Posted by Ben Gardner on February 17, 2010 at 8:05 AM
Hi all,
Just managed to convince my fiance to have our honeymoon touring some of the national parks in the US in early September for 3-4 weeks. Below is our planned trip:
San Francisco
Yosemite
Death Valley
Grand Canyon
Havasupai
Page
Zion
Bryce
Yellowstone
Salt Lake City
I have a few ideas of spots I want to get some images such as Havasu falls, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon but I would really appreciate some indsider knowledge of places to see on the trip both places I might not know and those listed above, a grid reference or map link would be really useful but might be asking too much . Any help would be greatly received.
Posted by Robert Dayton on February 17, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Between Kanab, Utah, and Page, AZ stop at the BLM office and see if you can
get a pass to go to "The Wave". I think you need a reservation 6 to 9 months in
advance; however, if their quota isn't full you can get in either that morning or,
perhaps, a pass for the next day. That's along State Route 89. Further along
stop at the BLM office or Visitor's Center near Big Water and get the directions
to the Wahweap Hoodoos. When I went there it was free. "The Wave"
required a small fee. "The Wave" involved moderate to strenuous hiking and
will require several hours to access. The Wahweap Hoodoos out of "Big Water"
was easy walking but still took about an hour to get there.
Off course, in Death Valley see the Sand Dunes, Badwater, and Zabriskie Point.
When in Page, I suspect that you'll want to travel out of town a short trip to the
world famous slot canyons.
I hope this helps.
Posted by Mike Horn on February 17, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Actually you can only apply for the wave 4 months in advance. And you odds are only about 10% in that time frame. Unless you get in the lottery. April, May, Sept & Oct are the busiest months. As of now, the end of Mar through May are completely filled both south and north.
Point Reyes Nat'l Seashore (when in the SF area)
Big Sur (same as above)
Kings Canyon and Sequoia Nat'l Parks. (when in the Yosemite side of the Sierra)
Or...
Hop over Tioga Pass (CA 120-East) in Yosemite, (be sure to take time to shoot between Olmstead Point and the Sierra crest) to Mono Lake. Head south on US 395 down the Sierra East Side. Next, head over to Death Valley. P.S.: It would be very easy to spend a week between Mono Lake and Lone Pine!
The Sierra in September is sublime, and campsites/lodging will be more plentiful after Labor Day.
--P
Posted by Paul Duval on February 17, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Don't forget Lone Pine the Gateway to Death Valley. and the Alabama Hills ( where many movies even recent one like Iron Man have been shot), and of course Mt. Whitney tallest peak in the lower 48. I could go on but this is the highest point I can find for you Ben.
Paul
Posted by Ben Gardner on February 18, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Thanks all really useful tips. I think the wave wil be pushing my fiance a little to far I cannot see her treking across 10km of open arid desert early in the morning for a photo. I will have to introduce her slowly to things like that From the sounds of all the possible locations I may be returning gain for our 1 year anniversary
Discussion
5 repliesJust managed to convince my fiance to have our honeymoon touring some of the national parks in the US in early September for 3-4 weeks. Below is our planned trip:
San Francisco
Yosemite
Death Valley
Grand Canyon
Havasupai
Page
Zion
Bryce
Yellowstone
Salt Lake City
I have a few ideas of spots I want to get some images such as Havasu falls, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon but I would really appreciate some indsider knowledge of places to see on the trip both places I might not know and those listed above, a grid reference or map link would be really useful but might be asking too much
get a pass to go to "The Wave". I think you need a reservation 6 to 9 months in
advance; however, if their quota isn't full you can get in either that morning or,
perhaps, a pass for the next day. That's along State Route 89. Further along
stop at the BLM office or Visitor's Center near Big Water and get the directions
to the Wahweap Hoodoos. When I went there it was free. "The Wave"
required a small fee. "The Wave" involved moderate to strenuous hiking and
will require several hours to access. The Wahweap Hoodoos out of "Big Water"
was easy walking but still took about an hour to get there.
Off course, in Death Valley see the Sand Dunes, Badwater, and Zabriskie Point.
When in Page, I suspect that you'll want to travel out of town a short trip to the
world famous slot canyons.
I hope this helps.
Just to add more fuel to the fire...
Point Reyes Nat'l Seashore (when in the SF area)
Big Sur (same as above)
Kings Canyon and Sequoia Nat'l Parks. (when in the Yosemite side of the Sierra)
Or...
Hop over Tioga Pass (CA 120-East) in Yosemite, (be sure to take time to shoot between Olmstead Point and the Sierra crest) to Mono Lake. Head south on US 395 down the Sierra East Side. Next, head over to Death Valley. P.S.: It would be very easy to spend a week between Mono Lake and Lone Pine!
The Sierra in September is sublime, and campsites/lodging will be more plentiful after Labor Day.
--P
Paul