Advice needed for Zion National park trip

Thinking of visiting there in mid September for two days. Is it good time? Will try hiking the 'Angels Landing' and the 'Narrows'. I'll really appreciate if you all can give me suggestions/tips to make this trip successful (places, equipment, gear etc..).
How to carry the camera gear while hiking in the Narrows?

Thanks
Krishna

Couldn't tell you about that time of year, i was there in early May. As for gear, go light for the hike, many trails are steep. It's up to you, but I wouldn't take a tripod on that hike. Zion is very nice but we much prefer Bryce Canyon NP for hiking, not far away!
glo

KrishnaM said:

Thinking of visiting there in mid September for two days. Is it good time? Will try hiking the 'Angels Landing' and the 'Narrows'. I'll really appreciate if you all can give me suggestions/tips to make this trip successful (places, equipment, gear etc..).
How to carry the camera gear while hiking in the Narrows?

Thanks
Krishna

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Both Zion and Bryce are excellent tapestries for the creative and clever photographer. The narrows, if they are open to hiking, will scream for an ultra-wide lens. Anything longer than 20mm on a full-frame, or 14mm on less-than-full-frame will result in images that are disappointing when you look at them later.

Keep perspective in mind. Without perspective images of towering cliffs and expansive sky will look little different from pictures of your average rock garden.

Remember that area has been photographed a lot - even the wildlife are tired of the paparazzi. Try some interesting and explorative techniques. I did almost all of my shooting in IR during the day, and regular photographs at 3AM. I tried to apply perspective where I saw it and used a flashlight to "fill" some gaps during long exposures. Here are my results from a trip to Zion and Bryce earlier this year.

http://www.viewpix.com/zb/

Des

KrishnaM said:

Thinking of visiting there in mid September for two days. Is it good time? Will try hiking the 'Angels Landing' and the 'Narrows'. I'll really appreciate if you all can give me suggestions/tips to make this trip successful (places, equipment, gear etc..).
How to carry the camera gear while hiking in the Narrows?

Click to expand...

Call the Ranger station and check on the fall colors. There are two sessions; the first is the Aspens then later the Cottonwoods.

The Narrows is amazing; I used my tripod as a walking stick. Been there twice with camera gear up to my waist in water. It was sobering to realize that I had $10k in gear while hiking through deep rushing water over slippery rocks!

Go light in the narrows, bring a tripod and a dark ND for long exposures. You need a really wide angle lens and water shoes. DR is off the scale; The D3x and D7000 would be optimum for that condition. You need at least 4-6 hours to do the narrows; it goes on forever and it's slow going slogging through a riverbed.

Angels Landing is not for the faint of heart. The best shots may be in the valley looking up rather than down.

2 days is just not enough!

This might as well be a Kodak picture point from the bridge with all the photographers lined up at sunset. DR is off the scale:



Narrows, D3x:







My fav Narrows shot from 2003 and my Fiji S2:



Amother possibility:

Do the Narrows in the early AM, drive out to Kolob Canyon area in the PM. Light is optimal that way.

Kolob Canyon Area in the AM (all shaded, fall color is best when backlit, in the afternoon/evening):



--
Zane
http://www.pbase.com/devonshire
Nikon D7000 & D2x
NAPP Member

'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments it takes our breath away.” ~ Anonymous

Great shots Zane, I know where nearly every one was taken. The rushing water made it a bit of a challenge to find your tripod holes though.

For the Narrows hike, I bought a Lowepro Dryzone 100 and sold it after the trip for nearly what I paid for it. Prices vary so shop around. I had no problem taking a tripod with the rented walking stick and water shoes. A wide lens and a hiker or two can give the necessary perspective. This wall will glow like copper and gold only during the morning light when you walk in. On the way out later in the day it will just be a relatively drab gray wall. So make sure you look back throughout the walk. This was taken the end of September 2010.





The hike to Scout's Lookout is very nice and gives some great views. We were too chicken to finish the rest to Angel's Landing. You will pass many other hikers on the way to Scout's Lookout and need to use foot-holes in the rock and hold onto cables and chains. At some points it is about 15' wide with 1,000+ ft drops on either side. Watch you balance if you have a heavy camera backpack.

Enjoy your trip.

--

'There is only one success - to be able to spend your life your own way.' -- Christopher Morley

For the benefit of anyone reading this thread -- a similar topic was explored recently on the Sony SLR Talk forum and a lot of great advice about the Southern Utah region can be found here:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1037&message=38698116
--
Jeremy

KrishnaM said:

Thinking of visiting there in mid September for two days. Is it good time? Will try hiking the 'Angels Landing' and the 'Narrows'. I'll really appreciate if you all can give me suggestions/tips to make this trip successful (places, equipment, gear etc..).
How to carry the camera gear while hiking in the Narrows?

Click to expand...

Hi Krishna,

I am envious. Zion in September is lovely. Though you'll typically fair better with fall colors towards the end of September, there's still lots to see before.



I'd strongly encourage you to check out the Kolob Terrace region of the park especially in the evenings. It lies in the western region and ignites in late afternoon/evening light.



Also, don't be afraid to wander outside of the park looking for angles back in at certain times of the day. Again I'm thinking of down around Virgin and some of the back roads that provide beautiful views at some of the more prominent rock formations.

As others have stated, Zion has been shot to death, so you'll do well to put your own spin on it and look for details.



And if you can take the time to access some of the more hard-to-get-to regions of the park you'll be handsomely rewarded.



On the east side (through the tunnel), in the evenings, it's not uncommon to see bighorn out feeding



Hit the Mean Bean in Springdale for some morning "get up n' go" and have a fantastic time.

--
Kind regards,
JBCrane, Shooter in Colorado.
http://www.nikonf6.net
http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/
http://www.johncranephotography.com
http://www.outdoorphotoblog.com/
Member ASMP, NPS
Husband. Dad. Dog lover. COG.
Long live film.

I'm envious! Zion is one of my favorite places and I've been going there every year for about 6 years. I won't repeat what the others have already shared - - and from what I've read - - Great advice from everyone! (Btw - great pix from all!)

But I will strongly urge you (if you're up for some hiking) to hike up the Canyon Overlook trail immediately east of the tunnel on Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. The trailhead is easy to miss so ask a ranger.

Trust me, it's worth the hike! It gets you to a point where you look over the entire east Zion valley. Spectacular! Your best pics will be from atop that trail. (it's HIGH! but it's safe)

I suggest using a suitable backpack that will hold your camera and your preferred lens(es). A tripod is a must! And at that altitude, a good UV Filter.
Oh yeah - - GET GOOD HIKING SHOES!
Best of Luck! (Hey ! - - Want me to carry your camera?)

some great advice here, and even greater photos. i have only been to zion once, and in april no less, and we had very different weather with clear and cold temps. we did angels landing to the top and if you are nimble and not afraid of heights i would also highly recommend it. there is a sense of accomplishment upon getting to the top and then down again. the only issue is it can get crowded and that's not great in terms of safety. i went up with my son, with my wife staying at scouts landing. great views and perspectives from just about everywhere. we could not do the narrows at that time of year, just too much water with more threatening....bummer.

Dan Desjardins wrote:
Here are my results from a trip to Zion and Bryce earlier this year.

Dan Desjardins said:

http://www.viewpix.com/zb/

Des

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Dan your images are just amazing. When did you sleep?
Thanks for sharing.
Joe
http://joecan.smugmug.com/

I went there last year in September and had a blast. That was the only time that I've been so I cant really tell you how other times of years compare. As for hiking Angels Landing and the Narrows, my friend and I did both. Our trip was more activity focused and not focused on photography so I one lens and no tripod. Parts of the Narrows, especially later during the day, are shaded and would be benefited by a tripod. I definitely recommend trekking poles or a hiking stick and a good dry bag for the Narrows. If you're starting from the bottom there were plenty of previously used sticks the time I went.

My friend and I did the day through hike, starting from the Chamberlain's Ranch (I myself will never do this again and would not recommend this option as a day hike). For the majority of the time, I had my camera (D300) in one hand and a stick (airline lost my luggage with my trekking poles) in the other hand. There were a few crossings where I did put my camera in the dry bag though. It all depends on how compfortable you are on slippery surfaces and how high the water level though.

As for Angel's Landing, I would just recommend at least a camera strap. There will probably be times where you want to use both of your hands.

KrishnaM said:

Thinking of visiting there in mid September for two days. Is it good time? Will try hiking the 'Angels Landing' and the 'Narrows'. I'll really appreciate if you all can give me suggestions/tips to make this trip successful (places, equipment, gear etc..).
How to carry the camera gear while hiking in the Narrows?

Click to expand...

Hi Krishna,

One thing I forgot to mention for hiking something like the Narrows is footgear. I struggled with what footgear to wear for so much walking in the water and finally decided to rent a pair of shoes from one of the outdoor shops there in town (Springdale). They're a cross between a running shoe, hiking boot and fishing boot and really help your footing on slippery, uneven bolders beneath the surface. They're relatively light and inexpensive - well worth the effort. These shoes, telescoping trekking poles and a dry bag will provide greater stability in potentially treacherous-to-your camera waters.

And for Angels Landing, get started early, as in really early. Walters Wiggles fills up fast with ascenders and descenders late morning and it's not an overly wide passage. The trail skirts Refrigerator Canyon and is cooler in the morning. As others have said, you'll want 2 hands during the climb after Scouts Landing so make sure you have your gear secured.

Good luck and have fun.

--
Kind regards,
JBCrane, Shooter in Colorado.
http://www.nikonf6.net
http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/
http://www.johncranephotography.com
http://www.outdoorphotoblog.com/
Member ASMP, NPS
Husband. Dad. Dog lover. COG.
Long live film.

Thanks every body for the suggestions and wonderful pictures. I wish I could stay longer but could manage only two days booking at Zion Lodge. I was thinking of carrying the camera in my Thinktank shoulder bag enclosed in dry pack (Sealline boundry pack). Still looking for water shoes. Are the rental shoes (which one can get in the park) good? I do not want to buy expensive shoes as I may not use them again.

Thanks again,
Krishna

KrishnaM said:

Still looking for water shoes. Are the rental shoes (which one can get in the park) good? I do not want to buy expensive shoes as I may not use them again.
Thanks again,
Krishna

Click to expand...

They're certainly good enough quality and very expensive to purchase. I'd not hesitate to rent them. Try these guys: Zion Adventure Company ( http://www.zionadventures.com ), telephone: 435-772-1001.

I don't remember what the day rates were, but they were quite reasonable and quite worth it. Have a great time and be careful.

--
Kind regards,
JBCrane, Shooter in Colorado.
http://www.nikonf6.net
http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/
http://www.johncranephotography.com
http://www.outdoorphotoblog.com/
Member ASMP, NPS
Husband. Dad. Dog lover. COG.
Long live film.

Be sure and take the drive up to the east gate early one morning. Turn around and then drive back down to the valley floor, following the sunrise and changing light conditions as the sun comes up. You'll get some great shots of the changing shadows as the sun comes up.

We used Zion Adventure Company and they were very good to deal with. Call ahead now and reserve the shoes, socks and pole...about $18 IIRC. You can pick them up the night before so you get an early start on your river walk.

Some people wore the river shoes on the shuttle bus and others put them on at the river. If you put them on at the river you can leave your street shoes at the side or carry them with you.

If you are in the Visitors Center and see the info card for the Zion Canyon Field Institute, that's my shot on the top:





--

'There is only one success - to be able to spend your life your own way.' -- Christopher Morley

I wish to second the hike from the trail that starts at the top of the tunnel. It is about 1/2 mile and provides a wonderful view. The last shot below shows this view.

I have done Angel's landing twice. I used a CamelBak to carry water and an extra lens. I set the strap on my camera so that it was held snugly to my right (sometimes left) chest freeing both hands. You really need both hands on the final part of the climb. The first shot shows the final climb up the spine of Angel's Landing. You can see some folks to the right. You can also see some chain that is used for safety. The second shot shows a pano I did from the top of Angel's Landing. To get the vertical field of view, I shot in portrait mode with the equivalent of about 22mm on a FF body. I did the shot in November which has more shadows than in September. I also shot around midday to avoid too many shadows.







--
Leon
http://web.me.com/leonwittwer/landscapes.htm

I was there last October and hiked the narrows, went light, Oly 510 and an Ep-2. Companion carried his 5dmkii on a carbon fiber tripod. We got dry pants and water shoes at the outfitter in Springdale. Water was running but not extremely swift and no more than waist deep.

Did not do Angles Landing but my bro in law has and it's terrific but you'll earn what you get.

I have a gallery on my site below if you care to look.

You should at least have water shoes and preferably dry pants. I think if you go farther than we did you may need a dry suit. We went about 2 hour up the river.

It's a beautiful park and if you have time go up to Bryce.

Bill

--
Bill Wallace

http://bwallace.zenfolio.com/

"I'd rather laugh with the Sinners than cry with the Saints"

Hey Krishna, I actually just got back from Zion and thought it might be worth mentioning that you should roll the top 3+ times and be careful not to submerge any dry bags as they're not necessarily waterproof in those situations. I usually keep a towel or shirt inside with the camera to absorb any moisture that may sneak in.

KrishnaM said:

Thanks every body for the suggestions and wonderful pictures. I wish I could stay longer but could manage only two days booking at Zion Lodge. I was thinking of carrying the camera in my Thinktank shoulder bag enclosed in dry pack (Sealline boundry pack). Still looking for water shoes. Are the rental shoes (which one can get in the park) good? I do not want to buy expensive shoes as I may not use them again.

Thanks again,
Krishna

Click to expand...

Do NOT enter Narrows in in the afternoon. In Zion park they often have rains starting in the afternoon, and if it's raining up in the mountains, Narrows can turn into 20ft of roaring water in a matter of seconds. They pull out a dozen drowned bodies every season from that place (despite they have lots of warnings about it), try not to be one of those poor people.

Get some water to hike to Angels Landing, you will need it. Make sure you have good boots with a serious soil, especially if you want to make it past the road and venture into rock climbing to the actual spot. They have a pretty good set of chains on that mountain, but you better be 150% sure you can handle heights without getting dizzy, and always keep both of your hands on that chain. Put your camera away while you do so. I did that climb with a D200 and F100 hanging off my shoulders and felt like an idiot... it's way too dangerous. If you see a rain/storm coming while you're at the highest spot, get out of there before it starts raining and at least get back to the walking road - it seemed nearly impossible to climb down if that place got wet.

Wear a backpack or a sling bag for your gear... YMMV, but I find it too hard to carry a shoulder bag while also trying not to slip off from a slope.

Try not to get too close to the edge, it can get really windy there.

And most of all - have fun! Both of those places are awesome, and Angels Landing is simply breathtaking.
--

'It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.'