Fall Colors 2014
Wednesday, October 15 & 22, 2014
I spent the last two consecutive Wednesdays visiting the Colorado National Monument after work so that I could try to photograph fall colors before it was too late. I’ve had a couple of shots on my mind that I had envisioned and was hoping the conditions would allow me to make them happen this year. On my first visit to the park last Wednesday the color I was after wasn’t quite there yet so those shots had to wait, but I did take a few photos as I drove through the eastern section of the park to the Ute Canyon overlook and back.
Evening view over Ute Canyon towards the Book Cliffs.
Ute Canyon Shadows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
The Devil’s Kitchen stands out from the shadows below.
Devil’s Kitchen Shadows by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Overlooking No Thoroughfare Canyon towards the Grand Mesa.
Grand Valley Layers by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
On my second visit to the park this Wednesday I found the fall color I was after. I actually was almost too late in No Thoroughfare Canyon. I had made it just in time and came back with both images I had envisioned.
Cottonwood trees in No Thoroughfare Canyon.
Cottonwoods in the Wash by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Blurred colors and stripes near the First Waterfall.
Monument Stripes by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Fall color in No Thoroughfare Canyon. This was one of the images I had in mind for today after photographing these same trees in the spring when they were bright green.
No Thoroughfare Fall Color by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Another golden cottonwood next to the First Pool.
First Pool Cottonwood by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Lower Red Canyon and the Grand Valley.
Lower Red Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
This was the other photo I had in my mind for this evening. A beautiful view down Ute Canyon with the golden cottonwoods lining the wash below and alpenglow on the Book Cliffs in the background. The clouds were an added bonus!
Fall in Ute Canyon by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
Canyon walls of Ute Canyon.
Ute Walls by IntrepidXJ, on Flickr
>> Fall at the Colorado National Monument Photo Gallery I
>> Fall at the Colorado National Monument Photo Gallery II