Few from Natural Bridges NP.
More of natural curiosity rather than outstanding beauty location.
Perhaps it takes starry sky with light painting to make these structures look interesting. BTW, this park is the only true "dark sky" NP, staff makes every effort to prevent light pollution, so that's the place to be for star photography.
I hiked to Sipapu Bridge but did not quite make it to the bottom as my freshly repaired knee disagreed with this kind of acrobatics.
An enjoyable series, Sasha.
I particularly like #3. Great perspective and composition- well done.
I agree about the relative lack of thrill here. But then, I didn't get to the bottom, either .
Also, the park is between Monument Valley and Arches/Canyonlands, and they tend to dominate one's thinking for awhile .
Charlie
It maybe simple and has been done countless times, but I like your first image best. Your last image is a bit too much of a reminder. I did that hike last June. The temps hit close to 100 degrees with a merciless midday sun. After the descent, I made a foolish mistake and decided my liter of water was enough to allow me to hike up the canyon. Unfortunately that added an hour and a half to my outing. The final climb out of the canyon was brutal.
I would agree with your assessment. This is a great spot to visit but not that interesting for photography.
I found the bridges a cool place, but unless you go all the way to the bottom, you end up missing the best stuff. I found cool petroglyphs and lots of sweet compositions when hiking down there. To Jim's point, going in April or May is much nicer. #2 is my favorite.
Charlie Shugart wrote: I agree about the relative lack of thrill here. But then, I didn't get to the bottom, either .
Also, the park is between Monument Valley and Arches/Canyonlands, and they tend to dominate one's thinking for awhile
Thank you, Charlie. I had an intention to get to the bottom but started with the wrong bridge. It would be easier to go to the smallest one, the hike is much shorter. Also, I clearly overestimated my ability to climb just two months after the surgery, but at least had enough common sense to turn back before final descent. As about not being popular... you won't believe it, but there were quite a few visitors on a rim, maybe as many as I've seen in Bryce - not sure what they were looking at as the bridges are not interesting from the top.
Dougo wrote: A good series Sasha, I like #2 and #3. I am not sure my knees would let me up those stairs
Thank you, Ray.
There are two flights of stairs plus the pictured ladder, and much more, so even if park services did a really good job making trail safer, it is still not completely safe, and quite strenuous, not accessible for sure. But hiking is perhaps the best part of visiting this park.
Camperjim wrote: Your last image is a bit too much of a reminder. I did that hike last June. The temps hit close to 100 degrees with a merciless midday sun. After the descent, I made a foolish mistake and decided my liter of water was enough to allow me to hike up the canyon. Unfortunately that added an hour and a half to my outing. The final climb out of the canyon was brutal.
Jim, thanks for the comment. Yep, sometimes we have to learn from our own mistakes. I got similar experience in Bryce when hiking Fairyland trail few years ago - high elevation, midday sun and not enough water. When we finally got out of the canyon, I was really exhausted and ready to drink from any dirty puddle on a road.
Jim Fox wrote: I found the bridges a cool place, but unless you go all the way to the bottom, you end up missing the best stuff. I found cool petroglyphs and lots of sweet compositions when hiking down there. To Jim's point, going in April or May is much nicer. #2 is my favorite.
Jim, thank you for the comment.
I am sure I missed the best stuff - I actually planned to hike to Kachina bridge (the one with "dinosaur" petroglyphs) but made a mistake of starting with Sipapu. Hiking was actually a lot of fun, perhaps it makes sense to do the complete hike on a bottom of the canyon. Cannot imagine doing it in mid-summer, even end of April was already too warm.
alatoo60 wrote:
Dougo wrote: A good series Sasha, I like #2 and #3. I am not sure my knees would let me up those stairs
Thank you, Ray.
There are two flights of stairs plus the pictured ladder, and much more, so even if park services did a really good job making trail safer, it is still not completely safe, and quite strenuous, not accessible for sure. But hiking is perhaps the best part of visiting this park.
Sasha.
Actually I thought this was an absolutely remarkable "trail." There are large steel steps, lots of footholds that were cut into solid rock and a vast number of improvements. Still I do agree this is not a trail for someone with bad joints. The trail may be great - by my standards - but it is steep. It must have been quite a climb before the steps and trail improvements were implemented.
I also agree that it is worth it if you have the strength to make it down and back up again. The canyon is even more spectacular. A few hundred yards north of the bridge you are not likely to see anyone all day or maybe even for several days. There are Ansazi ruins throughout the Bridges and the Cedar Mesa area, but those are best not discussed in detail. Those along the Sipapu trail are well-known and heavily visited.
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