After the day I had shooting in the Narrows on Friday, I almost couldn’t bring myself to return to the park the next day. Over the last year I’ve watched videos by YouTube photographers who visit Zion in the fall and winter and successfully shoot beautiful images on the east side of the park. Though I’ve driven through that area many times over the years, I’ve never really identified places of unique beauty. The national park service doesn’t publish much material beyond simple descriptions of roadside pullouts like the viewpoint for Checkerboard Mesa.

On the way into the park that morning I stopped at the visitor center to ask for information on where I might explore to find nice fall compositions near the east entrance. I was a little surprised when the park ranger at the information desk declined to offer any information whatsoever regarding anything beyond the tunnels. His comment to me was, “If you explore in any region of the park off a designated trail, you do so at your own risk”. When I pressed further what I would find if I parked my car at an eastside pullout, and explored a wash adjacent to the road, he replied, “Sir, if you explore in any region of the park off a designated trail, you do so at your own risk”. I then asked my helpful ranger if he had a favorite spot he liked to visit in that part of the park. His reply was, “sigh!!!, if you explore in any region of the park…”. By this time, I was finally catching on. I’m sure he thought that he would eventually discourage me from making any attempt to leave my car and risk the dangers that lurk along the park service road between the tunnels and the east entrance to Zion. On the contrary, he fanned the flame of my curiosity and I was all the more convinced that I would find something breathtaking indeed.

I’ve decided that Zion National Park has qualities similar to an onion. It reveals itself to one in layers upon layers. Two years ago, I discovered the magic of the main canyon by shunning the park shuttle and exploring the canyon on bicycle. Now, in an effort to avoid the crowded Narrows, I was forced into the east side of the park. I regret that it has taken me so long to venture into this area. In no less than three minutes of leaving my car, I was wandering in the dry wash of Clear Creek/Pine Creek. It was other-worldly. In the five hours of my exploration and photography, I only encountered a half dozen other hikers. Whereas the Narrows on the day before was overrun with tourists, the east side washes were a photographer’s playground. Every bend of the river offered up new compositions and new subjects to photograph.

Late October is an ideal time to witness the brilliant colors of autumn. Maple trees in vibrant red, deep orange, and bright yellow lined the wash on both sides. The sun at this time of the year was already low in the sky. The air was crisp and the light sparkled off the many leaves. Because the wash twisted and wound along, the angle of the sun striking the trees constantly changed direction. The light striking the sandstone walls bounced and reflected its soft glow into the understory.

I know now that Zion Canyon has much yet to share with me. I must be patient and persistent in my explorations. A single day in the Pine Creek Wash was not a sufficient amount of time for me to determine that I had “seen” it all. I’ll return next year in late October for further studies and photography. I remember some 10-15 years ago, I wandered into the wash from a pullout in winter. I didn’t hike in the wash either upstream or down at that time. I was immediately stopped by the fabulous ice crystals in puddles lining the wash. I was so captivated by the ice that I never wandered 10 feet beyond that point. Now, I can hardly wait for winter to arrive and once again explore the wash for more ice formations. Zion is a wonderful place where I hope to never run out of things to see and do.