyone reading this thread, I was in Zions this past weekend (10/23) , and colors are quite late this year ... I'm guessing they are still 7 to 10 days away from peaking ... probably around the 1st week of November. There are some nice reds showing up, but very little gold.

Lonnie Utah · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2010, 06:15:25 pm »

Excellent! Thanks...

2jbourret · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2010, 08:20:21 pm »

Thanks, great to get the report. My trip was delayed a week, so that's good news.

Scott O. · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2010, 02:08:00 am »

Rent the wading stuff from the sporting goods store in Springdale. You get the boots, waders, and a balance pole (tripod doesn't work well for this). Your timing should be perfect, and a trip up the Narrows will be epic. Enjoy!

Lonnie Utah · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2010, 10:33:38 am »

And protect your gear. My wife drowned a camera in the narrows on our first date....

Wayne Fox · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2010, 12:00:20 am »

Water flow when I was there was 4x normal summer flow rate through the narrows ... pretty tough going. Rain eased up the day I was there, but runoff was still too high to get to the subway from the bottom side. We hiked down to the stream, and debated, but even the first crossing would have been challenging ... doing it 20 or 30 more times up the canyon would have most likely resulted in a disastrous ending to either us, our camera gear or both. I don't know how long it takes the water to drop after the rain subsides, and I don't know if the rain returned or it's been dryer.

We hiked back out and by that time of day our only choice was to join the other tourists on a hike through Emerald Pools, which at least offered a few nice opportunities. Waterfalls were similar to early spring flows. I'm targeting 1st Saturday of November to try the subway again.

Lonnie Utah · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2010, 09:48:43 am »

Quote from: Wayne Fox on October 27, 2010, 12:00:20 am

We hiked back out and by that time of day our only choice was to join the other tourists on a hike through Emerald Pools, which at least offered a few nice opportunities.

Well, there is always this spot, but most people don't know where it is, or how to get there....

I can tell you this, you were within 100 yards of it...

neile · « **Reply #9 on:** November 01, 2010, 09:41:44 pm »

We just pulled into Zion tonight. As luck would have it we were driving east to west through the park right as the setting sunlight hit (around 5pm). I nearly drove off the road a few times

There's still quite a bit of green, but plenty of yellow and reds to make photographers happy. Pretty much every pullout on the east side of the park had 5-10 people with tripods out shooting away happily.

Can't wait for my turn tomorrow night!

Neil

Lonnie Utah · « **Reply #10 on:** November 02, 2010, 09:36:03 am »

How long are you there? I'll be down that way later in the week.

neile · « **Reply #11 on:** November 02, 2010, 02:02:52 pm »

Two more days (today and tomorrow) and then on to Bryce Canyon. Went out scouting this morning, there's lots of colour in the washes on the plateau. Very pretty, although I'm having trouble finding interesting compositions. I think sunset will work better.

I've already bumped into three other people I know

Neil

Lonnie Utah · « **Reply #12 on:** November 02, 2010, 02:47:24 pm »

Quote from: neile on November 02, 2010, 02:02:52 pm

Very pretty, although I'm having trouble finding interesting compositions.

PM Me and tell me what you are looking for. I don't know that much, but I might have some ideas for you....

Wayne Fox · « **Reply #13 on:** November 02, 2010, 09:30:26 pm »

nice image. I found many like this as well.

I mainly posted the images to show the current status of the trees (quite green still ) while I was there and the waterflow over the falls.

Hoping to try for the Subway again Friday.

neile · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2010, 11:15:27 pm »

Spent the afternoon photographing with a friend and had greater success, although not with trees

The plateau side of the park has all sorts of fall colour going on right now. Haven't gone up the canyon yet, that's tomorrow morning, but saw photos from another friend of mine who happens to be here and he's found great stuff up that way.

Neil

Johnny_Boy · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2010, 04:07:18 am »

Any more updates on the color change? I might be able to make out there in a bit more than a week. Would the colors be gone by then?

neile · « **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2010, 08:56:00 am »

Colour in the park is excellent right now. There is still quite a bit of green around, but I'm not sure if it would still be there in a bit more than a week.

Neil

Lonnie Utah · « **Reply #17 on:** November 09, 2010, 09:40:25 am »

Quote from: Wayne Fox on November 02, 2010, 09:30:26 pm

Hoping to try for the Subway again Friday.

Did you get your permit? How'd it go? I thought about trying, but fairly sure my preggers wife couldn't have done that one....

Wayne Fox · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2010, 11:41:08 pm »

Quote from: Lonnie Utah on November 09, 2010, 09:40:25 am

Did you get your permit? How'd it go? I thought about trying, but fairly sure my preggers wife couldn't have done that one....

Unfortunately some family challenges came up and the past two weeks have been a little hectic. So no fall leaves in subway for me this year. I'd still like to go shoot it, but not sure if it's worth it or too cold in dec. Seems late spring might be the best other than fall.

neile · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2010, 01:00:20 pm »

I finally had a chance to process my images from this trip and get them posted. It was awesome. If you want to see what I managed to get during two weeks of Arizona and Utah driving (almost 3000 miles!) check out http://www.danecreekphotography.com/Southwest2010.html.

Neil

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