North Fork Virgin River south of The Narrows, Zion National Park, UT, 11/5/2006
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive (Floor of the Valley Road) traverses the canyon as far north as possible, ending in a loop with parking by the Temple of Sinawava. From this point northward, the canyon isn't wide enough for a road, but a trail continues along the North Fork Virgin River. After another mile the canyon narrows further and the trail ends by the river's edge. On our second day visiting Zion National Park, I remained on that trail while my friend hiked north into the river to explore The Narrows. I noticed an attractive area of cascades on the river and prepared my camera to capture them in a close-up. Working on flat boulders in the riverbed, I glanced over my left shoulder and was struck by the autumn foliage and beauty of the river flowing away in perfect side-lighting. After several minutes the scene to my left prevailed! I abandoned my efforts to record the cascades, aimed my camera south, and made this photograph of golden Fremont cottonwoods and shrubs along the river set off against the shaded red and black Navajo sandstone wall behind them. Here we see the Virgin River leaving The Narrows and entering Zion Canyon.
