Grand Falls

Grand Falls is a sweeping chocolate-brown waterfall on the Little Colorado River, sitting inside the Navajo Nation in the high desert of Arizona. When conditions are right, after spring snowmelt or summer monsoon rains, the falls run full and fast, dropping 185 feet over layered lava rock in a wide, roaring cascade that dwarfs many more famous waterfalls. You will want to shoot from the rim directly across from the falls for a straight-on composition, or move along the edge to find angles where the river bends and leads your eye into the frame. A telephoto lens helps compress the scene and pull in the muddy water detail, while a wide angle works well if you want to include the stark desert landscape around it. Midmorning light works best to avoid harsh midday flatness. Check flow conditions before you go, as the falls can run completely dry; the Little Colorado River flow gauge is your best planning tool. (Wolf Crossing, Arizona, United States)