The secret to standing out is to take photos from unique perspectives that other photographers don’t consider. Anyone can arrive at Grand Canyon Village, walk the short distance to the rim, and take pictures there. Instead, get off the beaten path at bit and away from crowds. People will notice your photos because they are unique and stand out from the millions of similar photos that other people have taken.

That’s exactly what we’re going to look at today. Here are seven of my favorite photography spots throughout Grand Canyon National Park. They’re not all easy to get to, but you’ll reap the payoff from the extra effort you put into the journey. These spots are for the most part COVID-friendly, too.

Please Stay Off the Navajo Nation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Navajo Nation has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time this was published, the Navajo Nation is currently in a strict lockdown to slow the spread. For their safety as well as your own, please stay off of the Navajo Nation, which includes US-89 north of Flagstaff, at this time. The east entrance to Grand Canyon National Park near Cameron is closed indefinitely to help protect the Navajo people.

1. Desert View Watchtower

Located on State Route 64 just inside the east entrance, the Desert View Watchtower offers breathtaking views of both the canyon and the Colorado River. It’s much less crowded than the primary entrance at the west end of the park. In my opinion, it offers much better views, too.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has closed the Desert View Watchtower, stores, and facilities, the open-air viewpoints remain open. Look to the east for an incredible view of Marble Canyon and the Navajo Nation. You’ll also get one of the best views of the Colorado River available on the South Rim. In the summer, you’ll often see rafting trips on the river.

If that’s not enough, look back to the west. You’ll see a much more classic Grand Canyon landscape, but with another great view of the Colorado River.

Note: The east entrance to the park is closed due to COVID-19 lockdowns on the Navajo Nation. To reach the Desert View Watchtower, you must make the 80 km/50 mi round trip from Grand Canyon Village.

2. Lee’s Ferry

Lee’s Ferry sits in the shadows of the world-famous Navajo Bridge. It is one of the most underrated photography spots at the Grand Canyon. Despite being the launch site for all Colorado River rafting trips, the summer crowds that typically gather at the Navajo Bridge tend to pass by Lee’s Ferry. It’s plenty spacious enough for you to find a secluded, tucked away stretch of beach where you can be one with the river.

3. Little Colorado River Confluence

As breathtaking as Havasupai Falls are, so many people have photographed them over the past few years. The waters of the Little Colorado River near the confluence are just as brilliant a turquoise as Havasupai. However, they’re much harder to reach As a result, you’ll get much better mileage out of your photos.

Don’t get me wrong, the hike to Havasupai is no walk in the park. However, the only practical way to reach the Little Colorado River Confluence is via a multi-day boat trip down the Colorado River. The confluence is a popular stop to relax, refresh, and reflect on Grand Canyon rafting trips.

4. Ooh Aah Point

Do you have any guesses as to how Ooh Aah Point got its name? It’s the reaction from most people when they see the dramatic canyon views it offers. Ooh Aah Point is located about a mile down the South Kaibab Trail. You’ll know it when you see it.

A quick word of caution when hiking in the Grand Canyon. While a mile each way may not sound like much, there is a 1,000-foot (300 m) difference in elevation between Ooh Aah Point and the South Kaibab Trailhead.

In addition, the South Rim is at 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level. If you’re not acclimatized to the elevation, you will likely feel quite winded on the return hike out of the canyon. Go slow, take plenty of breaks, stay hydrated, and you’ll make it out just fine.

5. Bright Angel Point (North Rim)

The Grand Canyon’s North Rim is far more rustic and less touristy than the South Rim. As a result, it’s much quieter and less crowded. Unlike the South Rim, you don’t have to get too far from the Visitor’s Center before you feel like you’re alone with nature.

Bright Angel Point is perfect spot for Grand Canyon photography if you’re hesitant about traveling into the backcountry. Located less than half a kilometer (1/4 mi) past the Visitors Center, Bright Angel Point offers 270-degree views of the canyon from atop a spectacular lookout.

From the North Rim, you can see the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. For those of you who don’t know, the San Francisco Peaks are the highest point in Arizona. Humphrey’s Peak checks in at 12,633 feet (3,851 meters) above sea level. The San Francisco Peaks make for a dramatic background in photos taken from the North Rim. You can’t get that kind of background at the South Rim.

Note: The North Rim closes for the winter upon the first major snowfall of the season and reopens on 15 May. Please check the Grand Canyon National Park website for closure information at the North Rim.

6. Side Hikes on a Colorado River Rafting Trip

There is no better way to make your Grand Canyon photography stand out than to visit places that very few people have access to. The only way to get to these hikes is via a rafting trip down the Colorado River. You’ll see exclusive perspectives of the Colorado River, waterfalls, wildlife, rock formations, and much more.

My most popular photos of the Grand Canyon are all from the rafting trip I took with my family in 2015. They are also some of the most popular photos I’ve ever taken. Even five years after the fact, I still receive positive feedback about my photography from the Grand Canyon rafting trip.

7. The South Rim After a Snowstorm

As a former storm chaser, I can tell you firsthand that adding certain weather phenomena can set even the most “cliché” photos apart from the pack. Grand Canyon photography is no exception.

If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon after a fresh snowfall, you’re missing out on one of the most beautiful sights you’ll ever see. You’ll have to deal with treacherous conditions both driving and walking around the park. However, remember that the more effort you put into your photography, the greater the payoff will be.

Finally, do you remember what I mentioned earlier? That you’ll face immense competition and headwinds if you stop at Grand Canyon Village and only take photos there. Want some proof that certain weather phenomena can neutralize that competition? The above photo of the fresh blanket of snow on the Grand Canyon was taken just east of the El Tovar Hotel, in the heart of Grand Canyon Village.

What’s Still On My Grand Canyon Photography Bucket List

One thing I really love about the Grand Canyon is that no matter how many corners of the park you think you’ve explored, there are always so many more places you haven’t. My bucket list for Grand Canyon photography is expansive (and still growing), so here are a few of the highlights.

• Point Sublime is a lookout point in the North Rim backcountry. It juts out several kilometers into the canyon, providing nearly 360-degree breathtaking views.
• Hermit’s Rest Trail. Much less used than either the Bright Angel or South Kaibab trails, the Hermit’s Rest Trail features unqiue views, basings, and springs.
• Toroweap Overlook. Set 3,000 feet above Lava Falls, the Toroweap Overlook provides dramatic views of the Colorado River and one of the Grand Canyon’s most iconic gorges. What’s the catch? To reach Toroweap, you’ll have to take on 130 km (80 mi) of brutal 4×4 dirt roads. And that’s only one-way.
• Plateau Point is at the end of a spur off of the Bright Angel Trail. It sits 400 meters (1,300 ft) above the Colorado River. You’ll get spectacular views of both the river and the canyon’s inner gorge.
• Diamond Creek Beach is one of the few spots you can drive down to the Colorado River. It’s located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, so the scenery is not as dramatic as it is inside the National Park. It’s a great spot for a picnic lunch, though.

Conclusion

The Grand Canyon is one of the most photographed natural wonders in the world. Your strategy for photographing it will determine how successful you will be. If you settle for only taking photos from touristy spots, your photography will quickly be lost amongst millions of similar photos.

Alternatively, put in the effort to push further off the beaten path. With photos that stand out, the payoff will be tremendous once you start trying to get your Grand Canyon photography in front of eyeballs.

I hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Top Photo: Tranquil scenery on the Colorado River near Comanche Point (Mile 68)
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – June, 2015

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Now I don’t know
I don’t know
I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
When the volcano blow.

Set on top of the Continental Divide outside of Grants, New Mexico at an elevation of 8,000 feet, the Bandera Volcano is a fantastic adventure. Cool off, take in the fresh mountain air, and escape the scorching summer desert heat.

A Violent Geological History

Approximately 10,000 years ago, the Bandera Volcano violently erupted, spewing magma and lava out the southern side of the mountain. As the lava flow cooled and hardened, it created the ice cave at the entrance of a collapsed lava tube. Because the lava rock is such an incredible insulator, the unique shape of the ice cave traps frigid air inside the cave. Temperatures inside the cave never rise above 31°F (-1°C), even in the dead of summer. Coming from the sizzling deserts of Phoenix, nothing felt more refreshing that walking down into the ice cave.

From the visitor’s center, there are two very short hikes to the volcano and the ice cave. Please be aware that both hikes are above 8,000 feet. If you are not accustomed to being at high elevation, you will be huffing and puffing even though both trails are relatively flat. I opted to head up the volcano first. The trail to the volcano is about half a mile one way and rises about 150 feet in elevation.

One you reach the edge of the caldera, the first thing that really stands out is just how big the hole in the ground is. The volcano itself is 800 feet deep, which doesn’t sound like much. To put that into perspective, those are full-size pine trees growing inside the crater, as well as on the rim. The amount of force required to make a hole that big in the ground all at once is astonishing. The equivalent amount of dynamite or TNT required to make a hole that big is incomprehensible.

How Does the Bandera Volcano Compare to El Pinacate and Crater Lake?

I found it fascinating to compare the Bandera volcano to other volcanoes I’ve visited in the past. Most recently, in 2017, I visited maar craters (which are formed by volcanic explosions underground) at La Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar in Sonora, Mexico and at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. The maar craters are much more symmetrical in shape. They are also much much bigger than the caldera at the Bandera Volcano. The Bandera Volcano is 800 feet deep and no more than 1,000 feet in diameter. Cráter El Elegante at the El Pinacate Reserve is about one mile in diameter and 850 feet deep. Crater Lake is about 5 miles in diameter and has an average depth of 1,200 feet.

From the volcano, you have to hike back to the visitor’s center to access the trailhead to the ice cave. The trail to the ice cave is an easy hike. It’s about 1/4 mile one way. Other than the 70 or so stairs you need to descend to enter the cave, there is no elevation change.

Like a Walk-In Freezer

As you descend the stairs into the ice cave, logic would dictate that the temperature would gradually drop as you descend into the cave. Amazingly, logic and reasoning will lead you astray here. If you’ve ever gone into a walk-in refrigerator or freezer, that’s essentially what happens when you enter the ice cave. You’ll cross a magic threshold as you descend and the temperature will instantly drop from whatever the ambient air temperature is (about 80°F when I was there this afternoon) down to about 30°F inside the cave.

The unique shape of the cave, coupled with the incredible insulating properties of the lava rock, traps cold air inside the cave and creates the walk-in freezer effect. The ice is over 20 feet deep and is roughly estimated to be up to 3,400 years old. The greenish teal tint to the ice comes from Arctic algae and alpine moss. Both are incredibly rare to find this far south.

If you’re ever passing though western New Mexico on Interstate 40, I highly recommend a stop at the Land of Fire and Ice. If you have additional time, driving the full length of NM-53 is a scenic and breathtaking alternate to Interstate 40. It passes through the Zuni Reservation and becomes AZ-61 once you cross into Arizona.

View Full Photo Album

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When my sister and I traveled to El Pinacate last week, we got really lucky with the weather. The summer monsoon moisture was firmly in place over the northwestern part of Sonora, so the cloud cover kept temperatures right around 100°F. In fact, it even spat rain on us a couple times.

La Ruta Cráteres: A Spectacularly Unique Look at the Sonoran Desert

The Ruta Cráteres is the main loop road through the reserve. It’s a 76 km dirt track that has stops at three of the park’s most famous craters. Other than a some pretty serious washboarding in places, the road was in pretty good shape. It’s probably passable in a passenger car if you knew what you were doing. However, I would recommend something with high clearance and a rugged suspension such as a truck or SUV. Please obey the posted speed limit of 40 km/h or 25 mph.

When you first arrive at the park, you must check in at the Estación Biológica, which is just a ranger station. The park entrance is at kilometer 52 on Federal Highway 8. It’s about 50 km south of the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing and about 40 km north of Puerto Peñasco. Pay the entrance fee to the park (60 pesos when we went), and give the rangers your vehicle information. Tell them exactly the route you’re going to take and where you’re stopping. That way, if you have a vehicle breakdown or get stuck, they know exactly where to look for you. The rangers all speak both English and Spanish, and were extremely knowledgeable, warm, and welcoming.

Cráter El Elegante: El Pinacate’s Most Famous Crater

Our first stop was at the reserve’s famous Cráter El Elegante, located at kilometer 27 of the Ruta Cráteres. The craters at El Pinacate are all maar craters. Violent volcanic explosions underground cause the ground to collapse in from the top and fill the void left by the explosion. Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is also a maar crater. The Cráter El Elegante is 1,600 meters (roughly a mile) in diameter, about 250 m (800 ft) deep, and is 32,000 years old. There is a hiking trail around the perimeter of the crater, but you cannot go down inside the crater. We did not hike the perimeter because it was so hot.

Stop at Cráter Cerro Colorado

Our second main stop was at Cráter Cerro Colorado, took on more of a cinder cone appearance. While it wasn’t your classic crater the way El Elegante is, it was unique and beautiful in its own way. It actually looks a lot like Ayer’s Rock in Australia as you approach it from the south.

The drive from Cráter Cerro Colorado back to the Estación Biológica was a spectacular drive out of the volcanoes. As the soil shifts from the black volcanic sand back to the traditional white/tan sand of the desert, you pass through a saguaro and cholla forest, which truly epitomizes an authentic desert experience.

Visit the Schuk Toak Visitor’s Center

After spending the night in Puerto Peñasco, we stopped at the Schuk Toak Visitor’s Center on our way home. The visitors center is quite a ways south of the Ruta Cráteres, sitting just north of Puerto Peñasco. The visitors center runs 100% on solar power, and provides plenty of information about the history of the preserve. Though most of it is in Spanish, there are also a couple of short guided walking trails behind the building. It is also home to the only sand dunes in the Sonoran Desert. However they close the dunes in the summer because of the extreme heat.

If you are ever in the Puerto Peñasco area, I highly recommend a visit to the El Pinacate Biosphere Reserve. If you want in interesting perspective, hop across the border and visit the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. While El Pinacate focuses on geology, Organ Pipe focuses on biology and botany. Whatever you decide to do, you won’t be disappointed with the sights, sounds, and scenic views.

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Getting to the Trailhead

Access to the Brown’s Peak trail is off of Highway 87. To get to the trailhead, you need to drive about 30 miles down a poorly-maintained dirt road. You’ll wind from the desert floor up through the mountains to the trailhead, which sits at about 5,500 feet. You will need a vehicle with high clearance. The road is rutted, torn up in places, crosses several dry creek beds and washes.

The trail is between 2 and 3 miles long. At 7,600 feet above sea level, Brown’s Peak is the highest point in Maricopa County. The first 90% or so of the trail is a nice gentle incline that makes for a spectacular hike. It brings you to the bottom of the infamous scree chute.

Climbing the Infamous Scree Chute

Depending on the exact guide book you’re reading, the climb up the scree chute gains somewhere between 200 and 600 feet of elevation. When you climb it, you’re so focused on the climb that it’s hard to tell, but my guess is that it’s somewhere in between the two. The scree chute is the highest rated climb for which you don’t need any special climbing gear. It’s a lot of scrambling, and it’s actually a really good full body workout.

It took us about 45 minutes to climb the scree chute. The views from the top are beyond spectacular. 70 to 75 degree temperatures felt so refreshing compared to the near 110 degree temperatures down in the city. On a clear day, you can see nearly 1/4 of the state. It was quite hazy when we were up there, and we could still see both Phoenix and Flagstaff. Well, actually the San Francisco Peaks just north of Flagstaff.

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I apologize for the shaky video in places. Even the best anti-shake in the world would have been no match for those gnarly, unmaintained back roads.

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