Arizona
Sep 8th, 2011, 03:36 PM
#1
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Arizona
Spending 2 nights in Phoenix. Am on a photo expedition for the first time in Arizona. Need an itinerary. Have 5 nights after Phoenix. My wish list includes Sedona, Grand Canyon, Page, Zion, Indian Reservation, dessert. Don't want to spend entire trip in car. I need someone to reel me in. Is there one location that would work as a 'home base'. Need to book flights. Choices seem to be Phoenix and/or Las Vegas airports.
Thanks
Thanks
Sep 8th, 2011, 04:56 PM
#2
I would fly into Phoenix and make a loop.
an afternoon in Sedona and spend the night
a day at the Grand Canyon South Rim and spend the night there or at the Cameron Trading Post
on to a night each at Zion and Page
I'd add on a night in Chinle so you can see Canyon de Chelly
Stop by the Hubbell Trading Post on the way back to Phoenix
(I'd stop by Petrified Forest NP and Meteor Crater)
That route would give you just a few hours driving each day (most of the time about 3 hours) except for your drive back to Phoenix.
When you are in Phoenix, you should go see Taliesin West.
an afternoon in Sedona and spend the night
a day at the Grand Canyon South Rim and spend the night there or at the Cameron Trading Post
on to a night each at Zion and Page
I'd add on a night in Chinle so you can see Canyon de Chelly
Stop by the Hubbell Trading Post on the way back to Phoenix
(I'd stop by Petrified Forest NP and Meteor Crater)
That route would give you just a few hours driving each day (most of the time about 3 hours) except for your drive back to Phoenix.
When you are in Phoenix, you should go see Taliesin West.
Sep 8th, 2011, 05:07 PM
#3
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You have a lot of miles on your wish list, things are very far apart out there, but driving is pleasant once you get out of the cities.
If you start in Vegas, Zion is 3 hrs by car, Grand Canyon 5 hrs by car, Page is farther. If you start in Phoenix, Sedona is 2+ hrs by car, Grand canyon about 5, Page more.
What do you mean by "Indian Reservation"? Much of the whole four corners area is reservation of one kind or another.
Generally air fares and car rentals are less expensive in Vegas. If you go from one to the other, expect very high drop off charges.
If you start in Vegas, Zion is 3 hrs by car, Grand Canyon 5 hrs by car, Page is farther. If you start in Phoenix, Sedona is 2+ hrs by car, Grand canyon about 5, Page more.
What do you mean by "Indian Reservation"? Much of the whole four corners area is reservation of one kind or another.
Generally air fares and car rentals are less expensive in Vegas. If you go from one to the other, expect very high drop off charges.
Sep 8th, 2011, 05:38 PM
#5
Google Maps =
Phoenix - Sedona - Tusayan - * - St. George, UT - Page, UT - Chinle, AZ - (Ganada, not for the night) - Phoenix
*Depending on when you are going, I'd fit in a night at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon if possible
Phoenix - Sedona - Tusayan - * - St. George, UT - Page, UT - Chinle, AZ - (Ganada, not for the night) - Phoenix
*Depending on when you are going, I'd fit in a night at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon if possible
Sep 8th, 2011, 05:43 PM
#6
2 hours
2 hours
5.5 hours (split at N. Rim if possible)
3 hours
3.5
1 hour to Hubbell Trading Post and 5 hours back to Phoenix = a long day, but worth it IMO
The loop would give you about 2-3 hours a day, leaving plenty of time to see the new destination
2 hours
5.5 hours (split at N. Rim if possible)
3 hours
3.5
1 hour to Hubbell Trading Post and 5 hours back to Phoenix = a long day, but worth it IMO
The loop would give you about 2-3 hours a day, leaving plenty of time to see the new destination
Sep 9th, 2011, 07:59 AM
#7
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Am on a photo expedition for the first time in Arizona
If you're really serious about getting the best photos then you should plan on being at the right overlooks etc at sunrise and sunset and traveling between parks/towns mid-day. In practice this means trying to space your spots no more than 4-5 hours driving time apart so you can roll in to a new place mid-afternoon, check in at your hotel and then mosey around a bit before shooting sunsets. Next AM be set up well before sunrise, shoot thru sunrise and grab breakfast, check out and head for the next beautiful place by mid-morning.
You can do this easily enough with Sedona - GC - Monument Valley - Canyon de Chelly loop or Sedona - GC - GC north rim - Zion - Bryce loop, depending on what parks you want to visit. Should research it ahead of time to know where the best sunrise/sunset places are at each locale, then hope for the right weather. But the key is to drive between parks mid-day when the light is not as good for photography.
Would also consider a guided sunrise or sunset trip in Monument Valley with a Navajo, you'll get a lot more out of it than on your own since you can access different areas off-limits to people on their own. Ask them to take you to Teardrop Arch and/or maybe the dunes at Totem Pole, for example. In the National Parks you can do things on your own but in the Tribal Parks (MV and Canyon de Chelly) you are much more limited without a guide.
If you're really serious about getting the best photos then you should plan on being at the right overlooks etc at sunrise and sunset and traveling between parks/towns mid-day. In practice this means trying to space your spots no more than 4-5 hours driving time apart so you can roll in to a new place mid-afternoon, check in at your hotel and then mosey around a bit before shooting sunsets. Next AM be set up well before sunrise, shoot thru sunrise and grab breakfast, check out and head for the next beautiful place by mid-morning.
You can do this easily enough with Sedona - GC - Monument Valley - Canyon de Chelly loop or Sedona - GC - GC north rim - Zion - Bryce loop, depending on what parks you want to visit. Should research it ahead of time to know where the best sunrise/sunset places are at each locale, then hope for the right weather. But the key is to drive between parks mid-day when the light is not as good for photography.
Would also consider a guided sunrise or sunset trip in Monument Valley with a Navajo, you'll get a lot more out of it than on your own since you can access different areas off-limits to people on their own. Ask them to take you to Teardrop Arch and/or maybe the dunes at Totem Pole, for example. In the National Parks you can do things on your own but in the Tribal Parks (MV and Canyon de Chelly) you are much more limited without a guide.
Sep 9th, 2011, 03:56 PM
#8
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As far as using a home base, that's really hard because the places you want to see are so far apart from each other. You are best moving to the next location and staying the night there instead of back tracking 100 miles or more each day.
Utahtea
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