Many folks travel I-17 between Flagstaff and Sedona, AZ not knowing that just a couple miles to the west is one of the most scenic drives in America. This 89A state road cuts through Oak Creek Canyon. One of my favorite spots is Slide Rock State Park where once there was an apple orchard in the midst of red rock formations.
Tags: Oak Creek Canyon Arizona Red Rocks Cliffs Mountains Scenic Roads Desert D.GrahamPhoto Apple Orchard
My favorite of the many lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Region of the Sierra Nevada is Lake George. The lake displays a glassy smooth surface just after dawn which reflects the granite mountains behind the lake. The prominent feature is Crystal Crag and rock climbers destination.
This day was cold and an ice fog hung over the water adding a moody dimension to the shot.
Tags: Mammoth Lakes Lake George Water Reflections D.GrahamPhoto USA Landscapes Blue Sky Still Water California Sierra Nevada Mountains Alpine Lakes Crystal Crag
This shot is an example of being in the right place at the right time. I walked the meadow after a early spring snow storm. A tarn had filled with snow melt. A tarn is a depression left from a passing glacier which holds rain or snowmelt for a very brief time. If one had come by this same spot a day later, there would have been no 'pond'.
Tags: Eastern Sierra Nevadas Yosemite National Park California USA Landscapes Mountains D.GrahamPhoto Creek Mountain Pond Rocks Water Reflections Calm Water Fallen Tree Reflection on Water Tuolumne Meadows Granite Domes Sky and Clouds Tarn
(1 in a multiple picture album)
Oak Creek Canyon is a must for those in the area of Flagstaff or Sedona Arizona. It is accessed by Hwy 89a (just west of I-17) which connects the two towns. A plethora of photo opportunities awaits the traveler as he follows the path of Rock Creek flowing between towering walls of red sandstone.
Slide Rock Park is one of its jewels but you have to time your visit right. It is often very crowded with picnickers and swimmers.