Great Photography Spots In Vermillion Cliffs National Monument

Fantastic lunar landscape of the Wave, in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, located in both Utah and Arizona. Story & Photography by Jerry Ginsberg. Although the four states that comprise the great Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah) contain a combined total of thirteen national parks, this vast area has so much spectacular natural beauty that all of it could not possibly be contained within these parks.

A much less well known spot is the South Coyote Buttes. Visiting here by driving in from the other side can be a bit tricky. The access "road" has some sections of sand and others of bare rock. Getting into the South Buttes will definitely require a muscular vehicle with 4-wheel drive and good clearance. Off road tires will also be helpful. Both the North and South Buttes have remarkable cone shaped forms dubbed "teepees." When I first found my way into this glorious natural area many years ago, it was largely unknown and virtually pristine. A quarter century and zillions of hikers later, it is sad to see that the fragile sandstone has taken a real beating. Whatever you do, please adopt "Leave no trace" as a heartfelt mantra. Often overlooked, the south portion of the Coyote Buttes features several terrific subjects and compositions.