Tag Archives: North Rim

Fun Fact Friday, May 6, 2022

One Heck Of A North Rim View, Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

It’s Fun Fact Friday, and since the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is set to open this month, I thought I’d put a few fun facts out here about this part of Grand Canyon National Park:

The North Rim is 1,000 feet higher in elevation than the South Rim. That means it’s cooler, wetter, and there are far more trees – so many, in fact, that I found it difficult to get an unencumbered photo of the canyon landscape because of all the trees.

If you are standing at the South Rim looking toward the North Rim, the distance (as the crow flies) is about 10 miles. If you choose to hike from the South Rim to the North Rim, the distance to get there is 21 miles. And if you want to drive from the south to the north, you’ll be taking the “scenic route” and it will take you about five hours to get to the North Rim.

Only about 10% of all visitors to this national park ever make it up to the North Rim, so it’s much less visited – although that doesn’t mean it won’t be crowded at times. Plus, there is only one lodge up there: Grand Canyon Lodge, and one campground (although there are other campgrounds outside the park boundary).

This image was captured at one of the two small view areas below the Grand Canyon Lodge. I spent a couple of days at the North Rim during my move from Texas to Washington state.

Click on the image above if you are interested in purchasing a print.

Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.

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Filed under Fun Fact Friday, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks, North Rim, Photography

Waiting For Sunrise In HDR

A North Rim Sunrise HDR

Waiting for sunrise on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

In an article I wrote for future publication in the National Parks Traveler, I mention HDR, what it is, and what it produces. I had to create an example, so I used the free download of Photomatix. I’ve used Photomatix before, pretty much with all the computers I’ve ever owned. Of course, I didn’t have it on this laptop I’m currently using, so I bought it and downloaded it in order to not have their watermark show up on the finished product. While I am not a huge fan of HDR, I will admit it can produce some very nice results, if the hand wielding the preset controls is judicious with the edits. Most of the time, though, I see more overdone HDR images than nice, naturalistic HDR images. Practice makes perfect, in everything including working with HDR, so I’ll be working on this aspect of photography a little more, hence today’s example.

Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.

 

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Filed under 24-70mm f2.8L II, 5DSR, Arizona, Canon, Canon Lens, Grand Canyon National Park, HDR, National Parks, North Rim, Photography, Seasons, summer, sunrise, Travel

A 1,000-Foot Difference

Storm Clouds Forest Fires And Late Afternoon Over The North Rim

My latest Photography In The National Parks column has been published in the National Parks Traveler, offering tips and techniques for great photography along the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

To read the article, click on the image above.

Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.

 

 

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Filed under Arizona, Canon, Canon Lens, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks, National Parks Traveler, North Rim, Photography, Photography In The National Parks, Seasons, summer, Travel

My 10 Fave Shots From 2018

New Year Day Sunrise 2

Every January, for the past 6 years, my first photo column of the year for the National Parks Traveler has dealt with my favorite shots from the previous year. This year, I have 10 faves – one from each national park / recreation area I visited. To read the article, click on the photo above.

 

 

 

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Filed under Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canon, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Mt. Rainier National Park, National Parks, National Parks Traveler, North Rim, Petrified Forest National Park, Travel, Yellowstone National Park

Zazzle Storefront And 2019 Calendars

Bryce Canyon 2019 CalendarGrand Canyon National ParkGrand Teton National ParkPetrified Forest National ParkRoad Trip West National Parks 2019Yellowstone National Park

Yes, yes, more shameless self-promotion. I previously listed a calendar I made with Lulu.com. I also made calendars using other websites as well, for quality control and  comparison. As such, I’ve decided I really, really like Zazzle’s products much better and have set up a storefront there, with calendars representing the national parks I’ve visited this year. I’ve got a couple more calendars to go, but if you are interested in taking a peek (they make great gifts), then click on any of the images to be taken to my storefront.

And, thanks!

 

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Filed under Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park, Calendars, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Holidays, National Parks, North Rim, Petrified Forest National Park, Photography, Travel, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park

Rebecca Latson Photography’s 2019 Calendar

Road Trip West National Parks 2019

It’s that time of year for a little self-promotion, folks. I’ve created a 2019 12-month wall calendar filled with gorgeous photos of each amazing national park I visited during (and after) my road trip move from Texas to Washington.

You always need a calendar for appointments and special events, right? They make great gifts, and the holiday season is just around the corner. Why not check mine out before you look at any others.

To get to my calendar storefront, click on the photo. You’ll be able to preview each month’s image there.

And thanks!

 

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Filed under Holidays, National Parks, Photography, Seasons, Travel

Wildlife

Looking Hopeful

Looking Hopeful

While this little guy photographed next to the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim is looking hopeful for a handout, please remember that ALL wildlife – even the cute little ones – are dangerous. A bat collected at Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park has tested positive for rabies. To read the article in the National Parks Traveler, click on the link.

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/…/bat-tests-positive-…

Remember: never touch, feed, or approach the wildlife, no matter how badly you want a closeup or a selfie with the animal. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen someone try to get a closeup of a little chipmunk or squirrel with their smartphone, getting as close as 12 inches or less in come cases. Even the little cute ones can pack a hurtful bite.

Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.

 

 

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Filed under Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks, National Parks Traveler, North Rim, Photography, wildlife

Where Did The Trail Take You This Weekend?

Interior Canyon Scenery At Walhalla Overlook

A telephoto exploration of the canyon depths at Walhalla Point
North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park

It’s the last day of the Labor Day Weekend. I hope this long weekend takes, or has taken, you somewhere awesome. This is the first time in about 3 years that I have not found myself traveling to a national park over the holiday. Usually, I’d be flying somewhere on vacation out of Texas on the Friday before Labor Day, then spending the entire week photographing in a national park somewhere West of the Rio Grande. This year, I’m instead preparing for the movers to arrive at my storage unit tomorrow to deposit the sum total of my past 20 years living in Texas. I’m just fine with that. I now live in a photographically amazing state and am within 1-1/2 hours of Mount Rainier National Park. (insert Big Happy Emoji Face here)

The shot above, is a 100-400mm telephoto of canyon detail at Walhalla Point on the North Rim. I spent the day driving the road and exploring the stops leading to the end point of Cape Royal.  Luckily, I’d arrived there before the forest fires in that park had gotten so large that they had to close down this particular road for a bit.

Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.

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Filed under Arizona, Canon, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, Canon Lens, Geology, Grand Canyon National Park, Landscape, National Parks, North Rim, Photography, Seasons, summer, Travel

Distant Storm Clouds And Forest Fires On The North Rim

Storm Clouds Forest Fires And Late Afternoon Over The North Rim

After my visit to Petrified Forest National Park, in eastern Arizona, I drove west and then north to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, where I stayed for a couple of days.  During that time, small forest fires broke out and distant thunderstorms showed up (it’s the summer monsoon season in the West and Southwest).  I could see all of this from a small overlook perched just below the Grand Canyon Lodge.

I happened to overhear a visitor mention that he really liked the North Rim better than the  South Rim because they could do so much more on the North Rim.  I thought about that for a moment, and decided that he was correct.  Granted, there are more stoppable view areas and more services and infrastructure at the South Rim.  This, of course, means more people and more tour buses.  However, for do-able trails that don’t require hiking waaaaay down into the canyon and then waaaay back up, I’d say the North Rim wins.  In terms of beauty and great photography, both areas tie for that position, I think.

The North Rim is 1,000 feet higher in elevation than the South Rim, and it’s far more forested, sitting on the Kaibab Plateau.  If you visit, then be on the lookout for a small bison herd that comes through the park along Hwy 67, and see if you can spot the beautiful and unusual Kaibab squirrel.  I was lucky enough to see both, but only lucky enough to photograph the bison herd.

Copyright Rebecca L. Latson, all rights reserved.

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Filed under Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, National Parks, North Rim, Photography, Seasons, summer, Travel