OUR TOP 3 RECOMMENDED TRIPS FOR SEPTEMBER

Local super-dog “Tenor” cooling off on our half-day slot canyon tour

#1 - Zion half-day sunset tour

The monsoon brings dramatic and active skies. Dark clouds, puffy white clouds, blue sky, red rock… rainbows? Yep, solid possibility. This is the best season for dramatic light at sunsets. Clouds move quickly, with light and shadow painting the landscape right before your eyes. The light that we get at sunset during this time of the year is the stuff that every photographer wants. If you are visiting during the last two weeks of September, we recommend our half-day slot canyon tour over this one due to the exit of monsoon season.

#2 - Half-day secret slot canyon tour

There are 2 major reasons that make this tour a great option for September. First is due to the many clear, sunny days that we get in September. Being in slot canyons mid-day with a bright cloudless sky is exactly what you want for the best possible light in slot canyons. The second reason is due to the overall busyness in the park. We have a couple great slot canyons that are off the beaten path and don’t experience the crowding that can exist in the park in September. It’s a great way to have an intimate experience with a spectacular landscape that most don’t even know exists.

#3 - Bryce night photography tour 

The night skies in Bryce are considered to be some of the darkest in the lower 48. These dark skies offer a mesmerizing, almost 3 dimensional visual experience of the universe surrounding us. The positioning of the Milky Way over the bizarre and colorful features of Bryce National Park makes for excellent photography opportunities during the months of August and September. During these months, the Milky Way is high in the sky, allowing us to incorporate specific features in the park along with the Milky Way into our images.

Useful information from a locals perspective if you’re visiting in the month of September

September is a month of change in Zion and Bryce. Kids are back in school, things start to cool off in Bryce (not too much in Zion), and the very active weather pattern of our monsoon season ends. Historically, the monsoon weather patterns exits the region in the middle of the month. With the monsoon, mornings start off totally clear, and towards noon, puffy white clouds begin to form. As the day progresses, clouds grow in size and develop into powerful thunderstorms. These storms are typically very isolated, hard to predict, and drop intense rain quickly.

Photographically, these storm systems provide ideal conditions for the potential of very dramatic sunsets. And because storms clear out after sunset, we’re ready to roll for Milky Way photography in Zion.

WEATHER

Zion National Park average high/low temperature: 90/60

Bryce National Park average high/low temperature: 70/38