Lake McDonald alpenglow, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Having mentioned that I’ve photographed in more national parks than I had room for in the December 2019 article. I thought I’d pick up where I left off and tell you about a few more favorite spots in selected national parks.

Glacier National Park in Montana

I guess you could call this the national park of my heart, since I was born not too far from the western entrance. I’ve visited here during the fall, winter, and summer. Trust me when I tell you it’s hard to take a bad shot of anything in Glacier. I have several favorite places I like to return to time after time. One of my favorites is the view from the southern and southeastern shores of Lake McDonald. There’s nothing like seeing that first welcoming view of those tall mountains at that end of the lake.

A smoky sunrise over Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

A winter view from the boat dock at Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

St. Mary Falls is another fave spot. It’s a short hike on a trail right off Going-to-the-Sun Road, leading to a bridge with a view of the falls spilling cold, turquoise water from between the red rocks of the Grinnell Formation. This spot is beautiful no matter what the weather conditions and I personally enjoy practicing the silky water technique at this spot.

St. Mary Falls on a rainy day, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

I also tend to revisit the Hidden Lake trail, right behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center. It’s an easy, 1.5-mile hike one way up to an overlook with an expansive view of Hidden Lake and Bearhat Mountain looming over the lake. If you are lucky, you might see mountain goats along the trail or gracing the landscape below the overlook.

Smoky scenery at the Hidden Lake Overlook, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

For wildlife, a very favorite place of mine is Fishercap Lake in the Many Glacier area of the park. It’s about a third of a mile from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, using the trail to Red Rock Falls. The last time I was in the park, I visited that lake 3 days in a row and every single day was rewarded with near and far views of moose. Morning is probably the best time for moose viewing, when they are out in the water dredging for aquatic greenery, but I did see them on occasion during the afternoon, as well.

A moose in Fishercap Lake, Glacier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Olympic National Park in Washington

This national park has a little bit of everything, from beaches to forests to mountains. One of my favorite spots for forest photography is the Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rain Forest. It’s an easy loop trail and you’ll see all sorts of interesting things, like full grown trees with their exposed roots twisted around the nurse logs from which they sprouted.

Scenery along the Hall of Mosses trail, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

In the Quinault Rain Forest about 24 miles south of Kalaloch, my favorite spot for forest photography is at July Creek, a short loop trail with a bridge over the namesake body of rushing water. It’s not only a place to capture the inner green glow of the rain forest, but also affords a photographer the opportunity for more silky water shots.

July Creek scenery, Quinault Rain Forest, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

My favorite spot for beach photography (especially sunsets) is a tossup between Kalaloch Beach and Ruby Beach. Ruby Beach has sea stacks which add some interesting topographic features to a photo composition, but Kalaloch Creek runs through Kalaloch Beach and makes a great leading line shot from beach to ocean. Tidal pool photography at either beach is cool too. At Kalaloch Beach, you can also photograph the famous Tree of Life, located on the beach north of the Kalaloch campground. It’s a Sitka spruce under which the bluff has been eroded by a small creek to create a shallow cave beneath the roots. This tree is literally hanging onto the bluff by its roots.

A Ruby Beach sunset, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

A Kalaloch Beach sunset, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

Tide pool activity on Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

The "Tree of Life" at Kalaloch Beach, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

A favorite spot of mine to photograph within the Sunrise area of this park is along the Sourdough Ridge trail, where I can get panoramic views of the northwest side of Mount Rainier.

A view of "The Mountain" from Sourdough Ridge trail, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Another favorite place in that area is the Emmons Vista overlook, just a short walk from the Sunrise Visitor Center parking lot. From here, there is a fantastic view of the mountain and Emmons Glacier, perfectly framed by tall trees on either side of the view area. Depending upon weather conditions, dramatic clouds might be capping the mountain to offer an extra dimension to the scene. It’s a pretty small view area, though, so depending upon the time of day you visit, you might have to wait your turn for a good composition.

Emmons Vista, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Because I visit Mount Rainier from the eastern side of the state, where I live, I enjoy driving to Paradise via the Stevens Canyon Road. Before I get to the Stevens Canyon entrance, however, I can't help but stop at Tipsoo Lake. There’s something special about driving down past the Chinook Pass summit and rounding the curve to see on my right that great, big, beautiful snowcapped mountain towering over and reflecting in that quiet alpine lake surrounded by tall trees.

Dawn's rosy glow over Tipsoo Lake, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Frosty morning reflections at Tipsoo Lake, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Reflection Lakes is another great stopping place along the way to Paradise. On a clear, sunny morning, the lake, or rather, series of lakes are still, reflecting that blue sky, the forest along the shoreline, and “The Mountain” towering over the landscape in the background. A little mist might also be rising from the water for a slightly ethereal effect.

Reflection Lake scenery, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Up at Paradise, proper, a favorite spot to photograph is from the Alta Vista view area. It’s a bit of a steep walk, but the view of Mt. Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier towering over everything is not only awe inspiring but humbling, as well. If you look away from the mountain, you’ll see a vibrantly-colored valley with streams, waterfalls, and a meadow carpeted with yellow glacier lilies in the early summer. During those days when the mountain is hiding behind clouds and fog, you can still capture beautiful images of the trees, meadows and streams from Alta Vista. It's also a great location for wildlife and birdlife. You might spot a blue grouse, or marmot, or cute little chipmunk scurrying around the trail in front of you.

The view along the Alta Vista trail, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Alta Vista scenery on a misty autumn day, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Balancing on the pea pods, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

Canyonlands National Park, in Utah

Canyonlands is full of wide-open canyon vistas framed by mesas, spires and other interesting geological features. Two favorite places of mine in the Island in the Sky District are the Shafer Canyon Overlook and Green River Overlook. Shafer Canyon offers fine evening light, and Green River Overlook is great for sunrise and morning photography. Both venues, however, tend to get hazy after about 9:00 a.m. and remain that way until late afternoon. Wide-angle compositions capture the vastness of these areas, but don’t forget to use your telephoto for closer shots of landscape details.

Shafer Canyon, Canyonlands National Park / Rebecca Latson

The view into Shafer Canyon, Canyonlands National Park / Rebecca Latson

Canyon scenery at Green River Overlook, Canyonlands National Park / Rebecca Latson

Grand Teton National Park, in Wyoming

I’ve only visited this park once, so most of my photography was of the reconnaissance kind. That said, the two places I’d like to visit again for photography are Schwabacher Landing and Oxbow Bend. Sunrise is behind and to the side of you, offering beautiful light on the mountains and scenery, from blue to purple to mauve to pink to gold in the sky and on the mountains, ultimately replaced by a brilliant gold light as the sun climbs higher above the horizon for later morning shots. While you can get gorgeous sunrise shots anywhere within this park, I like these two spots especially for the scenery below the mountains. Schwabacher Landing offers up tall trees, lush grass, and mirror-smooth waters reflecting the jagged teeth of the Tetons.

Morning scenery at Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park / Rebecca Latson

Pre-dawn to early morning, Oxbow Bend offers a curving line of the mirror-smooth Snake River leading the eye to the Teton Mountain Range in the background. Lush, tall grasses line both sides of the riverbank. You might see pelicans or ducks quietly paddling up- or down-river.

Sunrise and moonset over Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park / Rebecca Latson

Petrified Forest National Park, in Arizona

Here’s a less-visited national park with bright, vibrant colors and interesting geology.  Like my visit to Grand Teton, I have only traveled to Petrified Forest once, but the places I’d like to return to are the Crystal Forest Trail, and anywhere along the road around the Painted Desert. Ok, it was a toss up between the Crystal Forest Trail and Blue Mesa Trail, but Crystal Forest won out. Probably because I have never seen so many sections of bright orange-red and yellow-colored petrified logs right at my feet, in front of me, with distant views here and there of purple-and-beige layered hillsides and a wide-open sky.

Petrified log segments along the Crystal Forest trail, Petrified Forest National Park / Rebecca Latson

Layered and petrified, Petrified Forest National Park / Rebecca Latson

Same thing goes for the Painted Desert. The colors are vibrant and almost blinding on a sunny day. Not only can your camera capture wide-angle panoramas, but your telephoto lens (or telephoto setting) can home in on interesting hills, rocks, and other colorful desert features. It’s hot and bare out there, folks, so if you visit, make sure you have sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and plenty of water.

Painted Desert as far as the eye can see, Petrified Forest National Park / Rebecca Latson

Painted Desert landforms, Petrified Forest National Park / Rebecca Latson

I guess that’s enough for now, Travelers. I have other favorite places in other national parks, but I’ll save those for another future article. Stay tuned.