Photographing the Wild Upper Side of Zion and Bighorn Sheep
- Carl Mazur
- Mar 2
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 14
If you aren't looking for the right things to shoot with your camera... You might miss out on Zion National Park completely! These are some key things to know about Zion and how you can get "in tune" with the wild nature of Zion and find a whole new passion and beauty that you might now have realized before.
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Zion is truly a wild landscape!
Finding Otherworldly Views and Desert Bighorn Sheep
Most people visit Zion National Park and never leave the main canyon. They hike Angels Landing, wander through the Narrows, take a shuttle ride, and head home believing they have seen the best the park has to offer.
But there is another side of Zion.
Once you drive through the mile-long tunnel and emerge onto the eastern side of the park, the landscape changes dramatically. The towering vertical canyon walls give way to sweeping slickrock formations, rounded domes, open valleys, and sandstone ridges that seem almost alien.
The terrain here feels different.
The silence is deeper.
The sky seems bigger.
In many places it honestly feels like you’ve stepped onto another planet.
And for photographers, the best part is that many of the most spectacular views require almost no hiking at all. Pullouts along the road and short trails lead to vantage points where the desert stretches endlessly across sculpted rock and glowing cliffs.
This upper section is also where Zion’s desert bighorn sheep live. These animals thrive in the steep sandstone terrain and are most commonly spotted along the east side of Zion National Park between the tunnel and the east entrance.
If you’re a photographer, this region offers an incredible opportunity: dramatic landscapes, wildlife, and quiet viewpoints far from the crowded valley floor.
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Why This Area Feels Like Another Planet
The east side of Zion is made of vast layers of Navajo sandstone. Over millions of years, wind and water sculpted the rock into rolling ridges, domes, and cliffs.
Instead of narrow canyon corridors, the land opens up into a maze of rounded formations and slickrock fields.
The colors change constantly throughout the day:
Pale pink and peach at sunrise
Bright orange and red in midday sun
Deep crimson and purple near sunset
In winter, clouds often hover low across the ridges, creating moody scenes where red rock towers rise above drifting fog. On the quietest days, the only movement might be a herd of bighorn sheep navigating cliffs that seem impossible to climb.
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Best Time to Photograph Upper Zion Area
Photographers often overlook this area during winter, but that is actually when it becomes most magical.
Winter offers:
• Dramatically fewer visitors
• Soft directional light
• Snow dusting the red rock
• Low clouds hanging in the canyons
The result is an atmosphere that feels almost cinematic.
Spring and fall are also excellent seasons. Summer works too, but the harsh midday light can flatten the colors unless you shoot early or late.
For photography, aim for:
Sunrise or sunset.
The angled light brings out the deep textures in the sandstone formations and really makes the landscape glow.
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3 Excellent Photography Spots
Rather than listing dozens of locations, these three spots offer the best mix of scenery, wildlife, and easy access.
Sometimes the best photography trips are the simple ones.
1. Canyon Overlook Trail
This short hike may be the best reward-to-effort ratio in Zion.
The trail is only about one mile roundtrip, yet it leads to one of the most dramatic overlooks in the park.
Why photographers love it
From the overlook you can see:
Pine Creek Canyon
Towering sandstone walls
Winding roads cutting through the valley
At sunrise the light spills into the canyon from the east, illuminating the rock layers one at a time. Watching the canyon slowly wake up is an experience by itself.
Best shots here
Try these compositions:
• Wide canyon panorama
• Cliff edge foreground with distant canyon walls
• Telephoto compression of layered rock formations
Parking
Parking is extremely limited near the trailhead just outside the tunnel.
Arrive early if you can, or be patient and wait for a space to open up.
2. Checkerboard Mesa
One of the most visually unique formations in Zion is Checkerboard Mesa.
The massive sandstone dome is covered in cross-hatched cracks that look like a giant checkerboard pattern.
It almost looks like the rock itself has been carved with a massive grid.
Why it’s a great photography location
The grid pattern catches angled sunlight beautifully.
During sunrise and sunset, shadows form inside the cracks, creating dramatic texture that photographers love.
Best compositions
• Telephoto framing of the patterned rock face
• Wide angle with desert plants in the foreground
• Wildlife shots if sheep appear on the surrounding slopes
The open landscape here also makes it easier to spot bighorn sheep if you keep your eyes on the cliffs.
3. Zion-Mount Carmel Highway Pullouts
Some of the best photography in Zion happens simply by pulling over along the road.
The stretch of Zion–Mount Carmel Highway between the tunnel and the east entrance passes through rolling sandstone formations and wildlife habitat.
Bighorn sheep are often seen standing on cliffs or occasionally crossing the road in this area.
Photography tips here
Stop at pullouts and scan the cliffs carefully.
Bighorn sheep blend perfectly into the sandstone color, so they can be difficult to see at first.
Look for:
• Movement
• Curved horns
• Shadows that resemble animal shapes
Patience is the key.
Sometimes you may wait twenty minutes before spotting one… and then suddenly you realize an entire group has been standing there the whole time. Most of the time you will see the females first. The females don't have the big horns that roll around the head. No. Those are the males and the males pretty much are harder to find most of the time than the females. The females tend to stay near the road more and are much easier to get a shot of one. In mating season, the males will fight and clash their horns together, and it is quite the spectacle.
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Preparing the Day Before Your Trip
A great photography outing usually begins the day before.
Planning ahead allows you to move efficiently once the light arrives.
Study the weather
Look for:
• Partly cloudy skies
• Storms clearing at sunrise or sunset
• Winter cloud layers
Clouds add drama to red rock photography and can completely transform the mood of a scene. In Zion especially! When clouds move in... They are your friend!
Check sunset and sunrise times
Plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early.
This gives you time to explore compositions before the best light appears.
Charge everything
Make sure you charge:
Camera batteries
Phone
Headlamp
Cold weather drains batteries faster than you expect. Pro Tip: Always make sure your camera bag is secure whenever you are hiking into the canyon or moving/hiking with your backpack on. I have dropped and broken a camera before because I did not zip my camera bag all the way up because I got into a hurry.
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What to Eat Before the Hike
You don’t need a huge breakfast for these short hikes, but steady energy is important.
Good options include:
• Oatmeal
• Eggs and toast
• Fruit and yogurt
• Peanut butter sandwiches
Avoid extremely heavy meals that make you sluggish.
You want to feel energized, not sleepy.
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Snacks to Bring
Photography hikes often involve waiting… sometimes longer than expected.
Simple snacks help keep your energy up while you wait for the perfect light.
Good trail snacks include:
Trail mix
Jerky
Granola bars
Dried fruit
Apples or oranges
Quick calories are helpful if you decide to explore longer than planned.
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Water and Hydration
Even in winter, the dry desert air can dehydrate you quickly.
Plan for at least 1–2 liters of water per person for short hikes.
Hydration options include:
• Insulated water bottles
• Hydration packs
• Electrolyte drink mixes
Mineral drink powders can help maintain energy on longer outings.
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What to Wear
Weather on the east side of Zion can change quickly, especially in winter.
Layering is the safest approach.
Hats
A wide-brim hat or cap protects your eyes from bright desert sun while shooting.
Shirts
Lightweight long-sleeve shirts work well for sun protection and comfort.
Pants or shorts
Many photographers prefer light hiking pants because they protect against:
Sharp sandstone
Desert plants
Wind
Dust & mud
Scratches from underbrush
Bites from bugs
Boots
Wear sturdy hiking shoes with strong traction.
Sandstone can become slippery if it’s dusty or wet.
Walking sticks
Optional, but helpful on uneven slickrock terrain.
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Camera Gear for This Area
Landscape photographers don’t need a huge kit here. A small, versatile setup works best.
Camera
Any mirrorless or DSLR camera with good dynamic range works well.
Lenses
Bring two lenses if possible:
Wide lens (14–24mm or 16–35mm) Perfect for landscapes and canyon views.
Telephoto lens (100–400mm) Great for wildlife and distant cliff details.
Mostly, keep your zoom lens on the camera if you are wanting to get the Bighorn Sheep
Tripod
A lightweight tripod helps with:
Sunrise shots
Long exposures
Sharp landscape images
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Photographing Bighorn Sheep
Seeing bighorn sheep is never guaranteed, but the east side of Zion is one of the best places in the park to find them. You have to know what to look for! Make sure to have about a 300mm lens for shooting them. First, when you are driving around the park to get to your destinations, if you drive as slow as you can go, and even pull off at times, look at the tops of the rocks about midway up the mountains and you will see the sheep standing on top of the rocks.
Important rules
Never approach wildlife too closely.
Use a telephoto lens instead.
Sheep rely on steep sandstone cliffs for safety and can move across terrain that looks impossible.
Photography tips
Look for:
Silhouettes on ridge lines
Groups grazing near cliffs
Movement against the rock
Even distant shots can be powerful if the landscape is included. What's great is when you have to zoom in far but you are getting the sheep in the foreground of your shot, the mountains will appear much bigger and more grand, because the lens pushes the background wider in the frame. You will love the shots!
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What To Do If You See Bighorn Sheep
Stay calm and keep your distance. Do not attempt to chase or follow them. I repeat... DO NOT chase them or spook them just to try and get a shot! And whatever you do, do NOT climb to the back of them and try and come down on them from above or behind them, as their eyes are huge and they can sense it, and their predators attack from above and behind them, so it will spook them and they will totally run off and away from the shot location. I saw a guy one time try and come up and over a hillside part of the mountain on top of the sheep and they all spooked and ran off. Plus, you would feel bad if someone lost their shot, and you would feel super bad if one of the sheep fell and got injured or ran into traffic and got killed.
Instead:
Stay quiet
Move slowly
Use a zoom lens
Often the best images happen when you stay still and allow the animals to move naturally through the scene.
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Why Winter Is the Hidden Secret
Winter is one of the most magical times to photograph this part of Zion.
Many days you will find almost no one else there.
The silence alone is worth the drive.
When storms move through southern Utah, clouds sometimes hang low across the sandstone formations. The result is a surreal landscape where red cliffs rise through drifting fog.
For photographers, it can feel like stepping into a dream.
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Final Thoughts
The main canyon of Zion is spectacular, but the upper eastern side of the park offers something equally special.
It’s quieter.
It’s wilder.
And for photographers, it holds some of the most unique landscapes in southern Utah.
Drive slowly.
Stop often.
Watch the cliffs carefully.
And if you’re lucky, you might find yourself standing on warm sandstone, camera in hand, watching a herd of bighorn sheep cross the ridges above a desert that looks like another world.
Written by Carl Mazur
Photographer | Journalist | YouTuber
Date: 03/9/2026
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