Join the club for a multiday trip into the beautiful and incredibly photogenic areas of northern Arizona and southern Utah. Although there are multiple areas of photographic interest our trip will focus on Monument Valley and the National Parks around Moab, Utah. The event is planned for March 4-9th, 2027 but many photographers will likely want to extend their trip a few days either before or after these dates.
While commonly referred to as Monument Valley, the area's Navajo name, Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, offers a more authentic reflection of its character, roughly translating into “the valley of the rocks”. The terrain is ancient, resilient, and breathtaking in its beauty. This distinctive landscape came into being through the erosion of sandstone deposits and geologic uplift, and was further shaped by the relentless forces of wind and water over many centuries.
The area is a Navajo Tribal Park, with strict regulations. Navajo guides are available for hire to get you “off the beaten paths” and into prime photographic locations. Lodging is available in the park at The Views, just outside the park at Gould’s Lodge, and in nearby Kayenta, AZ and Bluff, Utah.
Several attractions are just off the road between Monument Valley and Moab, including the Valley of the Gods, Sand Island Petroglyphs, and Goosenecks State Park.
In Moab we will concentrate on Arches National Park. The park features over 2000 natural stone arches, hundreds of pinnacles, massive rock fins, and huge balanced rocks. Also, the timing of the trip is planned to allow for amazing astrophotography.
We plan to have a predeparture meeting and we can discuss ride sharing when we know who is planning to join us. You should make reservations ASAP as rooms in the local lodges are limited.
Questions? Jim Smith jmslopez99@yahoo.com
