Reading mode: Light Dark

Best time for Bryce Canyon

Go to last post
We were in bryce during last spring, and though there was not too much snow, it was still very nice. If you plan on going there early spring, I think you would be able to catch some snow. Here is one of the photos of bryce waking up:-



Btw, during the spring time, the Antelope shafts were there as well. Make sure you get there about 2-3 hours before the High Noon time. While you are in the antelope area, do check out the horse shoe bend also. It is only a few miles from Page and offers a great view. We did almost the same trip as yourself. From vegas -> Zion -> Bryce -> Capitol Reef -> Escalante -> Antelope -> Grand Canyon. It is a superb trip to make and I hope you have a great time. If you can allocate more than 5 days for it that may even give you more time to enjoy this wonderland.

A couple of more pics from the same trip:-




Peter Rowe said:
Hi all, I would like to travel from Ireland to photograph Bryce
Canyon. I've used the search feature and have a good idea of the area
I wish to see (Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, and Antelope) in
addition to Bryce Canyon. My questions is: what time of year is best
to get the snow on the hoodoos. When do I have the best change of
good weather to take them. I love the contast of the white snow on
top of the warm rock, but that would only work if I had a good
sunrise or sunset. It will be about a 5-day period in this area.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adatta

http://picasaweb.google.com/owaustin/
 
bill hansen said:
In addition to the good tips offered above, I'll add that you can get
snow in Bryce up through May. It's much cooler than Zion and other
low-lying parks. The low-lying ones get awfully hot in the summer,
and of course the crush of tourists gets almost unbearable.

If you can possibly spend a day or two in Canyonlands park, so so.
It's almost a secret place compared to Zion, Bryce, and a few of the
others. But it's one of the most beautiful places too.

Enjoy your trip. I'm jealous. I'd go back there in a heartbeat if I
could.
Click to expand...
You can do it,Bill. Since you travel so far out west, why not give Canyonlands a go? I may even meet you there after your SeKi trip in May.

Dennis
 
Technically, if you are shooting something commercial, i.e. that you later intend to sell, you do need a permit.

I recently did a story about the Blue Ridge Parkway (part of the National Park Service) and while interviewing some of the park officials was informed that I needed a permit to photography anything more than personal shots -- and this included editorial photography as I was doing. They were, to say the least, very cool about it and didn't give me trouble, but they did feel the need to point it out to me.

Other poster is correct, however, that for personal use no permit is necessary. One caveat: security areas, such as for boarding the ferries to Liberty Island in New York. Photography is prohibited there. Not to start another thread, but they treat it like they do securtiy at the airports.

Cheers,
Terry
iMac said:
No permits required for still photography in national parks.
Click to expand...
 
JoeCF said:
So far as morning light and snow, I shot this yesterday morning at
sunset point at Bryce.
As a warning, I have yet to see a photograph that truly captures the
magnificence of Bryce.
Click to expand...
I'd have to say you sure came close. That's a fabulous shot. Thanks for sharing.
 
drumhurrin said:
Technically, if you are shooting something commercial, i.e. that you
later intend to sell, you do need a permit.
Click to expand...
I'm going on vacation, and plan to visit the Utah national parks. While my photography is for personal use and non-commercial, would you know where to get a commercial permit, just in case I get something worth selling?

Very interesting thread, all the same.
 
PaulWa said:
I'm going on vacation, and plan to visit the Utah national parks.
While my photography is for personal use and non-commercial, would
you know where to get a commercial permit, just in case I get
something worth selling?

Very interesting thread, all the same.
Click to expand...
take a look here:

http://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/filming.htm

I did a google search for "utah commercial photography permit" and got a hit for most every national park in utah.

--
CityLights
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/favorites
http://www.pbase.com/citylights/show_case
.
 
and the famous wave photos....

its one of the most interesting landscapes in all of the southwest. There is so much demand that arizona land management provides a lottery which limits 20 people to the area daily.

You need to apply 4 mos in advance to get a permit.

Ive tried for the last three months to no avail but I am planning to go there in May and If I dont have a permit will take my chances at the ranger station for the 10 daily walk in permits they issue.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/holy_smokes/
 
Ive been in March and May. The elevation is quite high so snow is possible. Summer months are extremely hot and I would avoid them as the low lying parks such as canyonlands make for tough going.

April would be my choice....chance of getting snow at bryce and moderate temps at other parks make for pleasant hiking. Desert flowers in bloom as well.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/holy_smokes/
 
PaulWa said:
drumhurrin said:
Technically, if you are shooting something commercial, i.e. that you
later intend to sell, you do need a permit.
Click to expand...
I'm going on vacation, and plan to visit the Utah national parks.
While my photography is for personal use and non-commercial, would
you know where to get a commercial permit, just in case I get
something worth selling?
Click to expand...
If you're not shooting commercially at the time you are there, you don't need to worry about it.
 
The Winter Festival at Ruby's Inn - just out side the entrance to Bryce NP, is fantastic. We went for several years when we lived in Utah - one of the things my kids always mention they miss after our move.

The activities are a lot of fun, and every year we went there was Snow in the park. Even in the dry years the main overlooks had snow. In the wet years the paths and protected railings were covered in snow. I would assume this year will be the same. Lots of great photography during the weekend.

Ruby's Inn has a lot of rooms and the festival is never that crowded, but enough people to make the events and the visit a lot of fun. Also Ruby's is pretty inexpensive during the weekend.

Here is a link to some information about the festival. I just wish we could attend this year.
http://www.rubysinn.com/winter.html#festival
--
http://www.cbrycelea.com/photos/
 
This is exactly right.

The permit, if you saw the rules linked to by the other poster, is more for the access you may need and, judging by their rates that include up to 50 people or more, would seem to be for some very ambitious motion pictures and not a guy with a camera and a tripod.

Since these are public lands, there is really no intellectual property issue at work here, only keeping the hassles down on physical usage of the park.

Cheers,
Terry
iMac said:
If you're not shooting commercially at the time you are there, you
don't need to worry about it.
Click to expand...
 
To second THW comment about needing a guide. I went to Monument Valley a few years ago on a Photogrpahy workshop. There are some great shots that most people don't get unless they go with a guide who knows and will take you there. Do some pre-planning and find a guide who knows these spots and book a morning trip and of course the rest of the day. Some shots are better at first light, while others are better during the day. You'll need all day here, but worth it. See one of my photos and of course peek at the others. :-)

If you need more info, just e-mail. I haven't been to some of the other places you are going, but are jealous. :-)
Joe
http://www.pbase.com/joe19382/image/41072452
 
Hello

Planning to visit the area around March - I currently reside in UTAh, so this is a yearly trek. Let me know what kind of info you need for your trip
 
Thank you all so much for the great advice. We now have our tickets for the end of February. We are both (my wife and I) very excited as we don't really have anything like these landscapes over here. I will hopefully post some images when we get back unless they are embarrassingly bad.

Thanks again,
--Peter
 
Just got home about an hour ago from Vegas. We spent 2 days (not nearly enough time) at Bryce and Zion. At Bryce there was over 2 feet of snow and only the first 2 miles of the park was open. Luckily what was open was spectacular. We were able to hit Bryce Point, Inspiration Point and Sunset Point before we lost the light. This was my first time at either park. I will be back. Hopefully at a warmer time of year. The temps were in the single digits at Bryce.
--
Dave Wetterstroem
[email protected]
 
Peter, If the weather is rough when you get there, consider renting a 4 wheel drive. We did it in a Dodge Avenger but would have proffered something more appropriate to the weather. Also make sure you have hiking boots and warm weather gear. The wind at Bryce Point was strong and bitter cold.
--
Dave Wetterstroem
[email protected]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top