Ribbon Falls

Ribbon Falls is a little gem that sits in a side canyon just off the North Kaibab Trail, tucked away in the Grand Canyon National Park. Water comes over a ledge roughly 35m up and lands on a travertine dome that is covered in bright green moss. It's a wet, shady pocket in the middle of a hot brown canyon. A rough path climbs the left side of the dome and puts you behind the falling water. It creates a fun spot to experiment with shooting back out through the water toward the canyon walls. From the base of the falls you can go with a wide frame to take in both the drop and the moss together. Contrast is the tricky bit her since the falls sit in shade while the rim above sits in the bright light, so overcast days and mid morning will work best. Since you'll be mostly working quite close to the water prepare to get a little wet and keep a cloth handy for the spray. Getting there is the work since the falls sit roughly 13.5 km from the North Kaibab Trailhead or 8.4 km from Phantom Ranch depending on your starting point. There's no bridge over Bright Angel Creek anymore, so you will need to wade through the water. Be very careful depending on the recent weather the flow of the creek can change drastically, spring runoff can make that crossing dangerous. Since the falls sit in a National Park you will need to pay entrance fees and overnight trips will need a backcountry permit. If you camp at Cottonwood or Bright Angel you can easily be at the falls early, before the heat of the day settles in. (Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA)