#Landscape arch in arches national park iso#

I prefer to photograph from a further distance, across the road to the northwest. A short trail circles Balanced Rock, but views from there are too low and close, as foreshortening diminishes the size of the top balancing rock. Not all angles reveal its stunning overhanging position. The Balanced rock is a very obvious landmark near a major road intersection, yet I’ve found that to capture its wonder requires careful positioning.

#Landscape arch in arches national park iso#

However, you can just retrace your steps, or just photograph the bright foliage from the area near the bridge over Courthouse Wash.īush and cottonwoods in autumn, Courthouse Wash, mid-dayĬanon EOS 5D Mark II, Nikkor 14-24mm, f/11.0 f/125 ISO 100 Balanced Rock and Garden of Eden The best way would be to use a vehicle shuttle so that you can hike 5.5 miles one-way, from the bridge over Courthouse Wash in the Park to Highway 191 0.3 miles past the bridge of the Colorado River, outside the Park.

Although there is no marked trail, it is difficult to get lost as you just follow the stream downstream (East towards Moab). Towards the end of October, willows and cottonwood trees turn bright yellow. Wading and stream crossing are necessary, so be sure to wear shoes that can get wet. You are hiking in a canyon along a stream bordered by abundant riparian vegetation. I explored for most of an October day there, and didn’t see another person. In a desert park with no sources of water and little vegetation, Courthouse Wash provides the different experience of a refreshing desert oasis. Spring brings wildflowers to the area, while summer rains fill-up temporary potholes which can provide reflections.Ĭanon EOS 5D Mark III, EF100-400mm, polarizer, f/8.0 1/20 ISO 100 Courthouse Wash While the light on Park Avenue is best around mid-morning and mid-afternoon, the more open location of formations such as the Organ and the Three Gossips mean that they are lit shortly after sunrise. Some of the largest cliffs and monoliths lie near the park entrance. In late fall and early spring, the La Sal mountains are snow-capped, providing a more spectacular backdrop that contrasts with the red rock.

Winter temperatures can drop well below freezing, but there is a chance of a dusting of snow. Summer temperatures can reach into the 100s F, but the light might be the best, as thunderstorms bring dramatic skies in the afternoon and rains fill-up potholes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, with the added benefits of wildflowers and (limited) fall foliage. Consisting of soil cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses, the fragile crust plays an important ecological role in the desert, and can take up to 45 years to recover from trampling. If going off-trail to look for new compositions, I always make sure to stay in sandy washes or on slickrock in order to avoid damaging the biological soil crust (cryptobiotic soil). The longest trail in the park is a 7.2 miles loop. An 18-mile scenic road with two spurs gives easy access to short to moderate trails leading to the arches the park is famous for.

Although I have visited the park half-a-dozen times, turning a corner and finding myself in front of an arch remains a moment filled with wonder at the whimsy of nature.Īrches is a relatively compact park.

It now attracts visitors from all over the world, many of them photographers drawn to its extraordinary rock formations. Canham KBC 5×7, Fuji Velvia, Schneider Super-Angulon 120mm, polarizerįorty years ago, Arches was a little-known site with a single-track dirt road.