Southern Utah - autumn 2025


With a keen eye on the high desert of southern Utah for an autumn expedition this year, I set my sights on Zion National Park, a place I had never visited but had long interested me. It's a popular destination to be sure, a point that gave me pause, but I sensed there were ample opportunities for my kind of solitary wandering in less traveled sections of the park.

A lone green tree stands out against red sandstone cliffs in a desert landscape at sunset.

My instincts proved accurate, not a huge surprise given the size of the park, and I enjoyed a couple of days exploring Zion's canyons and washes, with few specific objectives and an open mind. It was a fascinating and invigorating adventure. I bypassed the postcard vistas and popular destinations and just went where the spirit of the moment led me. I talk a lot about the rewards of returning to familiar places with my camera, but this first visit to Zion reminded me of the wonder and excitement that an entirely new location brings.

Fallen autumn leaves rest against striated red sandstone rock formations creating a natural contrast in texture and color.
Vibrant yellow autumn foliage creates a stunning natural canopy against a clear blue sky in a forest setting.

In planning the trip, I had the good fortune to speak with Zion photographer Seth Hamel, who provided me with invaluable input on sections of the park that most aligned with my interests. Before talking to Seth, I wasn't sure I needed to include the main Zion canyon on my itinerary, primarily due to the crowds and shuttle bus access system. Seth insisted I see it, however, and suggested renting an e-bike to avoid the shuttle and to travel when and where I wanted. It turned out to be an excellent idea, even if it included a hair-raising start.


On my first morning, I headed out on the e-bike in pre-dawn darkness, following a bike and foot path that snaked along the Virgin River and up Zion Canyon. "Darkness" is the operative word, and a malfunctioning headlight on my bike turned what should have been a refreshing early ride into a white-knuckle race through a dark, twisting labyrinth of brush, trees, fence lines, and grazing deer. With 35 pounds of camera bag and tripod strapped to the heavy e-bike, I felt like I was piloting a locomotive. I'm not sure why I hurried, but disaster was inches away and approaching fast as I sped along the trail.


Somehow I survived without a crash and arrived at a spot that looked promising for early light. After securing the bike, I set out and immediately faced a gorgeous full moon framed by imposing peaks. Unfortunately, an unplanned moonset in an unfamiliar location proved too much of a challenge. I scrambled to unpack my camera, but by the time I made a composition and set my exposure, the moon had dropped behind the mountain. Perhaps my mad dash in the dark was subconscious anticipation of the need to be ready for an early morning surprise.


No matter. I saw the full moon as a good omen and spent the day exploring Zion Canyon, with its orange-red sandstone walls, cottonwoods blazing with fall color, and inviting river meandering nearby. If there was a theme to my photography on this Zion trip it was reflected light. Who needs a sunset when light bouncing off the rock faces and canyon walls illuminated such a fascinating array of subjects.

Autumn cottonwood trees with golden yellow foliage and rugged trunks surrounded by silver sagebrush in a fall landscape.

After an enjoyable day in Zion Canyon, I spent the next couple of days exploring Zion's east side, with its slickrock and winding creek beds. The desert is not new to me, since I've spent plenty of time photographing Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra, but Zion has its own color palette, features, and vibe, and it took a while to adjust my vision for the landscape. In particular, I misjudged the pre-sunrise dawn light on the slickrock. For some interesting early morning rock formation compositions, I ended up with greenish tan hues rather than the coolish blues I've found so captivating in the sand dunes and mountain valleys elsewhere. A bit of a disappointment but certainly a lesson learned.

Scenic panoramic sequence of Lake Powell's blue waters and towering sandstone cliffs in the American Southwest.
Red sandstone cliffs and desert vegetation stretch across a panoramic view in the American Southwest.

It was only when the morning sunlight began to creep down the rock walls, bouncing a glow on the washes below, that the light revealed another dimension to the landscape. I made a conscious effort to break out of my routine and look for wider compositions, but, with a couple of exceptions, I had to face the reality that the more intimate scenes were simply irresistible.


Red maple leaves littered the ground, providing beautiful subject matter and bright contrasts against the earth. Radiant yellow cottonwood trees called for attention in the dry washes, while weathered, stunted pines stood out against the mesmerizing textures of undulating sandstone. And sun-bleached manzanita branches, the desert equivalent of driftwood, lay fallen and forlorn on the red-orange slickrock. All of this and more came to life in the reflected light. It was common for me to set out on a hike and take an hour to go 20 yards. I discovered I could spend almost an entire day poking around the east side washes by following the shade.

Vibrant pink and peach autumn maple leaves scattered on gray stones create a colorful natural pattern.
Golden autumn cottonwood trees contrast against red sandstone cliffs in a scenic desert canyon landscape.
Panoramic view of red sandstone cliffs with sparse desert vegetation growing along the rocky terrain.
Close-up view of weathered wood grain texture showing natural patterns and lines in reddish brown tones.

Aside from the pervasive reflected light, I was also taken, somewhat surprisingly, by the variety of color in Zion's desert environment. I expected the brilliant yellow cottonwood trees, but the red maple leaves, particularly on the drier east side, took me by surprise. Clearly I had unwittingly timed my visit for peak red maple season. Discovering arid washes littered with those leaves was certainly a highlight of the trip.


Perhaps I'll focus more on sunsets the next time I visit Zion, but I was happy to spend this time on the quieter scenes, and I reveled in the thrill of a new location.

leaves & other Small scenes

A flock of snow geese takes flight in a dramatic mass migration against a cloudy sky.
Colorful autumn oak leaves scattered on the ground with pink and brown hues among dried fallen foliage.
Colorful autumn maple leaves in shades of yellow, orange and pink scattered on textured purple stone surface.
A row of delicate orange heart-shaped leaves rests against a textured gray rock surface in autumn.
Vibrant red and pink autumn maple leaves line up against a rustic weathered wood background.
Fallen autumn leaves scattered on brown soil with one vibrant yellow leaf standing out against the earthy background.
Vibrant pink maple leaves displaying autumn colors against a blurred natural background.
Small yellow flowers growing from cracks in dark rocky terrain create a natural contrast in the desert landscape.
Dead white tree branches contrast against a rusty red sandstone rock face in a minimalist desert landscape.
Close-up view of red sandstone rock texture with dried grass or straw scattered along its weathered surface.
Close-up macro photograph of weathered driftwood showing intricate swirling patterns and textures in blue and tan colors.
Abstract black and white patterns formed by natural rock formations create a dramatic swirling texture in stone.
Swirling patterns of weathered wood grain create natural circular textures in tree cross sections.
Twisted metal cables or wires laying across textured rock surface in a natural outdoor setting.
Close-up of smooth pink sandstone rock formation with small stones nestled in a narrow crevice.

Desert Trees

A lone green tree stands out against red sandstone cliffs in a desert landscape at sunset.
A vibrant yellow cottonwood tree stands against dark canyon walls with frosty sagebrush in the foreground.
A vibrant yellow cottonwood tree contrasts against red sandstone cliffs in autumn.
A lone pine tree grows from a colorful striped sandstone formation in the desert landscape.
Scenic panoramic view of red sandstone cliffs and evergreen trees in Zion National Park at sunset.
Panoramic view of desert trees growing on red sandstone rock formations in a southwestern landscape.
A lone pine tree grows from red sandstone rock formations in a desert landscape.
Pine trees growing on red sandstone slopes in Zion National Park with layered rock formations in the background.

weathered Sandstone

Sunlit red sandstone formation with small shrubs growing on rocky slopes in Zion National Park at golden hour.
Scenic view of red and orange sandstone canyon walls with intricate patterns and textures in desert landscape.
Narrow slot canyon with smooth sandstone walls reveals layered rock formations in warm orange and red hues.
Scenic panoramic view of red sandstone cliffs with layered rock formations in a desert landscape.
Rugged red sandstone formations with sparse desert vegetation scattered across the rocky terrain in the American Southwest.
Weathered orange rocks scattered on a rustic wooden surface with natural grain patterns.
Panoramic view of smooth red sandstone canyon walls with curved patterns and natural erosion formations in desert landscape.
Layered sandstone rock formations create dramatic patterns and textures in red desert cliffs.
Small desert plant growing from a crevice between red sandstone canyon walls with layered striations.
Panoramic view of layered red sandstone rock formations with intricate patterns and textures in a desert landscape.

Water works

Long exposure photograph captures smooth flowing water creating ethereal misty patterns against a dark background.
Long exposure photograph of flowing water over smooth river rocks creating a silky motion effect in nature.
Long exposure photograph shows silky smooth water cascading over rocks in a mountain stream.
Long exposure photograph of flowing water creating smooth white streaks over brown rocks in a stream.
Stunning rock arch formation in Utah's desert landscape frames a bright blue sky through its natural window.