Canyons of Utah: Zion and Bryce in Winter · Bryce Canyon during the least crowded season. Winter...

Backcountry Journeys – Canyons of Utah: Bryce & Zion 1

Landscape & Wildlife Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris 928-478-1521 | [email protected] | www.backcountryjourneys.com

Canyons of Utah: Zion and Bryce in Winter

“I have always been unsatisfied with life as most people live it. Always I

want to live more intensely and richly. why muck and conceal one's true

longings and loves, when by speaking of them one might find someone

to understand them, and by acting on them one might discover oneself?”

Everett Ruess

Pricing, Dates & Booking

For current pricing, trip dates

& online reservations please

see our website.

Trip Packets

Our PDF Trip Packets are being

updated all the time. Ensure you

have the most recent version by

clicking here.

Last Published: April 7, 2020

mailto:[email protected]

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Trip Overview

Discover the heart of canyon country through your lens on this

photographic excursion into Zion and Bryce National Parks – during

winter! We’ll explore the delicate and colorful canyons of Zion National

Park as well as the ancient weather-worn hoodoo rock formations of

Bryce Canyon during the least crowded season. Winter is an absolutely

incredible time to visit these two iconic parks – no crowds, beautiful

canyons and colorful hoodoos covered in beautiful white snow make for

excellent landscape photography opportunities!

Explore Zion & Bryce during the quiet days of winter and experience

the beauty of these parks in solitude. Due to the soft low light of winter

and the abundance of snow in the high-country winter is one of the best

times to photograph Zion & Bryce canyons. Our guides have been

hiking & photographing in Southern Utah for well over a decade and we





have designed this itinerary to arrive at just the right moment for ideal

lighting conditions and photographic opportunities.

This landscape photography-oriented expedition will put you and your

lens in front of some of the most iconic and spectacular rock formations

that Southern Utah has to offer. We will photograph the mouth of the

Zion Narrows, Angel’s Landing and the Towers of the Virgin. We’ll also

photograph Bryce Canyon’s unique and otherworldly hoodoo formations.

After dinner we may venture out to capture brilliant, star-filled skies

above Bryce Canyon. After long days in the field, we’ll retreat to our

comfortable lodges near Zion Canyon and on the rim of Bryce!

Highlights • Zion & Bryce National Parks in Winter

• Least crowded season for both parks

• Photograph beautiful canyons & otherworldly hoodoos

• Stunning Scenery

• Small Groups

• Cozy lodges

• All-Inclusive Trip, including most meals

• Learn from & shoot alongside a seasoned pro





Noteworthy Travel Logistics

• This trip begins & ends in Saint George, Utah.

• There is a pre-trip meeting on Day One at 5pm at the

Hilton Garden Inn in Saint George

1731 S Convention Center Dr, St. George, UT 84790

(435) 634-4100

Please note: Exact hotel is subject to change - equivalent hotel may be

substituted. If you are planning on arriving early or staying late please

contact us.

• You can either fly into Saint George or fly into Las Vegas which is

about a two-hour drive on good roads. There is a shuttle from the

Las Vegas Airport to Saint George. Visit www.stgshuttle.com for

more information.

• We should be back in Saint George no later than 1:00pm on the

last day of the trip.



http://www.stgshuttle.com/



Transportation on Tour:

The Hilton Garden Inn has a complimentary airport shuttle, please call

them at (435)-634-4100. We will provide ground transportation for the

duration of the tour.

Pre & Post Trip Recommended Lodging

If you are arriving early or want to spend more time in St. George, we

recommend:

Hilton Garden Inn

1731 South Convention Center Drive, Saint George, Utah 84790

(435)-634-4100





Itinerary Please note: This is a “standard” tour so there is little to no hiking on this trip Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day One (Travel Day)(D)

Arrive in Saint George, Utah for an orientation and welcome dinner

by 5pm.

Day Two (B,L,D)

We’ll catch the sunrise this morning at an iconic spot within Zion

Canyon and then explore the mouth of the famous Zion Narrows for

the soft midday light that can be so perfect in canyon country during

winter months. We’ll photograph the winding canyons of the Virgin





River and spend the afternoon photographing this immense canyon

system.

Day Three (B,D)

This morning we will set out to explore locales such as Emerald Pools

and the Weeping Rock. In the afternoon we’ll focus on soft winter light

from some of our favorite vantage points within the park. Evenings

will be spent going over images and eating a fantastic dinner at one of

the great local restaurants in Springdale, Utah.

Day Four (B,L,D)

This morning we will photograph one of the most iconic spots in the

park. After our morning session we’ll eat lunch and drive to Bryce

canyon to check in to our evening’s accommodation. We’ll have a

sunset session tonight overlooking the rim of Bryce Canyon – aptly

named Sunset Point! Winter overlooking the Hoodoos of Bryce is

breathtaking! This evening we will work on some star / night sky

photography for those interested – keep in mind it is COLD this time

of year!

Day Five (B,D)

We’ll arise early again this morning as we head out on a short walk to

capture the rising sun over the Hoodoos and rock formations of Bryce

Canyon National Park. Your trip leader will go over some of the

intricacies of capturing desert sunrise shots and then we’ll head in for

a late breakfast at our lodge.

During the middle of the day when the light isn’t as good we’ll work

on some photographic techniques in Bryce canyon which features an

otherworldly collection of hoodoos and sandstone rock formations.

We’ll have another epic vantage point for an evening photography

session then it’s off to our cozy lodge.





Day Six (B)

Our final morning of shooting will involve one of the most dramatic

locations in Southern Utah – Bryce Point. We’ll head out and capture

one of the most breath-taking sunrises before heading in for our last

breakfast as a group! We will return to Saint George by about 1 pm on

the last day for flights out.

Please Note: The exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography

trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on

these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for

the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a

variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national

park closures, road closures and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and

nature photography we do not guarantee any specific sightings or

specific compositions regarding wildlife or natural phenomena.





Trip Details

Physical Requirements

All participants must have the ability to walk short distances with their

camera equipment. For example, tripod, camera, lense(s), sunscreen,

water, and extra layers (if necessary). Typically backpacks weigh

between 15 and 20 lbs. But remember the choice is yours

Group Size

We keep groups small to maximize your one on one time with the

guide/instructor.

Accommodation

We will be staying in comfortable lodges near the parks

Trip length

6 days

Meeting Time and Place

5pm on Day One at the Hilton Garden Inn in Saint George, Utah.

Trip Conclusion

St. George, Utah at the Hilton Garden Inn at approximately 1 pm on

Day Six.

Price/Start Dates

Please see our website for current Canyons of Utah: Zion & Bryce in

Winter Pricing & Dates

Accommodations:

We will be staying in comfortable lodging near Zion and Bryce Canyon

National Parks.

Meals

Most meals are included during the trip dates and we typically eat at

park lodges in the evening as well as handpicked local restaurants. We

often eat snacks and prepare lunch on the trail. We typically return for

a late breakfast or eat breakfast on the road during photography trips

as we are often out early to capture the morning light.







Weather

Expect cool days and chilly nights. The weather is generally very dry

and stable in Southern Utah however it can change on a moment’s

notice. Remember some of the best photographs are made before, during

and immediately after a storm cycle. There is no such thing as bad

weather just poor layering and gear choices – please plan accordingly!

For more info on what to bring please email or call us. Make sure you

are prepared for rain!

General Links to weather conditions: Zion National Park Weather

Forecast and Bryce National Park Weather Forecast

We recommend checking these weather links prior to your trip

departure to plan your gear and clothing packing accordingly.

Price Includes

Most Meals, ground transportation, accommodation during the trip

dates, from the evening of day one through the morning of day six,

National Park entrance fees, professional photography instruction,

medically certified wilderness guide, & gratuities for service personnel

such as drivers, pilots, captains as well as hotel & restaurant staff.

Price Does Not Include

Airfare, alcoholic beverages, accommodations before or after the trip

dates, souvenirs, and one meal on your own & trip leader gratuities

(industry standard is typically 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your

experience).

Lodging & Meals

Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours & Workshops include most

meals, lodging from day 1 through the morning of the last day of the

tour, ground transportation while on the tour, National Park entrance

fees, guide fees and other items essential to a successful trip – meaning

that once your there all you will have to focus on is your photography.

We can accommodate most special diets so please let us know if you

have any dietary restrictions.



https://d.docs.live.net/640adbc3113983a7/Documents/Backcountry%20Journeys/Trip%20Packets/Zion%20National%20Park%20Weather%20Forecast

https://d.docs.live.net/640adbc3113983a7/Documents/Backcountry%20Journeys/Trip%20Packets/Zion%20National%20Park%20Weather%20Forecast

https://d.docs.live.net/640adbc3113983a7/Documents/Backcountry%20Journeys/Trip%20Packets/Bryce%20National%20Park%20Weather%20Forecast



Gear List

This gear list should answer a lot of your gear questions so please read

through this carefully. If you still have questions, please give us a call.

Your clothing should be a system of layers that you add and subtract

according to the weather and temperature. A good pair of good synthetic

“Smartwool” type socks under sturdy boots works well. Clothing should

be light-weight nylon pants (maybe base-layers), a polypro shirt and

either a sunhat or warm hat depending on the weather. As weather

conditions change add insulating and waterproof layers to your base

setup. Don’t bring any cotton clothing. Cotton is not a good insulator

and once it gets wet it takes forever to dry. Absolutely no jeans!

Photo & Field Gear

Recommended Camera Gear:

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic etc.)

• Medium telephoto zoom Lens (100–400mm zoom or equivalent)

• Wide-angle Lens (10-20mm, 16-35mm or equivalent zoom)

• Normal Lenses (ranging from approximately 35mm to 100mm)

• Sturdy but lightweight Tripod (must be able to carry this for

hikes)

• Memory Cards

• Batteries & Chargers

• Filters such as a circular polarizer and neutral density are a must.

• Lens cleaning pen & cloth

• Camera Day Pack (this should appropriately carry all your camera

& hiking gear and have a rain cover)

• Camera Rain Sleeve





Optional (but recommended) Camera Gear:

• Back-Up Camera Body

• 1.4x tele converter

• Laptop Computer with Lightroom / Photoshop Pre-Installed

• External Hard Drives

• Remote Shutter Trigger

• Camera’s Instruction Manual

• Monopod (for Zion Trails)

Suggested Field Gear & Clothing:

• Personal Field Clothing (think extra warm layers & waterproof)

• Warm top, such as a long-sleeved sweater or fleece jacket

• Insulated Down Jacket, warm, packable coat with hood (My

favorite piece of gear during winter months!)

• “Softshell” Jacket lightly insulated windproof/breathable jacket for

layering and protection from wind

• Lightweight Waterproof Ski-Pants

• Lightweight gloves, light- to mid-weight fleece or wool gloves for

snowshoeing on warm days

• Insulated gloves, waterproof/breathable insulated gloves or mitts

• Balaclava or neck gaiter, midweight wool balaclava or neck gaiter

for windy and cold days

• Warm hat, thick wool Sherpa style winter hat lined with fleece

• Long Underwear (synthetic top & bottom)

• Hiking Socks (Smartwool, Darn Tough etc.)

• Sunglasses

• Insulated boots

• Casual wear, for your evenings indoors

• Waterproof/breathable jacket

• underwear

• Gaiters (optional, but recommended, depending on your ski pants) • Shooting Gloves

• Binoculars (optional) • Sunscreen





• Knee pads (for low-angle shooting)

• Headlamp with spare batteries (there are short daylight hours

during the winter and lodging grounds in the park are not well lit)

• Personal toiletries & medications

• Money, for tipping your guide (industry standard is generally 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your experience), and for any

personal expenses not included in the tour package such as alcoholic

beverages, a few of the meals, souvenirs, etc.

Note on Packing for the tour:

Please pack your extra clothing, toiletries, extra camera gear, and other

travel items into a suitcase, duffel or travel bag. You will not bring all

your camera gear on every hike or outing. Each evening you will be

briefed on which lenses, filters, etc. you will need to carry the following

day on the scheduled tour or hike.



Canyons of Utah: Zion and Bryce in Winter · Bryce Canyon during the least crowded season. Winter...

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Transcript of Canyons of Utah: Zion and Bryce in Winter · Bryce Canyon during the least crowded season. Winter...