Images from this Winter at the Grand Canyon
This winter has been the kind that photographers dream of. Since December of 2022, much of northern Arizona has been impacted by what seemed like a non-stop wave of winter storms. At my home near Flagstaff, as of March 1st, we have received over 150 inches of snow. There were days when we would spend 30 to 45 minutes shoveling a path from our front door to our 4Runner and by the time we were done, so much snow had fallen that you couldn’t tell that we had shoveled. There were times when it felt like winter would never end.
There were a couple of storms that were so severe that Sally and I spent days stuck at home, unable to get out of our driveway. When I could get away, I went to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to photograph it during as the storms would clear. Since December, I have made seven trips to the canyon, driven over 2,000 miles, spent 16 days in the park. There were several times where the normally 1.5 hour drive to the South Rim took over 3 hours, with much of the drive requiring four-wheel drive.
So, why do I make effort? What could possibly be worth it? The answer, at least for me, is that yes it was worth it because the canyon is simply stunning during the winter months after a storm. The site of the landscape covered in snow with clouds below the rim of the canyon is magical. Even as the snow is falling and the wind is howling, there is something incredibly peaceful about these moments in time.
A Utah juniper frames a snowy winter view of the Grand Canyon. In the distance, Brahma Temple and Zoroaster Temple glow in the golden light of sunset.
A cold winter morning at the Grand Canyon is greeted by the warm light of sunrise. I came upon this scene while walking along the rim of the canyon, searching for interesting foreground elements. I had walked past this spot countless times over the years, but this was the first time I had seen the snow so beautifully shaped and sculpted by the wind. From the Rim Trail between Mather Point and Yavapai Point on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Soft winter light graces Isis Temple as a storm clears from the canyon. From the Rim Trail on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
A winter storm begins to clear creating a mystical view of the Grand Canyon. I photographed this scene from the Rim Trail on the South Rim of the park during the very active winter of 2023.
This photograph of the Grand Canyon in the winter with a fresh blanket of snow was made in January of 2023. Much of northern Arizona was experiencing what would become a historic winter as record-breaking snowfalls fell across the area from Flagstaff to the North Rim. In this scene from Yavapai Point on the South Rim of the park, we can see Zoroaster Temple and Braham Temple cloaked by falling snow. A brief break in the storm has allowed the setting sun to briefly cast golden light upon the scene.
A winter sunset at the Grand Canyon can be a magical experience. The last light of the day passes through snow falling in the distance. Far below in the canyon, the faint sound of the Colorado River can be heard rushing through the Granite Gorge. The golden hues of sunset reflecting off its waters.
Rays of sunlight pierce through snow falling into the Grand Canyon. From the Rim Trail on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
The Battleship sails amongst a sea of clouds within the Grand Canyon. From the Rim Trail on the South Rim of the park.
In this winter scene from the Grand Canyon, the canyon walls frame Isis Temple in the distance. I had arrived at the trailhead over an hour before sunrise in near whiteout conditions. The wind was howling, and the snow was blowing sideways. I set off down the trail in the dark with my headlamp lighting the way. A short distance into the canyon, I came upon a large snowdrift that wasn't there the day before when I had scouted the scene. The snow drift was completely blocking the trail, so I felt it was unsafe to continue in the dark and decided to n to the trailhead. About 15 minutes before sunrise, I started back down the trail again, and this time I could safely make it through the snow drift and to the spot on the trail from which I could photograph the canyon. Mother nature wasn't exactly cooperating this morning, with the view into the canyon still obscured by clouds below the rim and falling snow. A little over an hour after sunrise, the storm began to clear, and I was able to photograph Isis Temple while there was still dreamy quality to the atmosphere.
The Grand Canyon falls into darkness as the winter sun sets. From Desert View on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
A touch of warm light graces the upper most reaches of the Grand Canyon on a winter day. I photographed this scene from Yavapai Point on the South Rim during the winter of 2022-2023, which turned out to be one of the snowiest seasons on record. Over 100 inches of snow fell on the South Rim and more than 200 inches on the North Rim.
A winter sunset at the Grand Canyon can be a magical experience. The last light of the day passes through snow falling in the distance. Far below in the canyon, the faint sound of the Colorado River can be heard rushing through the Granite Gorge. The golden hues of sunset reflecting off its waters.
Snow falls into the Grand Canyon as clouds wrap around The Battleship. From Yavapai Point on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
A touch of sunlight falls upon Isis Temple as a snow squall begins to sweep across the Grand Canyon. From the Rim Trail on the South Rim of the National Park.
The sinuous branches of Utah juniper tree frame the view of a wintery scene at the Grand Canyon. I photographed this scene featuring Zoroaster Temple and Brahma Temple in the distance from the South Rim in 2023, during what was a near-record year for snowfall.
Do you want to see more photos of winter at the Grand Canyon?
Checkout the Winter’s Embrace gallery!