2014 Plein Air Invitational When John Wesley Powell completed his second expedition down the canyons of the Colorado River in 1871, he invited artist Thomas Moran to join him on his explorations of the region surrounding the Grand Canyon. Moran’s artistic eye became...
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A Ride on Zion’s Wild Side
When was the last time your children went outside to play? Better yet, when was the last time YOU went outside to play? And how long has it been since you AND your children did something together outside that you’ll remember the rest of your lives? Whether it’s...
A Record-Breaking Experience
8th most visited and still moving up the list? According to the National Park Service, Zion is the 8th most visited national park in america. As recently as 1980, Zion was at number fifteen on the list of most popular parks, greeting about 1.1 million visitors. This...
The Golden Hour (part 2)
Here are a few more Zion sunset photos from ZNP fans: Van Dezy: "A good golden hour spot is looking out the canyon at the Watchman" Wade W.: "Coal Pits Wash, Eagle Crags & Grafton are always beautiful in the late afternoon and evening."
15 Golden Minutes
When you come to Zion, the best show in town starts 15 minutes before sunset. No matter where you are in the park, the last few minutes of direct sunlignt turns the normally muted tones of nature into a saturated spectacle. Smith Mesa is one of my favorite places to...
“The Desert Shall Blossom . . .”
When Mormon pioneers first settled the valleys of Utah, an oft-quoted passage from Isaiah helped them maintain hope that they could survive and even flourish in this harsh, but beautiful land: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the...
The Road Less Traveled
Any visitor to Zion will tell you that it's one of the most beautiful places on Earth. No matter what part of the park you see, you are sure to be treated to a feast for the eyes and the soul. But one thing I've learned from a lifetime of outdoor exploration is that...
The Springdale Surprise
It should come as no surprise that Spring is a glorious time of year in Springdale. But there are many things about this resort town which many people don’t expect. On the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, my wife and I spent the night in Springdale to celebrate our...
Springdale: The Center of Scenic America
Here's a Challenge: Find a map of the United States and draw a circle at a scale representing a 100 mile radius. Keep drawing circles all over the map until you find one that contains the following: 15 locations administered by the National Park Service, including 2...
So This is February in Utah?
When most people think of visiting Utah in winter, chances are good that they are envisioning snow-capped mountains and world-class skiing. What many people don't know is that some parts of Utah rarely see snow at all. After my Valentine's Day trip to Southern Utah’s...