Paria Desert Rainbow
Paria Hills
Near Paria Townsite, UT
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 to 4 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult).
The location of this shot is an easy 450-yard walk from the picnic area for the Paria Townsite, and the drive to the site is 4.7 miles along a dirt road from HW 89. However, the drive can be problematic if the road is wet and impassable if the road is muddy. If the road is muddy, it is strongly advised not to drive this road.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
4,788 Ft. Elevation
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Photography Tips
The colorful Bentonite hills at the Paria townsite are great to photograph on an overcast day or later afternoon to dusk. There are hundreds of abstracts in almost every direction. The image above was taken just after the sun went down to remove any direct sunlight (which creates harsh light on the bentonite) but preserved the rainbow hills' soft illumination, color, and contrast.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Paria Townsite parking area
From Kanab - drive on US-89 S for 33 miles until you see a turnout for Paria Movie Rd. From the turnout, drive 4.7 miles until you reach a parking area.
From the parking area, hike north about 300 yards along the dirt road, veer to the left, and walk toward the white hills to the east. The shot is taken up the hill just east of the dirt road.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 75 mm
Exposure – 250th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Feb 6th
Time – 5:15 pm
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The shot is best taken when there is indirect light. Late afternoon, cloudy day or after sunset.
Best Time of Year
This location can be photographed any time of year, but winter provides the best angle for the diffused indirect light after sunset to illuminate the hills.
Lens(es) Needed
You can shoot this location with a medium telephoto lens (140 - 200 mm).
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
At this time, there are no permits required in the area.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is southeast around 130°.
Equipment Needed
No need for any special photography equipment (other than a sturdy tripod and a polarizer) unless you plan on doing a panoramic shot.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
This location is off of the beaten path, so you won’t see many people at the Paria Townsite.
Weather
The area around the Paria Townsite is a high desert climate at about 4,800 ft. elevation. The temperatures can vary up to 30° - 40° a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can get into the high 90s.
Cell Service
There is no cell service at this location. You will begin to get cell service as you get closer to Kanab, UT
Area Guides and Workshops
None