Recently my sister and I drove from Prescott to Sedona in the annual pilgrimage to check out the fall colors in Oak Creek Canyon.
West Fork Trail
We managed to find a rare parking spot at the West Fork trailhead and enjoyed a couple hours of hiking along the canyon, crossing the creek and spotting pockets of color along the way.
The Canyon
The West Fork Trail is a relatively flat shady trail, with red rock walls, and frequent water crossings.
This makes it one of the most popular hiking trails along the canyon. Be prepared to 100% get your feet wet!
Historic Ruins
Be sure to explore the ruins at the start or end of the trailhead to add to your experience. Several old structures and walls are still visible along the trail.
If you look closely, you will find a path leading down to rocky stretch of small waterfalls along the creek.
Red Rock Obsession
After exploring the canyon, we headed back to Sedona for some much needed food and beverages. You will find many great restaurant options.
Warning — Sedona’s huge popularity often includes crowds and traffic delays in and around one of our state’s most beloved tourist destinations. But, fun is almost always guaranteed!
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Be sure to visit my Gallery for finished art prints available to sooth your soul and decorate your space!
It’s been an exciting year with a fall visit in October to join up with a scheduled photo workshop to explore Joshua Tree National Park.
The Mission
Led by two seasoned photographers, Beth Ruggerio and Jason Eldridge, who both have extensive experience with night photography and long exposure techniques, our main objective was to capture stars and star trails featuring the silhouettes of the park’s unique trees as our rockstar heroes.
Star Trails (Multiple images stacked for artistic effect.)
The Park
JTNP sits just above the town of Twentynine Palms and lies at the meeting point of two distinct desert ecosystems—the Mojave and the Colorado.
The park is home to desert wildlife, rugged sculptural landscapes, and its namesake Joshua trees. These trees, with their twisted Dr. Seuss-like silhouettes, stand among massive granite boulders and wide-open basins.
The park’s history stretches from Indigenous habitation—particularly the Serrano, Cahuilla, and Chemehuevi peoples—to 19th-century miners and ranchers.
First declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree has become a celebrated destination for rock climbers, photographers, stargazers, and travelers seeking quiet desert beauty.
Twentynine Palms
Just outside the park’s north entrance lies the City of Twentynine Palms, a small desert community that blends military-town practicality with an increasingly creative, free-spirited identity.
Twentynine Palms hosts many of the park’s visitors, offering a jumping-off point with hotels, campgrounds, and a modest but growing array of amenities.
The town’s restaurant scene ranges from casual cafés with Southwest comfort food, to barbecue spots, Mexican eateries, and a few newer bistros serving elevated desert cuisine.
Sights to See
Local museums—such as the 29 Palms Art Gallery and the Old Schoolhouse Museum—offer glimpses into regional art, natural history, and the area’s pioneer past. Nearby tourism sights include historic murals, nature trails, and visitor centers that orient travelers to both the city and the park. There’s even a map!
Creative and Quirky
Twentynine Palms is also known for its quirky, highly individualistic public art.
Scattered throughout the outskirts of town, visitors may find unexpected installations: hand-painted signs, metal sculptures, colorful yard displays, and other ad hoc creations that locals put up simply because they felt inspired.
29 Palms Highway Art
This spontaneous creativity—part folk art, part desert eccentricity—adds a sense of whimsy when wandering around town.
When to Visit
I recommend visiting in fall or spring when the desert heat eases and evenings become pleasantly cool (even cold), which makes exploring the park, local artistic nooks and character-filled landscapes especially enjoyable.
New Friends
I want to give a big shoutout to my fellow travelers! It was an absolute blast meeting such a talented and enthusiastic group of photographers. We had an amazing time together, exploring the stunning starry skies, breathtaking landscapes, and each other’s company.
This unique area on the outskirts of Palm Springs was truly unforgettable, and I’m so grateful to have shared it with such wonderful people. You guys are the best!
More to see!
Visit my Gallery for finished art prints available to sooth your soul and decorate your space!
I’m thrilled to be back in the world of fine arts after many years as a web developer and information systems engineer. I’m now living the dream as a full-time artist and photographer, and life is absolutely amazing!
Living in Arizona is like living in a postcard. There are so many opportunities to connect with nature and enjoy the most incredible scenery. My goal is to keep capturing these amazing images and sharing them with you and the world. I want to inspire and delight you with the beauty of our planet.
Check out my gallery to see my latest work. I’ll be posting the best of my photos and creating some truly unique artistic pieces. You can even turn these images into physical forms to add a touch of nature to your own home. So, you can be creative too!
The world is a beautiful place, and we should all take the time to surround ourselves with tangible reminders of its wonders. Let’s make the most of this incredible journey together!
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Be sure to visit my Gallery and explore the possibilities!
