Zion Canyon is a great destination for nature photography in the Southwest. Wildflowers and cactus blossoms bloom in the spring, and autumn color comes out in the fall. Here are the best spots to explore during each of the four seasons in Zion. Discover the best trails to the high overlooks and the hidden side canyons. Explore Clear Creek Canyon for great autumn color. Hike up the Virgin River Narrows to photograph one of the deepest slot canyons in the world. Explore the Kolob Canyons on the west side of Zion. Discover overlooks at Bryce Canyon plus the locations of the best sunrise and sunset spots in both national parks.

California’s Sacramento River Delta flows into the San Francisco Bay to form the largest estuarine ecosystem on the entire west coast of both North and South America. Scattered along the shoreline of San Francisco and the Delta are many wildlife refuges and ecological preserves covering much of the shoreline. From November through January, millions of water birds arrive from their northern breeding grounds to feed in the marshes. Some of the refuges are remote, and others fill the spaces between the waters of the bay and populated communities. Here are places to photograph San Francisco Bay Area wildlife.

One of the most popular summer destinations for east coast vacationers is a great place for nature photographers during the off-season. Cape Cod has picturesque beaches, rustic fishing harbors, deep forests and abundant wildlife. Photograph classic New England villages and gray-shingled beach cottages on remote Atlantic headlands. You’ll have the beaches and trails to yourself and you’ll discover more photographic opportunities. This newsletter has information on the best time of day, recommended lenses, and the most convenient areas to stay.

Discover the best of the panoramic views of San Francisco’s Golden Gate. Winding across the steep and rolling headlands of Marin County, the Coastal Trail climbs to viewpoints of The City, framed by green hills and then crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and follows the surf along Baker Beach. The trail winds through dense forests of cypress and eucalyptus to some great viewpoints on Lands End before reaching Seal Rocks. You’ll find the best panoramic landscapes along the wide, sandy Ocean Beach south, through the Golden Gate Park to Fort Funston.