Oak Creek Canyon, Az Photography

Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona

Photography Hot Spot Location

Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive – It has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Most Scenic Drives in America by Rand McNally. Breathtaking in its red rock beauty, the Canyon is a spectacular 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls between sheer rock walls. It is a river gorge located along the Mogollon Rim in northern Arizona between the cities of Flagstaff and Sedona. The canyon is often described as a smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon because of its scenic beauty. State Route 89A enters the canyon on its north end via a series of hairpin turns before traversing the bottom of the canyon for about 13 miles (21 km) until the highway enters the town of Sedona. The Oak Creek Canyon – Sedona area, is second only to Grand Canyon as the most popular tourist destination in Arizona.

Route 89A descends a series of switchbacks into a scenic area known for interesting rocks. Oak Creek Canyon is famous for its spectacular scenery.

We would stop at Oak Creek Canyon Vista. Here you can get a few shots, but these are what we call tourist shots. The ones for the memory book but not for our portfolio. It’s well worth stopping to take in the beauty from above the canyon. You can also shop for Native American jewelry and art from the natives who set up displays along the pathways. It’s a good breaking point if you need one.

You will want to get out of your car to photograph these crimson cliffs and crystal pools up close. It’s a winding road but get out and explore where ever you can.

OAK CREEK CANYON PHOTOGRAPHY INFORMATION

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AT A GLANCE

Lens: Wide Angle

Gear List at a Glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filter, tripod, shutter release, wide-angle lens. – Long exposure running waters.

When to Go: We like Fall the best, but there is one fall weekend that the town is packed due to a fall festival. This is DARK SKY MILKY WAY TERRITORY! October is great here for Milky Way Photography.

MANUAL MODE

You have moving waters here. You can do your long-exposure running and milky water shots. You will have to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and your neutral density filter. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always 100 or as low as your camera will allow. The aperture is f22. Your shutter speed will be the only variable depending on the light. Roll your shutter speed until your meter reads zero. (In the center) Use your shutter release or your 2-second timer to prevent camera movement when exposing. You will want at least a 2-second exposure for milky water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, you may not get more than 1/15th of a second in the sun.

If you don’t have a neutral density filter, you can buy one here. We highly suggest you do not go anywhere without one. It makes all the difference between lifeless images and outstanding, dynamic images.

OAK CREEK CANYON ARIZONA AREA INFORMATION

Hotels—Restaurants—Camping—Weather

AREA

INFORMATION

Oak Creek Canyon Area Information:

Oak Creek Canyon is starts on 89A in Sedona, Arizona and continues for approximately 16 miles going north to Flagstaff. It’s a winding, switchback road, so drive carefully.

HOTELS

Oak Creek Canyon Hotel Information:

Oak Creek Terrace Resort, – 4548 North State Route 89A, Sedona, Arizona, 86336, United States octresor@sedona.net

1-800-224-2229 In-room jacuzzis, fireplaces, cabins and this canyon has an atmosphere to die for.

Add your hotel here!

Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your hotel for their photography or ghost-hunting trip? Put your hotel information here. We will put pictures of your hotel, the website link, the phone number, and your hotel information.

Would you like to be a featured hotel like this article or this one? Please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.

Contact us to add your hotel here!

CAMPING

Camping in Oak Creek Canyon:

Cave Springs Campground is located at the northern end of Sedona’s famous Oak Creek Canyon, 11 miles from the 89A turnoff in Sedona. Cave Springs is the largest campground along scenic Oak Creek.

Campsite: $20 per night (up to 8 people per site. If your party consists of more than 8 people, you will need an additional site.)
2nd vehicle: $10 additional for a second vehicle space permitting.
Firewood: $7 per bag (available from the campground host)
Showers: $4 per use (coin-operated)
Holders of Golden Age or Golden Access, America the Beautiful Senior or America the Beautiful Access passes may receive a 50% discount for overnight camping.
Open: April 1 – November 11

Where to camp at Oak Creek Canyon

Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your campground to stay during their ghost-hunting trip? Put your campground information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number, and the information on your campground to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you. They are good at getting there in the dark.

Would you like to be featured in an article as a place to stay while doing photography or ghost hunting? If so, please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.

FOOD & DINING

Restaurants:

Indian Gardens Cafe and Market:

Lunch/Breakfast from $9.00

Hours – 7:30-5:00 Everyday
Our kitchen closes at 4:00 – Phone – (928) 282-7702 – eat@indiangardens.com

Location: 3951 N. State Route 89a, Sedona, Arizona 86336

Oak Creek Canyon Food and Restaurants: – Take your snacks and drinks along on this route. There is only one general store to stop at along the scenic drive to get some snacks. There are just a few places to stop for a sit-down meal along the way.

The Table at Junipine

After undergoing a full remodel in January 2015, The Table at Junipine is ready to serve you. We feature seasonal changes to our menu, and we only serve what we are excellent at creating.

Open Thursday through Saturday from 11 am – 8 pm, serving lunch and dinner
Happy Hour menu and drink specials from 3pm-6pm Thursday through Saturday
Open Sunday from 9 am – 2 pm serving breakfast and lunch
Full-service bar with premium liquors, a variety of hand-selected wines, and locally made craft beer on draft from Mother Road, Deschutes, and Oak Creek Brewing Companies

Sedona Arizona Restaurants:

Thai Spices Natural Restaurant – 2611 State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336 – Phone: (928) 282-0599
Thai Spices Natural Restaurant is the creation of chef Pearl Pardee, who is known for her masterful merging of the principles of macrobiotic cooking with traditional Thai cuisine.
Thai Spices dishes are energetically balanced meals that are both delicious and healthy. Pearl was trained professionally in macrobiotic cooking at two world-renowned centers, The Kushi Institute, and The Vega Institute, and studied traditional Thai cuisine with the Thai royal family’s chef, Arjan Boonchoo. Health-conscious diners particularly appreciate the absence of refined sugar and flour, genetically modified ingredients and MSG in Pearl’s dishes, as well as the use of fresh, high quality, frequently organic produce and meats. Please remember that non-GMO does not mean it is organic.

Chocola Tree Organic Eatery – 1595 State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336 – Phone:(928) 282-2997
‘Motto’ – “Chocolate is a Sanctuary where each Being can nurture their Authenticity.”
The Chocola Tree Organic Eatery sources 100% Organic or Wild-crafted produce; all of their seeds, nuts, veggies, spices, sea veggies everything! Chocola Tree has planted their own small food forest at the Eatery; they offer regular garden forums for free to assist others in planting. Their garden is planted in a unique way to honor the respectful ways of Anastasia. Chocola Tree Organic Eatery will only use natural cleaning products and never use chlorine bleach as it is the “number 1 worst “cleaning” chemical upon our earth’s planet” therefore it really does not clean!