I’ll try to write several posts this week since I shot far more this weekend than I can share in one upload. I spent the last four days in southern Utah and had several days of excellent shooting. The days have been warm, and with the lack of storms, fall has lingered on a bit longer. Driving south and dropping 1000 feet in elevation helped also. In the lower canyons, the cottonwoods, willows and box elders are vibrant yellow and the maple leaves are still hanging on in shades of brilliant orange and red.

Cascade between the upper and lower Kanarra Creek Falls

I pulled a permit for Kanarra Creek on Thursday. This is a 4-mile round trip hike through a non-technical slot canyon. There are two makeshift ladders, the second of which is not in functional repair. A sign at the trailhead states that hikers are not allowed past the second ladder. I suspect this is a liability issue for the town of Kanarraville and I don’t imagine it will be repaired any time soon. The first 1-1½ miles follows Kanarra Creek upstream with numerous crossings. I noticed I was careful not to get my feet wet, and hopped from rock to rock in an effort to stay dry. On the way back down, with wet feet, I sloshed and slogged along without a care. Wet feet are inevitable on this hike and the sooner one gets over staying dry, the easier one’s choices become at every stream crossing. There eventually comes a point where the trail ends at the water’s edge where the stream emerges through a slit in a sandstone cliff. Further upstream progress requires a commitment to enter the water and wade the remainder of the way. This is where I took off my backpack, sat on a rock, and put on my brand-new pair of NRS Boundary socks. These neoprene calf high socks kept my feet warm and dry for the next two hours of my upstream adventure.

Midday lighting in slot canyons is perfect timing for photography. The direct sun striking the upper edges and exposed cliff faces reflects and bounces from side to side and penetrates deep down to the stream. The light is soft and warm and creates an illusion that the walls are glowing.

There are two main waterfalls on this hike and numerous cascades and pools in between. With fall at its peak in this area, there were new compositions at every turn of the stream. One of the best aspects of this hike was the lack of other people that so often descend upon the nearby national parks. There were less than a half dozen other groups of hikers the entire time I was in the slots. I never had problems shooting around people or worry that I was in someone else’s picture. The solitude allowed me time to think about my compositions, photograph deliberately, and best of all, soak in the incredible and overwhelming beauty of this extraordinary hike.

Inner passage between two waterfalls, Kanarra Creek, Utah

Box Elder leaves along Kanarra Creek, Utah