Top canyons
CanyonWhite Canyon
CanyonCataract Canyon
CanyonBig Spring Canyon to Elephant Canyon Loop Trail
CanyonBig Spring Canyon to Wooden Shoe Canyon Loop Trail
CanyonRecapture Canyon
Map
How to photograph canyons
Canyons need light from above: rims glow at sunrise and sunset, while deep or narrow sections are brightest near midday when reflected light bounces off the walls.
- From the rim, sunrise and sunset side-light reveals layers; a telephoto picks out buttes and shadows.
- In narrow canyons, reflected light creates orange and purple glows; avoid including bright sky in the frame.
- Check flash flood forecasts before entering slot or narrow canyons — rain miles away can flood them.
- Dust and sand are hard on gear; change lenses in a bag or with your back to the wind.
- A long lens on a tripod handles the low light inside canyons better than raising ISO.
Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; summer monsoon storms bring dramatic skies but higher flood risk in the Southwest.