West Fork Re-Visited

I recently returned to a favourite photo location I have visited a few times before. Accompanied by Steve Scott and Tracey Wilkins, I visited the West Fork of Oak Creek, just north of Sedona, Arizona.

Our purpose was twofold, to enjoy a nice hike and to capture some good photographs in this very scenic location. It’s a 7.2 mile (11.5 km) round trip hike with a moderate elevation gain of 850 ft (260 m). It follows the path of Oak Creek through a very deep canyon, bounded by some impressive cliff faces. Also of note are the vibrant colours that prevail throughout the canyon. The canyon walls limit the amount of direct sunlight which reaches its floor. The light is largely reflected and creates a very appealing glow on the walls. The combination of the steep walls and the trees growing along the river create shade that makes the trek more comfortable on a hot day.

Here, near the beginning of the hike is a view of Oak Creek from a bridge which opens access to the trail. On the outbound period of our hike, we followed the river more closely, with our efforts directed to capturing photographs.

On the way back, we stayed on the main trail for a more expeditious return. My next image shows the trail in an area where it winds through a wooded area at the bottom of the canyon.

Here’s an example of the vibrant colours seen all along this trail, in this case on the creek bed and the cliff face bordering the opposite side of the creek.

This scene shows a phenomenon apparent at nearly every bend in the creek on the cliff face side. Over a long period of time, higher water levels and stronger flow have significantly undercut the bordering cliff face, hollowing the bottom of the cliff’s wall. The reflected light in the lowest levels of the canyon imparts a luminous glow to the rock.

In this area of the creek bed its colours are highlighted by exposure to direct sunlight.

This is a pretty area, partly shaded and looking very serene. The combination of light and shadow can create a challenge for the camera but it’s worth the effort to capture the effect of the mixed light.

This scene shows the sun reaching a high point in the sky where light can shine over the canyon wall onto its floor.

My last photograph captures Steve as we reach the end of the canyon and the beginning of our return to the parking lot and our trip back to Scottsdale.

The West Fork Trail is an interesting landscape for hikers to experience and a good opportunity for photographers to enjoy some challenging but very appealing light.