This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,074, Oct. 13, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Photographer's Guide to Moab and Its Surrounding Parks." I'm Derrick Story. After having spent over a week in the Moab, Utah area, both scouting and leading a photography workshop, I can say with great confidence that it's one of the most photo-rich areas I've ever worked. But there's lots to know in order to maximize your experience there. And I'm going to cover just that on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1074 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Photographer's Guide to Moab and Its Surrounding Parks I drove the VW ID.4, loaded with supplies for our workshop, from Santa Rosa, CA, across Northern Nevada, the great salt flats of Utah, then down Highway 191 to Moab where we set up our workshop headquarter. To the north of us was Arches National Park, to the Southwest was Canyonlands, and in-between was Dead Horse Point State Park. Here's what I learned and what I recommend. I hope you enjoy the show. Before I get into the specific sites themselves, I'll start with a few basics. In early October, sunrise is a little after 7 am, and sunset is a bit before 7 pm. These times are important because you want to be at your chosen location before sunrise and sunset. After 9 am the light is contrasty and difficult to tame. Our mornings generally went like this: Up at 4:30 am, coffee and protein shakes at 5:00 am, depart HQ at 5:30 am, be in position at our location at 6:30 am, continue field work until 11:00 am, head back to HQ for lunch and lab, then head out again at 4:30 pm for the waning light and sunset. In addition to our cameras, mandatory gear included a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, layered clothing, hiking boots, lots of water, snacks, and a flashlight. There are some areas where a trekking pole can be quite useful for balance. Altitude does play a role. The Visitor Center at Arches is 4,085 feet and Delicate Arch is a strenuous hike up to 4,829 feet. I recommend arriving in the Moab area a couple days before you begin your trekking up trails. Pets are not allowed on the trails. Drones are not allowed in the national parks, and stay on trails to protect fragile living soil crusts. I shouldn't have to say this, but no climbing on arches. Now, on to the locations themselves. Arches National Park Day 1: I recommend starting with the Windows at sunrise, then hiking over to Double Arch. Parking is in the middle of the park. You don't have to move the car to get from one area to the other. The hike up to the Windows is fairly easy. Along the way note Turret Arch to your right. It can yield many great compositions depending on the angle you're viewing it. After the Windows, you can begin to work your way back. I recommend a stop at Balanced Rock, then Courthouse Towers, and wrap up the morning at Park Avenue Viewpoint. We could still get good shots there at 10:30 am. But by 11:00 it's time to get out of the sun and rehydrate and refuel. Delicate Arch is the star of the park and is best viewed at sunset. There are 3 ways to do this ranging from easy to strenuous. If you want to stand in the presence of the arch itself, then hike all the way up the steep trail. Allow an hour for this trek and bring water. If you're not a seasoned hiker, I do not recommend this adventure. An easier view is from the east side parking in the Lower/Upper Delicate Arch parking lot. From here, you can obtain a good view by hiking an easier trail that's about 500 yards. Bring a telephoto for this shoot, and you can frame some nice compositions. Either way, you'll need a headlamp or flashlight for the walk back to the parking lot. Day 2: I recommend another early start and a fairly easy hike to Landscape Arch. Allow about 30 minutes on the trail from the time you leave the parking lot. There's lots to explore in the entire Devil's Garden area including Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Skyline Arch. Later that day, consider an evening shoot at Panorama Point which is excellent for night photography. You'll want to check the position of the Milky Way and moon. And for a good foreground subject drive a short distance to Balanced Rock. Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point Day 3: It's a bit longer drive from Moab, but Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park offer many stunning visual opportunities. Start with a sunrise shoot at Mesa Arch. It's a quarter mile hike from the parking lot with moderate up and down. Be careful with your footing in the dark. It's much easier on the return trip in daylight. You will have lots of company there, so arrive at least 45 minutes before sunrise so you can get a parking spot. You'll have to be patient with the other tourists when you arrive at the arch itself. It will be crowded. But it is worth it when the sun rises and lights up the underside of the arch. I would be prepared to shoot HDR to capture both the bright glow and the stunning canyon behind it. After Mesa Arch, check out the Green River Overlook for a Grand Canyon-like experience. Be sure to include some foreground subjects for a maximum sense of depth. Green River Overlook is also excellent for sunset. BTW: The Canyonlands Visitor Center is one of my favorites and is definitely worth a stop on the way out of the park. They have lots of great clothing, bandanas, and hats there. For the sunset shoot, it's hard to top Dead Horse Point that is in the neighboring state park. You can also get great images there in the early morning, so it just depends on how you configure your day. The state park has lots of covered picnic tables, so if your pack a lunch or snacks, you can extend your visit there when the light is too harsh for photography. A great stop, especially if you have kids with you, is the Moab Giants park that's at SR 313 as you approach Highway 191. We called it Dinoland, and it's a blast. You can walk a half mile trail through time visiting real life sized dinosaurs. They are spectacular. And afterwards, enjoy a delicious lunch at the Giants Cafe. Final Thoughts Moab itself is a wonderful place to hang out. There's lots of good dining there and the meals are relatively affordable. There are plenty of motels and places to stay. I recommend securing your reservations ahead of time, however, because the entire town will sell out during popular times of the year. If you drive an EV, there's a big Electrify America lot at Lions Gate Park. And there's Tesla charging as well in town. I could have easily stayed another week. Moab is a great place to establish your basecamp for days and days of adventure in the parks. Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view. If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.
