Illinois Central Locomotive, Steamtown National Historic Site (click image to enlarge)

Nikon D810, 1/30 sec, f/9.0, 38mm. ISO 200

The image above presents a front view of the boiler for Illinois Central locomotive 790. The locomotive sits in the center of Steamtown National Historic Site surrounded by buildings. I wandered around and around the locomotive but could not get a clear composition showcasing the locomotive itself. There was always a large building with lots of windows in the background which I found distracting within the image. During post processing I decided to simplify things and just focus on the front of the locomotive boiler.

Not a great image, but the bluish/white streaks and texture do add visual interest.

Steamtown National Historic Site: 41.407301° -75.671255°

Tonto National Monument, Roosevelt AZ (click image to enlarge)

Nikon D810, 1/60 sec, f/11, 24mm, ISO 200

This was another drive-by tour while traveling from Grand Canyon National Park to Yuma, AZ over a long weekend. Much like my Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument quick-tour, I spent time in the visitor center but then had to hit the road to finish what turned into a 10-hour drive.

Tonto National Monument features two cliff dwellings, both of which are a good hike from the visitor center. The park has very specific, and limited, hiking hours, especially during the summer. Be sure you check the scheduled hours if you want to visit the cliff dwellings. I arrived there early one August afternoon and missed the hiking window for that day. Given the heat of the day, the downhill trail (visible in the image above, uphill returning to the visitor center) and the long drive ahead of me, I was not overly disappointed to miss the hike.

This post ends my long weekend visiting Grand Canyon National Park, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Tonto National Monument. It was a great photography trip, but I could have used three more days to fully explore Sunset Crater, Tonto, and the town of Flagstaff.

Tonto Nacional Monument: 33.644832° -111.112830°

A View of the Sunset Crater Volcano Skyline

On March 11, 2024, in Arizona, by admin
Sunset Crater Volcano, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, AZ (click image to enlarge)

Nikon D810, 1/30 sec, f/11, 46mm, ISO 200

Twenty minutes from Wupatki National Monument is Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Unfortunately, I had little time to spare during my drive from Grand Canyon National Park to Yuma Az, so I only spent a few minutes at the visitor center.

Looking at pictures in the visitors center there appears to be many photographic opportunities within the park. Sweeping landscapes and lava fields galore could keep a photographer busy for an entire day. This is on my list of places to spend more time in on my next trip to the Flagstaff area.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: 35.371475° -111.490230°

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