Zion National Park: Going in three days

I apologize that this is a topic asked a bazillion times, but I'll go for it anyway.

I'll be in Zion National Park from Friday morning of this week (May 27) through Monday (Memorial Day). Then I have two days to travel in the area (rental car with unlimited mileage).

My current gear includes: Canon 6D, 50mm 1.8, 24-105L, and a decent pocket cam (Canon G9x).

I'm considering renting a 17-40L for the canyons, but am not sure if I want to (I'd like to travel light).

Also, I'm considering purchasing a ND filter, but have never used one before.

Finally, I will be in Zion hiking and photographing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but my flight home (Atlanta) doesn't leave until Wednesday evening, so that gives me essentially three days (Monday-Wed) for whatever I want. I can go anywhere (within reason). I will be traveling alone (no wife and kids this time, which is bittersweet, but will be great for my photography). I can camp out anywhere and will be using a small tent/sleeping bag combo, so all is well.

I'd like any advice on photography gear and travel destinations reasonably near Zion National Park. I don't mind driving a few hours if it's worth it. I am considering the Grand Canyon, perhaps the Hoover Dam, and maybe even photograph Vegas at night, preferably from a hill.

Thank you for any advice.

Mike

I love Vegas so if I am anywhere near it I try and spend a night or two. That being said if I can avoid large cities while out doing photography I do that as well I have not been to the Zion area but was at the Grand Canyon last year and had a lot of fun shooting sunrise and sunset. Where are you flying in and out of?

Flying in and out of Vegas.

Well then I would be spending at least one night there. I love shooting the strip at night. Valley of Fire is close by as well. I have visited the Dam twice but for photography I would skip it.

Possibilities...

• Bryce Canyon is only 2 hours/84 miles from Zion main entrance (the one near Springdale). I highly recommend it...in fact I love it MORE than Zion!
  
• N. Rim of the Grand Canyon is 3 hours/120 miles from Zion main entrance.
  
• S. Rim of the Grand Canyon is 5.75 hours/243 miles from Zion
  
• Lake Mead is 3.3 hours/202 miles from Zion (Las Vegas is 2.8 hours/173 miles, on way to Lake Mead)
  

If I spend any time in Vegas, it might be on the back end of the trip. I arrive at midnight Thursday night (technically Friday morning), and want to be in Zion the next morning.

My biggest challenge is what to do at 1:00am (when I pick up my rental car). I'd love to have the energy to drive as far north as possible, but not sure if that will happen. I have to sleep, and prefer to stay primitive. I've read that public lands are open to camping, but am not sure how that works.

The rest of the trip I'm covered (as far as camping is concerned). Really, I just need a place to park and sleep my first night. Any of the rest areas north of Vegas good for overnight? Thanks

1am is a great time to shoot the strip if you have the energy before traveling out of the city. At that hour I would be tempted to grab the cheapest hotel I could find just for an easy place to crash for a couple hours.

I don't know where to crash, however (that first night). I'll probably drive south, actually, to the state rest area in Boulder City. Nevada allows (if my research is correct) overnight parking in their rest areas. Plus, it's right by Hoover Dam, so I can get some pictures and then head north. I have to be in St. George, Utah by 1:00pm (if I want to play in a goofy nine-hole family golf tournament).

I can afford a motel that first night, but don't want to. I'm kind of on a mission to be as simple as I can, just for the fun of it.

It seems to me that your trying to pack a lot into three days. I would bring the widest lens that I could to Zion especially if you plan on hiking the narrows. If you have not used ND filters I would not bother with them, if you use a grad ND filter you will get uneven lighting as for as most of the horizons are not flat. You do not mention a tripod I would highly recommend bringing one.

Spirit Airlines: do NOT use them. They cancelled my flight fifteen minutes before boarding and had no reasonable way to help me, so I got a refund and came home.

I twittered them a modification of their logo.

Next time I'll book on a real airline. I won't be fooled twice.

Real shame.

I'm heading to Zion tomorrow, landing in Vegas then straight out to Springvale. Three days in Zion, two at Bryce, and one at N. rim of canyon, then one night in vegas before returning. I've spent all day trying to figure out how to pack my tripod for hiking then just broke down and bought a Manfrotto BeFree that will fit in my back pack. Just hoping the narrows flow is low enough that I don't go swimming with my 5d (carrying it in a non waterproof nylon chestbag). Also, hoping not to fall off Angels Landing trail, although I could get a great BIF photo with me as the bird.

Hope you get another chance in the future.