Hi photographers and road trip lovers,
This is part 2 of my road trip in the USA in 2011. Continuing the trip from Antelope Canyon, to Zion Park in Utah, and visiting Horseshoe Bend and the Lake Powell on the way.
Coming from the Grand Canyon that we explored during the day, we were able to enjoy the sunset over Horseshoe Bend (also known as Big Bend), before to get some rest in the city of Page. It is a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River.
A good night of sleep, and the following morning, we went to discover the impressive Antelope Canyon. It’s a slot canyon located on Navajo land. Antelope Canyon includes two separate sections: Upper Antelope Canyon (The Crack); and Lower Antelope Canyon (The Corkscrew).
We were able to visit the Upper Antelope Canyon (called Hazdistazí, or “spiral rock arches” by the Navajo), with another group of people. The visits are led by Navajo authorized tour guides only.
If you want to see the famous beams of light coming into the canyon, you better come during Summer months, around noon, as it lights the canyon and reveals its colors. But that’s also the most crowded times (we went there in March).
There can be some flash flood danger, as even if very little rain can be feel at the site, an earlier thunderstorm can dump a large amount of water into the canyon basin, seven miles upstream.
F3.5, 1/30 sec, 18 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F3.5, 1/130 sec, 18 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F3.5, 1/20 sec, 18 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F4.5, 1/20 sec, 18 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F4.5, 1/10 sec, 21 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F5.6, 1/20 sec, 55 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F10, 1/20 sec, 45 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F492, 1/1300 sec, 6.7 mm, ISO100, YHDC5170
F18, 1/160 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/500 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F22, 1.6 sec, 18 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/500 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F22, 1/160 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
A quick stop at Lake Powell before to aim for Zion Park. We couldn’t spend that much time at Lake Powell, but it was still great to discover it.
Lake Powell is a reservoir on the Colorado River, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona. It is the second largest man-made reservoir, by maximum water capacity, in the United States.
Continuing our road trip in USA, to reach Zion National Park in Utah. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park’s unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity.
Zion Park includes mountains, canyons, rivers, slot canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, and natural arches. On the header photo, you can see the North Fork Virgin River.
It’s really impressive to drive in the park. The scenery is just amazing.
Spring time must be a good moment to visit Zion, as sun and color are more present.
No enough time to visit the famous “Subway” of Zion National Park, but we have enjoyed a little hike in the park, seeing some great landscapes and a bit of Wildlife (big horn sheeps, deers, few reptiles etc.)
Guided horseback riding trips, nature walks, and evening programs are available too.
We found a place to stay for the night, in the town of Springdale, Utah, located immediately outside the boundaries of Zion Park.
F8, 1/160 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/320 sec, 500 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F11, 1/320 sec, 244 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/130 sec, 332 mm, ISO800, Canon EOS 7D
F6.3, 1/320 sec, 450 mm, ISO2000, Canon EOS 7D
F16, 1 sec, 18 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/0 sec, 18 mm, ISO160, Canon EOS 7D
F22, 1/0 sec, 18 mm, ISO100, Canon EOS 7D
F8, 1/250 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/250 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F13, 1/250 sec, 18 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 7D
F492, 1/150 sec, 342.2 mm, ISO100, YHDC5170
F492, 1/130 sec, 6.7 mm, ISO100, YHDC5170
F492, 1/500 sec, 6.7 mm, ISO100, YHDC5170
F6.3, 1/100 sec, 49 mm, ISO200, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F6.3, 1/100 sec, 18 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
F6.3, 1/100 sec, 18 mm, ISO400, Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
The following day, we took the car to continue our road trip in USA, heading Las Vegas and its casinos, in Nevada.
That will be part of part 3! Final part of our road trip that time.
I hope that you enjoyed to discover Antelope Canyon and Zion Park, and maybe it will give you the taste to visit those great places in United States.
Cheers!
