Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Lower Emerald Pool Zion Lodge 1 hour 1.2 mi / 1.9 km 69 ft / 21 m Leads to the pools below Middle Emerald Pools and the Upper Emerald Pools Trails.

Waterfalls, Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Lower Emerald Pool Zion Lodge 1 hour 1.2 mi / 1.9 km 69 ft / 21 m Leads to the pools below Middle Emerald Pools and the Upper Emerald Pools Trails.

Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Lower Emerald Pool Zion Lodge 1 hour 1.2 mi / 1.9 km 69 ft / 21 m Leads to the pools below Middle Emerald Pools and the Upper Emerald Pools Trails.

MIlky Way Galaxy, NIght sky photography, Zion National Park, Utah, Light Painting, I Love You

I Love you Utah

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob peaks, Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park, Utah

The Patriarchs are three neighboring sandstone peaks on the west side of Zion Canyon. Each is named after biblical fathers. From left to right (south to north) they are Abraham Peak, Isaac Peak, and Jacob Peak. Abraham Peak is the tallest at 6,890 feet. The white top of Jacob Peak rises behind the orange rock of Mount Moroni. The Patriarchs were named by Frederick Vining Fisher, a Methodist minister who ventured into Zion in 1916, labeling numerous prominent points in Zion Canyon. He decided to name these three peaks after Old Testament daddies, and the titles stuck.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Sunset, Riverside Walk, Temple of Sinawawa, The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah,

Riverside Walk by Virgin River Temple of Sinawava 1.5 hour 2.2 mi / 3.5 km 57 ft / 17 m Paved trail follows the Virgin River in a deep canyon. First 0.4 miles is wheelchair accessible but may be sandy.

Tunnel, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 - Zion Mt Carmel Highway

On July 3, 1930, the work was completed and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel was officially dedicated and opened to the public. Two years and ten months after the project began, visitors traveled along the new scenic route in the comfort of an automobile and enjoyed views of the high desert landscape along the way. The once imagined "Grand Circle Tour" of Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks was now a reality.

Checkerboard Mesa, Zion National Park, Utah, Highway 9 -Zion Mt Carmel Highway

Most of the rocks in Zion National Park are sedimentary rocks –made of bits and pieces of older rocks that have been weathered, eroded, and deposited in layers. These rock layers hold stories of ancient environments and inhabitants very different from those found in Zion today. In this distant past, Zion and the Colorado Plateau were near sea level, and were even in a different place on the globe—close to the equator. The rock layers found in Zion today were deposited between approximately 110 –270 million years ago –only in recent geologic time have they been uplifted and eroded to form the scenery of Zion National Park.

Tropic Ditch Waterfalls, Mossy Cave Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

One of the easiest and relaxing trails in Bryce Canyon. As you turn the corner and see the waterfall, if there are no others near you, then for a moment, you can hear the tune to the Good, Bad and Ugly playing in your head, and imagine Clint Eastwood riding along the canyon floor. This is the perfect view of the Western USA.

Milky Way Galaxy, Night Sky, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

In 2019, Bryce Canyon National park officially gained International Dark Sky status. Bryce Canyon's high elevation, clean air, and remote location creates some of the darkest skies in the country. During a new Moon on a clear weather night, you can see thousands of stars and the spectacular band of the Milky Way Galaxy shooting across the sky. On a clear day at Bryce you can see nearly 200 miles to the Black Mesas in eastern Arizona. On a clear dark night, you can see 2.2 million light years or 527,000,000,000,000,000 miles to the Andromeda Galaxy.

Navajo Loop Trail into the canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

One of my favorite views in Bryce Canyon, maybe even across National parks, this view capturing the gently carved out switchbacks into the canyon, leading the viewer into the depths, and plunging them in to the middle is a sight to see. THe people walking the trail, shows the scale of the formations.

Rim Trail, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

If sunrise in Bryce Canyon is the opening act, then sunset is the grand finale. Just as every pillar, every rock formation, every corner was slowly illuminated, so does it get turned off. As the shadows creepin, slowly plunging the canyon into darkness, the shades from yellow to deep red, linger on.

Natural Bridge, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8627 feet

Bridging the gap. As I stood at the lookout point, taking a moment to capture this view, I thought to myself, imagine this above the mantlepiece. The opening in the fireplace complemented by the opening in the bridge. Strange thoughts but maybe not for someone who loves photography as musch as home design.

Navajo Mountain view, Black Birch Canyon,, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8750 feet

Pine and Fir on the forest floor provide the perfect view into the canyon. There are no Black birches here, but the two columns frame the entrance like a Hoolywood movie would. What lays past this? Should one enter? How would you enter? So many questions, so many reflections, all only made possible by Mother Nature.

Large Cloud for scale, Rainbow Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 9115 feet

Clouds are one of most favorite natural phenomenon. They are by nature ephemeral and localized. Sometimes at the right time at the right place, you get to see the scale of these natural formations.

Inspiration point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8100 feet

To see the canyon plunge below the plateau, that is a sight. Vantage points are plenty at Bryce Canyon, especially from the Rim Trail.

Hoodoos, Inspiration point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8100 feet

Tree color, Inspiration point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8100 feet

I wanted color contrast. Here is where each viewer, each photographer finds something that appeals to them. To me, the green tree against the red background, appealed. The discord of the branches, clashed against the symmetry of the hoodos. Print large, so the branches and the hoodoos can be seen.

Grottos, Bryce Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8300 ft

Large cavities in white limestone layer of the Claron formation

Queen's Garden Trail, Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8100 feet (2469 m)

Hoodoos, Paunsagunt Plateau, Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8100 feet (2469 m)

Bryce Canyon is not a single canyon, but a series of natural amphitheaters or bowls, carved into the edge of a high plateau. The most famous of these is the Bryce Amphitheater, which is filled with irregularly eroded spires of rocks called hoodoos.The formation of Bryce Canyon and its hoodoos requires 3 steps: 1) Deposition of Rocks 2) Uplift of the Land 3) Weathering and Erosion. Part of the beauty of the hoodoos comes from their strange patterns. The shape of the hoodoos is attributed to slight variances in the material which comprises the rock. There are multiple types of rocks that make up Bryce Canyon. All of the rocks contain abundant calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a mineral that dissolves when it comes into contact with even slightly acidic water. When it rains at Bryce Canyon, the (slightly) acidic rain is enough to dissolve the calcium carbonate that holds these rocks together and allows them to erode into their current shape (and continues to shape them). When you look at the Hoodoos you will notice some layers that jut out, and some that indent inwards. This is a result of the rocks having varying amounts of calcium carbonate cementation and that controls how easily dissolvable (or how resistant) that rock layer is.

Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - 8100 feet (2469 m) From Left to right: Boat Mesa, Sinking Ship, Bristle Cone Point

Sunrise at Bryce Canyon is an unbelievable sight. As night turns into day, the colors of the sky pour into the canyon, slowly inlluminating the amphitheater, aptly named, as a show gets put on. Get there early, and move around as even small angles can make a difference in the view. No one view is the best, it is all in the viewers eye. Enjoy it.

Kemil Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park

Retreating water is beautiful. An abstract view from the national park closest to my home in the suburbs of Chicago.

Kemil Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park

Lake Michigan is no lake at all. It took us almost 3 hours on a fast ferry to cross it from Michigan to Illinois. This view from the Indiana Dunes National Park, acros the lake and the city of Chicago looking in the distance is a beautiful view. The birds casually walking the beach, added to my interest.

Rain Cloud, Pass Mountain Overlook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Limberlost Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Stars, Milky Way Galaxy, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Sunset, Timber Hollow Overlook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

View from Black Rock Summit Trail, Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Calf Mountain Overlook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Two Mile Run Overlook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

The Point Overlook

Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Make sure you take a walk in the Big Meadows across from the Byrd Visitor Center. There are guided tours which are great.

Milky Way Galaxy and night stars, Skyland Resort, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Sun circle, Trail in Skyland Resort, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Hemlock Springs Overlook, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Sheep Lakes, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Elk, Alpine Ridge Trail, Alpine Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Elk, Alpine Ridge Trail, Alpine Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Elk, Alpine Ridge Trail, Alpine Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Poudre Lake, Milner Pass, Continental Divide, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Never Summer Mountains, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Lead Mountain

Colorado River, Coyote Valley Trailhead, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado