Must have shots for US national parks?

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Matt.

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I'm going on a quick roadtrip around the US in September and need to get more into planning everything. I'd like some ideas of the best shooting locations, and any tips that can be given to help me out.

The trip looks something like this:
- Yellowstone NP
- Grand Teton NP
- Salt Lake City
- Bryce Canyon NP
- Zion NP
- Death Valley NP
- Mammoth Lakes
- Yosemite NP
- San Francisco
- Carmel
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara

So loads of places, and i need to work out some ideas of what to do in each.


Any ideas would be appreciated!



Thanks
 
Matt. said:
I'm going on a quick roadtrip around the US in September and need to get more into planning everything. I'd like some ideas of the best shooting locations, and any tips that can be given to help me out.

The trip looks something like this:
- Yellowstone NP
- Grand Teton NP
- Salt Lake City
- Bryce Canyon NP
- Zion NP
- Death Valley NP
- Mammoth Lakes
- Yosemite NP
- San Francisco
- Carmel
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara

So loads of places, and i need to work out some ideas of what to do in each.


Any ideas would be appreciated!



Thanks
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There's a few stand out bits of death valley, such as the dunes and Dante's view, but most of it's pretty much the same, still a cool place though. Some pics on my site if you want a idea what its like there.

There really isn't much in San lois obispo, I know as I was stranded there for a day with no bags or passport, passed through santa barbara and didn't see anything too inspiring either, there's a lot of old missions in the area if thats your thing.

I don't have a lot of love for san fransisco, I went to fisherman's wharf but not a lot there, avoid the civic centre area if you want to keep your camera.
 
Spend more time in Yellowstone than you planed, and Old Faithful is the WORST thing there, when at the Old Faithful from the car park walk past Old Faithful to view the other geysers there, check at the lodge for time when each geysers is due to blow, they tend to be pretty accurate , all the famous site are worth a visit and Mammoth is a must, I would say 3 days is a minimum in Yellowstone.

You'll get good shots of the Grand Tetons from more or less any where in Jackson Hole, I can't remeber where but there is a place where you can get the Snake river and Tetons in one shot, don't forget to turn round and get a shot of the Sleeping Indian, and don't forget the the Moulton barn along Mormon Row Road which is a VERY popular subject, and Bison do roam the back roads. Also check when the Elk come down to The National Elk Refuge for winter.

Check the weather as by late September you maybe getting some snow in Jackson Hole

Carmel will normally be 17 mile drive, if your travelling down the PCH then Hearst Castle is worth a visit IMHO

San Luis Obispo if your there on a Thursday get in town in the evening for the EXCELLENT farmers market (well it was when we were there)

Looking at your list , your trying to pack an awful lot into one trip

You'll need a NP pass for the car, we bought a full year one, and as we are tight that must be the best value for money option. :)

Get a map and look for the scenic byways on your route, Beartooth Highway in Wyoming is awesome and so is Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana (a bit too far off your route for this trip) but see what you could drive along instead of the interstate

Do A LOT of research before you go as there is plenty of stuff that we never really get to hear that much about

Looking at your list you will be going left and down from Yellowstone, where as we went right and up, so we got

Thermopolis, Hot Springs, Wyoming,
Devils Tower
Deadwood
Mount Rushmore
Badlands
Little Bighorn Battlefield
Glacier NP
Yellowstone
Grand Teton NP (our friend has a house just outside Jackson)


People have different ideas on how to do a USA road trip, some plan, plan and plan, other like us have a start point and finish point, we don't book anything in between and just go with the flow, mind you that meant 4000 miles is 3 weeks :lol:
 
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whiteflyer said:
Spend more time in Yellowstone than you planed, and Old Faithful is the WORST thing there... I would say 3 days is a minimum in Yellowstone.

...You'll get good shots of the Grand Tetons from more or less any where in Jackson Hole,
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Great post by someone who clearly knows these areas much better than I do, I've highlighted few the bits that I know in the quote.

These parks are HUGE and beautiful, I'm very jealous. Have a great trip! :)
 
Travel the back roads you will see sights that are outstanding and you will probably have them all to yourself
 
Yosemite National Park, California is arguably one of the most beautiful and photogenic areas in the world.

Valley View Overlook...



However, during vacation times (Mid-June to after Labor Day) the area is so crowded with tourists that photography suffers. My patience also suffers and I am not a good photographer when I am irritable.

The Park is so crowded during vacation season that private vehicles are not permitted and to travel around you are required to take shuttle buses which are a crowded and slow method of transportation.

Springtime is the best season to visit Yosemite (although Winter can be absolutely beautiful but, chancy due to heavy snowfall). Springtime will provide a lot of water to keep the various beautiful waterfalls flowing.

Bridal Veil falls in early June 2010



Shots of Yosemite Falls from the Swinging Bridge are chancy due to the crowds walking on the bridge causing vibrations...



However, some areas of the park may not be open in early Spring. Tuolumne Meadows and the rear entrance doesn't open until sometime in mid to late June due to snowpack.

I would schedule several days for Yoesmite to ensure you get the best weather conditions.

The guide "Photo Secrets. Yosemite" by Andrew Hudson will give you pointers regarding the best times of the day for shooting the various venues of Yosemite.

http://www.amazon.com/PhotoSecrets-...=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311524058&sr=1-3
 
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How before we start, I have not always been into photography and went on holiday to enjoy myself with only a point and shoot throw away camera which I took holiday snaps with :)

So a few SNAPS

Crowds at Old Faithful, will wait till it blows then back on a coach and off to the nest site

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But walk a hundred yard further and there several more worth the wait with much less crowds.

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Keep going and you come to one of the better know hot springs

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When driving around Yellowstone keep an eye on the road

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Upper Yellowstone Falls are right at the other side of the park

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The Tetons can be seen all over Jackson Hole

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Off the beaten track will give some spectacular driving roads

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And don't forget there is some great sights still in the making

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Along with others that have been around for millennia

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I wish I was coming with you.
 
My plan looks something like this (so far!):

- Yellowstone [3 nights]: Mammoth hot springs, Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Geysers, Grand Prismatic Spring
- Grand Teton [1 night]: Moulton Barn, Oxbow bend, schwabacher's landing
- Salt Lake City [1 night] (quick stop to break the drive, so not enough time to see anything really!)
- Bryce Canyon [2 nights] (drive here via Scenic Route 12): Maybe do the moonlight walk, as i'm there for that
- Zion [2 nights]: Narrows, first part of Angels Landing (maybe)
- Death Valley [2 nights]: Dante's view, ?
- Mammoth Lakes [1 night]: ?
- Yosemite [3 nights] (go via Mono lake + Tioga Pass): ?
- San Francisco [2 nights]: I'd like to go to the other side of Golden Gate Bridge, and get that photo. Not sure i have the time though.

The following 3 nights are the drive down PCH, and i don't plan on doing all that much, though suggestions are welcome.
- Carmel [1 night] (via 17 mile drive): ?
- San Luis Obispo [1 night] (again this is like SLC and just a quick stopover)
- Santa Barbara [1 night]: ?



I am well aware that i could miss some if the weather isn't great (and knowing my luck with weather, we'll have massive thunderstorms ;)).
 
On the PCH there is Hearst Castle and A seal colony somewhere between Carmel and Santra Babara, I can't say where as we just came upon it as lots of cars were parked in a layby and we were nosey as to why they were there, this was in the month on February so maybe not always around.
 
Matt. said:
Bryce Canyon [2 nights] (drive here via Scenic Route 12): Maybe do the moonlight walk, as i'm there for that
- Zion [2 nights]: Narrows, first part of Angels Landing (maybe).
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For Bryce make sure your up early for sunrise point.

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Any of the walks down into the basin is well worth doing as is the drive along to the far end past various veiwipoints.

For Zion I'd personally recommend the walk to Observation Point over Angels landing, its longer(less hair raising though) but the final viewpoint is better plus it passes though a very photogenic slot Canyon aswell.

If you can spare the time I'd say a side trip from Bryce to Moab would be very worthwhile, you could see a hell of alot even with just one day in the area. Spend the day looking around Arches National Park(espeically the walk to double O arch) and then head to grand view point in Canyonlands Park for the sunset(better than the Grand Cayon IMHO).

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I don't have time to move from the current route unfortunately, and all my accommodation is now booked. I really just need to work out what to do in the places i'm going to! (and what i can see between them).

I am going next month, so not long left now!
 
Glacier point in Yosemite should give a good view of half dome. you can walk up there from the valley but you also have the option of driving up to the summit.

there are also plenty of places to stop and wander around that should be a bit quieter if you come over the tioga pass from mono lake.

just be careful of the bears.
 
Make sure you go to Montana Grizzly encounter on the edge of Yellowstone. A place for rescued Grizzly Bears!
 
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