The San Rafael Swell & Black Dragon Wash

Black Dragon Wash #1. Near Green River, Utah, 2013

Here is a quick Utah road trip tip (say that 50 times as fast as you can!).

The next time you find yourself near Green River, Utah (15-30 miles west of there, on I-70, actually), take a couple of hours to check out the sandstone maze of the San Rafael Swell.

You have the Goblin Valley State Park near there, of course, which is already a popular photography destination. (If you recall, it was also the famous site of the very safety-conscious Boy Scout leaders setting the example for their charges as they “trundled” a large hoodoo boulder from its perch.) This Park is worth a day of your time, for sure–that is, for at least one sunrise and sunset with your camera. There are also myriad dirt roads in the Swell area, some definitely requiring 4×4, some not. See the State of Utah’s San Rafael website for some travel ideas.

There is another area, though, right next to the I-70 asphalt ribbon, that you can visit in just an hour or two: Black Dragon Wash. The Average Joe Road Trips website (NOTE: link currently down) and Google Earth are your friends for detailed info on this little side excursion. For me, the most interesting photographic experience is to walk the angled sandstone slabs to the north of the wash itself (where the above image was made), although a stroll through the innards of the slot canyon to visit the rock art is also spectacular. Please leave this place as you left it–in fact, take out more trash than you brought in–as it has become increasingly popular.

On top of the Swell, farther along I-70 and to the west, are several view points and rest areas that are also worthwhile for a photo op stop–especially if the family isn’t too restless and the weather or light happen to be unusual. (For landscape photography, I hate sunny days with blue skies.)

Here are some recent, early winter images from these rest areas: