Scout Cave

Scout Cave is a big alcove hollowed out of the Navajo sandstone west of St. George. This cave is surprisingly big inside with a wide opening at the front and a curved roof running back into the rock. You can set up inside the cave and frame your shot from inside looking out, using the arc of the alcove mouth to circle the desert beyond. If you can get right back into the shade, the roof line curves across the top of the picture. Plenty of light bounces off the sandstone in there pulling the rich tones out of the rock walls. The cave is only accessible with a hike that starts just off of Snow Canyon Drive at the Johnson Canyon parking area. This is inside Snow Canyon State Park so you will have to pay their entrance fee at the gate. The hike is roughly 3-4 miles and passes over lava flow fields, stream beds, and Navajo Sandstone rocks. Trail is open all year, but watch for flooding in rainy seasons. Make sure to go early since it winds though exposed desert nearly the whole way there isn't much shade so bring lots of water. (St. George, Utah, United States)