Monsoon Storm
Monsoon Storm
Grand Canyon, AZ
Monsoon season has always been one of my favorite times to visit the Grand Canyon. It can provide MANY great opportunities that simply don’t exist during other times of the year.
With the canyon walls and the Colorado River as the backdrop, the monsoon season brings with it the potential for dramatic weather, powerful cloud formations, and unique lighting. These elements can combine to produce images you will happily add to your portfolio.
Ever since seeing my first Ansel Adams photograph or Thomas Moran painting, light has always been what I look for in a scene. Being in the Grand Canyon during monsoon season can provide some of the most exciting and unique lighting in the American Southwest.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 1.5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The location of this shot is about 100 yards west of the parking lot. You will have to walk over some assorted rocks to get to this view.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
7,364 Ft. Elevation
Photography Tips
Chasing the light in a monsoon storm means you might be close to lighting and severe weather. Always remember - no great shot is worth your life.
Getting a great image during monsoon season at the Grand Canyon can be fun, exciting, and productive - but it can bechallenging. It is all about the weather, light, location, and luck. Not every day during the monsoon season will produce dramatic storms, but when they happen, you need to be prepared to CHASE THE LIGHT.
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon (accessible to the public) runs about 29 miles and is impossible to navigate quickly. When photographing monsoon season in the Grand Canyon, I break it up into four different zones: 1) eastern locations, 2) Canyon Village locations, 3) Hermits Rest locations, and 4) North Rim locations. Each of these separate zones can produce great opportunities, but trying to chase a storm from a different zone will most likely produce frustration and limited productivity. I would pick a specific zone (based on the weather forecast) and be nimble and flexible to get to locations that the storms will impact.
This location summary will focus on the eastern locations: Desert View, Navajo Point, Lipan Point, Moran Point, and Grandview Point. Each location provides west to northwest-facing views of the canyon and Colorado River and is within driving distance when chasing the light.
The dramatic light during a strong storm can easily extend beyond 20 levels of dynamic range (which is impossible to capture with current-day digital cameras). For this reason, whenever possible, try to shoot on a tripod and bracket your exposures. I usually set my bracketing to 7 shots @ 1-stop intervals.
Storms can move quickly, and the light can change in an instant. I suggest finding the composition you like and trying to be patient while waiting for the perfect timing. With that being said, always be looking around—in front, to the side, and behind you—as you never know when a unique light will appear.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Monsoon Storm.
Cameron, AZ, and the Grand Canyon Village are the closest communities to this location.
From Cameron, AZ – drive south on US89 for 1.4 miles until you reach a traffic circle (look for signs for South Rim Grand Canyon). At the circle, drive west on AZ-64/Desert View Dr. for 30 miles until you reach the East entrance to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After passing through the EAST Entrance, drive for about .3 of a mile and turn into DESERT VIEW. The trail to this location starts from the RV/Oversize parking lot.
From Grand Canyon Village – take AZ64/Desert View Dr. for 22.5 miles and take the turnoff to DESERT VIEW. The trail to this location starts from the RV/Oversize parking lot.
The shot above was taken about 100 yards west of the Desert View RV parking lot (not the standard car parking lot). From the Desert View RV/Oversize parking lot, walk west, and you will see several trails. Follow the trail to the rim and find the best composition.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 77 mm
Exposure – 60th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – July 25th
Time – 6:33 pm
Other Images From This Location
Image by Tim Wier
Image by Rob Strain
Image by Tim Wier
Image by Rob Strain
Best Time of Day to Shoot
During the Monsoon season, thunderstorms usually start in the late afternoon and can last through sunset.
Best Time of Year
Monsoon Season around the Grand Canyon is somewhat fluid - but typically runs from late June to mid-September - with late July to mid-August as the best times.
Lens(es) Needed
There are MANY ways to shoot Monsoon storms around the Grand Canyon. Try to be flexible and have lenses ranging from wide-angle to telephoto.
The above image was taken at 77mm.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
Navajo Point is just inside the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. As of the writing of the summary (July 2024), the entry fee was $35 per vehicle. Once in the park, no other permits are required.
Direction of the Shot
I have found most good afternoon/sunset shots during monsoon season are facing west to northwest. From this location, you will be shooting west about 10 - 15°.
Equipment Needed
A sturdy tripod is helpful as you may need to composite your images due to the extreme dynamic range of shooting into the sun. Also, you may benefit from a lighting trigger to capture lighting bursts during a storm.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The Grand Canyon can be a very busy place in the summer. This location (west of the Desert View RV/oversized parking lot) usually attracts few visitors. If there are other visitors, there are several places along the rim from which to photograph. Some other WEST facing locations (Navajo Point (1 mile west), Lipan Point, Moran Point, and Grandview Point) might be more crowded. But there is usually plenty of room.
Weather
Cell Service
I have Verizon, and the cell service is hit or miss at Desert View.
Area Guides and Workshops
Rob Strain - offers a Monsoon workshop.