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Archive 2016 · Arizona in October

  
 
Ipanematom
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Arizona in October


I'll be in AZ from 06-12 Oct '16. I'll be driving and plan to visit the following places: Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon (Upper & Lower), and Horseshoe Bend.

Appreciate any insights you could all provide as to the best time to photograph and any other recommendations.
Thank you all for your cooperation and support!

Juan



Mar 01, 2016 at 09:30 PM
Greg Campbell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Arizona in October


6 days for half the state is really pushing things.

Suggest you read the assorted reports at http://wildinarizona.com/wordpress/
to get an idea of when various regions will likely be enjoying fall color.

Other than that, I think you'll need to ask more specific questions to get anything more than generic "Go see my favorite place!" replies.



Mar 02, 2016 at 05:20 PM
KCook0
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Arizona in October


Greg Campbell wrote:
6 days for half the state is really pushing things.

Suggest you read the assorted reports at http://wildinarizona.com/wordpress/
to get an idea of when various regions will likely be enjoying fall color.

Other than that, I think you'll need to ask more specific questions to get anything more than generic "Go see my favorite place!" replies.


Nice blog there!

Kelly Cook
(Phoenix)



Mar 03, 2016 at 01:29 AM
Ipanematom
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Arizona in October


Thanks, Greg!


Mar 03, 2016 at 06:37 PM
Greg Campbell
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Arizona in October


No worries.

Another source of Fall Color timing and location info is Flickr. Many images are geotagged and dated.



Mar 03, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Craig Gillette
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Arizona in October


We were in the Flagstaff area this October for a couple of days about the 12th. The aspens were in fine shape in the San Francisco peaks. But it was, IIRC, a bit early and there were concerns about storms impacting the display. We skipped trying to get to the aspens to see some of the other local sights as we'd enjoyed Eastern Sierra aspens other times and don't get to Az as often. We did have rain issues later on that week in Utah but the weather was quite pleasant for the most part. A little cool/cold at night in the higher elevations but pleasant otherwise. Not sure how typical that is for any given year for the aspens.

The drive from Flagstaff to Holbrook, Petrified Forest and Painted Desert can be rather dull. Unless you stay locally, it's wide open mid-day light for the most part. Holbrook really suffered from the loss of railroad business and the transition from Route 66 to an Interstate but there is a lot of Route 66 related sightseeing/photo ops if that's of interest (and in several other towns/cities along the way). Winslow was saved by a song (and still some railroad activity in comparison).



You can probably do Antelope Canyons and Horseshoe Bend the same day. I guess it's not the ultimate time of year for the best Antelope Canyon beams of light shots. We took one of the non-photographer tours of Lower Antelope. They move more quickly through the canyon and no tripods are allowed, the photographer tours are slower and timed around more set up and slow photography. The choice may depend on if you are going alone and/or have the time and interest to do the slower tour. Note that even if not the prime sunbeam time of year, you can expect a wide dynamic range, open to the sky at the top and low light levels along the bottom where you walk.



Mar 04, 2016 at 12:05 AM
Dustin Gent
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Arizona in October


i would skip the petrified forest to be honest, unless you are trying to visit all of the NPs. It is quite a haul from Flagstaff from what i remember.


Mar 04, 2016 at 04:22 PM
Greg Campbell
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Arizona in October


If Juan is flying into Phoenix or Flagstaff (Flag will save you 2+ hours each way = 1/2 day driving!), Petrified Forest is more or less on the way back from Canyon de Cehlly.

Juan, you might as well add Meteor Crater to the list as well. It just a few minutes off I-40 and will make a nice 'leg-stretch' break from the superslab.



Mar 04, 2016 at 11:35 PM
Ipanematom
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Arizona in October


Craig, Greg, and Dustin: Thank you for the additional inputs. I have now deleted the visits to Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, Canyon de Chelly, and Monument Valley as my youngest daughter will now join me for my Las Vegas visit and I want to stay within budget (she is a law student in LA). Will definitely do Monument Valley next year. So, I will now just do the Sedona area (staying there with friends), the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Lower Antelope Canyon (doing the photographer's tour with Dixie Ellis on 11 October); I am still considering doing a photo tour of Upper Antelope Canyon or some other attraction nearby (i.e. Secret Canyon). Again, thank you for your consideration and insights!


Mar 07, 2016 at 12:49 PM
Greg Campbell
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Arizona in October


Depending on your route to/from Jackalope Canyon, you might try to fit in half a day to explore Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch, located about halfway between Kanab and Page. An easy mile hike will get you there. http://www.360cities.net/image/wire-pass-at-buckskin-gulch-utah-usa



Mar 07, 2016 at 01:40 PM
Ipanematom
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Arizona in October


Greg: thanks for the suggestion to explore Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch!--was not aware of them. I will go to them as I have about 5 hours on the morning of 11 Oct. Appreciate your consideration and support!

Juan



Mar 07, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Slabshaft
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Arizona in October


Dustin Gent wrote:
i would skip the petrified forest to be honest, unless you are trying to visit all of the NPs. It is quite a haul from Flagstaff from what i remember.


I second this. Petrified forest is not only way out of the way, but difficult to photograph and they kick you out at sunset. I was escorted out by a pretty angry ranger last time I was there shooting the sunset. The only things really worth making the trip for out there is Canyon de Chelly and just about anything north of there. If you're on a time constrained trip, Canyon de Chelly may be worth it, but it will cost you a day or two unless you're a driving maniac and never sleep

Also, you mentioned Painted Desert. That's an extremely broad area. Was there a place you were considering? I would definitely say you need to hit Coalmine Canyon since it's only 30 minutes off Hwy89.

The smart thing to do is come up with contingency plans for where the good light is likely to be. If we're getting cloudless skies, shooting the Aspens in Lockett Meadow or around the San Fransisco peaks is always a good bet at the end of Sept to early Oct.

My suggestion for a 6 day trip in Oct: Aspens (Lockett Meadow/Waterline Road), Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend/Studhorse Point and Coalmine Canyon if there's time. On the way back south, Sedona is a great place to camp out, but not as easy to photograph as you would think.



Mar 16, 2016 at 04:37 PM
elkhornsun
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Arizona in October


Hopefully you will get lucky with Monument Valley. We were there this past October and the haze from the nearby coal power plant made visibility so poor I did not take a single picture in the area.

There is the option of flying into Page as well as Flagstaff and Page can be a better starting point for some routes. From a photography point of view I would omit the Grand Canyon in October and focus on spending more time at the other spots.



Mar 17, 2016 at 05:37 PM
Ipanematom
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Arizona in October


Thanks Slabshaft and Elkhornsun for your insights! I've decided to just visit the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and my friends in the Sedona area. Will do Monumemt Valley and Canyon de Chelly next time around.


Mar 20, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Greg Campbell
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Arizona in October


Ipanematom wrote:
Greg: thanks for the suggestion to explore Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch!--was not aware of them. I will go to them as I have about 5 hours on the morning of 11 Oct. Appreciate your consideration and support!

Juan


http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/wire_pass/canyon.html
http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/buckskin_gulch/canyon.html

https://goo.gl/maps/2FjXKDb7omN2

Bull Valley Gorge, Willis Creek, and Round Valley Draw are also fun hikes, located a 'few' miles to the north, between Kodachrome Basin S.P. and 89, along Cotonwood Canyon Road.



Jun 11, 2016 at 03:45 PM
erielake
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Arizona in October


you might also consider the rimrock hoodoo's or old paria....wire pass/buckskin is a pretty long drive from page and it might not give you enough time


Jun 12, 2016 at 08:32 AM
jdc562
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Arizona in October


Ipanematom wrote:
I'll be in AZ from 06-12 Oct '16. I'll be driving and plan to visit the following places: Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon (Upper & Lower), and Horseshoe Bend.
Appreciate any insights you could all provide as to the best time to photograph and any other recommendations.
Thank you all for your cooperation and support!
Juan


Regarding Monument Valley, your best bet for getting really good views is to take one or more of the Navajo tours. The area belongs to the Navajos, and they will take you to places you are not allowed to go on your own. This includes the most scenic sites in the Valley. In addition, the dirt roads through the area have huge ruts, mud in wet times, and deep loose dust in dry times. The Navajo vehicles have big wheels and high clearance that can handle these conditions. At a minimum, I'd recommend one of the whole-day trips. This includes a midday stop at a picturesque place for grilled burgers prepared by your driver. You won't regret it. Be sure to bring plastic bags or weather-proof packs to protect your gear from blowing dust or rain. October is a great time of year to be there, especially at the golden hours when the sun lights up the faces of the mesas and makes the sagebrush glow.



Jun 12, 2016 at 11:23 PM





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