Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Cathedral Gorge and Pioche, NV
From the narrow slots of Cathedral Gorge to the silver mining scars above Pioche, this eastern Nevada road trip blends geology and Wild West history. I hiked Moon Caves and Miller Point, explored original Main Street buildings, ate at the Historic Silver Café, toured the Overland Hotel, and drove north into a storm after missing Great Basin National Park.
Valley of Fire State Park
I spent the day hiking Natural Arch Trail and Rainbow Vista Trail in Valley of Fire State Park, navigating deep sand, red rock washes, and hidden sandstone arches. In eighty-degree heat, the solitude of Natural Arch contrasted sharply with the crowds at Rainbow Vista. A bighorn sheep sighting and an evening drive toward Cathedral Gorge rounded out a long desert day.
Chiricahua National Monument AZ
I hiked the Echo Canyon Loop in Chiricahua National Monument on a perfect spring day. The Grotto, Hailstone, and Ed Riggs trails wind through towering rhyolite columns, balanced boulders, and pine forest. A narrow canyon crossing, a quiet moment with a horse, and nearly four hours on the trail made this one of my favorite Arizona hikes.
Quartzsite, AZ
After finishing taxes near Bouse, I drove into Quartzsite, Arizona — winter home to massive RV gatherings, gem and mineral shows, and long-term BLM camping. I explored the town, learned about Hi Jolly and the Army’s camel experiment, and settled into quiet dispersed camping under the desert sky.
Antelope Canyon - Page, AZ
I woke at Walmart in Page, Arizona and headed to my Deluxe Tour of Lower Antelope Canyon. With only one lens allowed, I chose the 14–24mm and stepped into sculpted Navajo sandstone shaped over thousands of years. The tour covered Navajo culture, flash flood history, and the famous images that made the canyon iconic. By afternoon, I was driving south toward Sedona and editing photos by evening.
Horseshoe Bend
Leaving Hurricane, Utah, I headed south into Arizona, driving through the charred remains of the 2020 Mangum Fire in Kaibab National Forest before stopping at the historic Cliff Dwellers Stone House. The day ended at Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River curves 1,000 feet below the rim near Page, Arizona.
Escalante to Capitol Reef
A reluctant departure from Deer Creek Campground turns into an unhurried drive toward Capitol Reef National Park. Along the way, quiet roads, frequent photo stops, and a chance ranger discussion about geology, glaciers, and early settlement slow the day to exactly the pace it needed.
Page, AZ to Escalante, UT
A quiet Walmart night in Page turns into a long, winding drive through Kanab, Bryce Canyon country, Henrieville, and Grand Staircase–Escalante. Familiar places, unexpected history, small-town pauses, exposed roads, and a calm evening at Deer Creek Campground bring the day to a thoughtful close.
Valley of the Gods to Page, AZ
A quiet morning in Valley of the Gods turns into a long, unhurried drive past Mexican Hat, Monument Valley, and fading desert light. Failed star trails, empty roads, grazing horses, and a last-minute stop in Page, Arizona shape a day that never quite goes as planned, but feels exactly right.
Puebloan Ruins, Dino Tracks, and Valley of the Gods
A quiet morning in Blanding, UT led to a full day across deep time—Ancestral Puebloan ruins at Butler Wash, dinosaur tracks preserved in ancient stone, and a slow drive into the Valley of the Gods. I photographed cliffs, towers, and stars, and spent the night alone among formations that asked nothing and offered everything.
Canyonlands National Park
I spent two winter days and nights in Canyonlands National Park, camping at Green River Overlook as snow, fog, and shifting light reshaped the landscape. With few visitors and long stretches of silence, I photographed the canyons, attempted detailed macro focus stacks of yucca and cacti filled with snow, and returned to Grand View Point Overlook for a brief, intense sunset.
Arches National Park - Day 1
A quiet day exploring Arches National Park, from the visitor center geology exhibits to driving the park road and stopping at formations like petrified dunes, Balanced Rock, the Three Gossips, and Double Arch, ending with a sunset hike to Delicate Arch and a late campsite at Devils Garden.
Driving South from Ogden
Most of the day was spent driving, choosing quieter roads over interstates, and taking in parts of Utah that don’t demand attention but reward it. From Ogden and Pineview Reservoir to Rockport, Coalville, Park City, and finally a quiet stop along the Provo River, it was a day defined by movement, observation, and finding calm at the edges of the map.
Sun Tunnels Day 2
I spent an unhurried day alone at the Sun Tunnels, reviewing star trail images, wrestling with technical mistakes, and watching the desert light change from afternoon through blue hour. Between small human moments, failed attempts, and quiet successes, the day became less about getting the shot and more about learning, patience, and knowing when to stop.
Salt Lake City to the Sun Tunnels
An early morning escape from Salt Lake City led me west through fog, improvised roadside art, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and long, empty highways. What should have been a short drive stretched into a full day of watching the landscape change before I finally reached the Sun Tunnels—alone, unhurried, and ready to photograph light, darkness, and everything in between.
Brighton Ski Resort
An early morning arrival at Brighton Resort turned into a day where everything clicked: good snow, easy lift conversations, steep runs, and a growing sense of comfort at altitude. Between skiing, reflections on the Great Salt Lake, and a final evening in Salt Lake City, the day felt both grounded and forward-looking, setting the stage for the road ahead toward the Sun Tunnels and the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Today was one of those get-ready-for-what’s-ahead days. After a workout, coffee, and lunch, I spent the afternoon hiking the muddy winter trails at Red Butte Garden, photographing snow-covered plants and lingering color, before turning in early for a ski day at Solitude.
Great Salt Lake State Park
Avoiding I-15, I drove through empty stretches of rural Utah, followed signs for the Creekstone Energy project, and spent hours at Great Salt Lake State Park confronting the reality of a lake that was once hundreds of feet deep and now survives on the edge. Wind, industry, and shifting shorelines shaped the day—and changed my plans for the night.
Lone Rock to Gooseneck State Park Utah
I woke alone near Lone Rock in Glen Canyon and drove a looping route through Arizona to reach southern Utah. Along the way were unexpected stops: Glen Canyon Dam, the Navajo Nation’s solar fields near Kayenta, Monument Valley, Forrest Gump Point, and Mexican Hat. The day ended at Goosenecks State Park, camped on the rim above the San Juan River, surrounded by silence and fading light.
Dolly Sods
A light snow covered Dolly Sods as I woke to a dead Starlink switch and no internet deep in the Monongahela National Forest. What began as a plan for a winter hike became a lesson in adaptation—navigating forest roads, a Walmart run, and a warm latte before settling in for a quiet night on the road.