Flightseeing out of Page AZ

[ststephen]

Does anyone have any recommendations for an outfit to arrange a morning of flightseeing out of Page AZ? I've found references to Westwind Aviation but their website only talks about instruction. I assume it would be cost prohibitive for someone to fly down from Canyonlands to do a tour from Page.

Ideally, I'd like to find someone with whom I could give a pre-mapped out flight plan. I have a Utahoniphile friend who is a pilot here in CA who would love to spend an evening helping me plot a path.

Hey denaliguide...wanna come down and get paid to fly over Escalante and Paria canyons on April 8th :naughty:

[denaliguide]

wish i could help out, but i'm f;lying in new zealand right now.


try,

classic aviation 928-645-5356

american aviation 928-608-1060

if they don't do seat fares then i'm sure you can set up a hourly charter rate and they will fly you over whatever you want.

if you need any help with your flight plan let me know. i have done the same flight you describe several times when i was flying and instructing out of kingman.

[bbennett]

Here's the helicopter outfits:

http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_categories.aspx?category_id=61&lang=en-US


http://www.alllasvegastours.com/air-helicopter/helicopter-tours/sbc-2611?pref=02&aid=ltg1048&gclid=CKS0nd-4358CFRTyDAodEybrIA

[ststephen]

Thanks guys, that was quick!

Les - how long do you think I should allow? I could do a loop w/Escalante, Paria, and maybe Death Hollow. Or I could go further north to swing past the Waterpocket Fold, maybe even Cataract Canyon & The Maze?

I'm also trying to gauge which spots will be best for viewing from the air. Something like Buckskin Gulch may be just too narrow to be very interesting from a plane, for example. Whereas I'm sure the Coyote Gulch/Escalante junction would be cool.

I did fly over this area a long time ago but we basically just followed the Colorado, once coming to Canyonlands Outpost from LA and once coming back to LA from Boulder CO again just following the river all the way back.

[LOAH]

I've spent plenty of time in a helicopter since I was young and they are excellent for some close-up touring. If you're looking for good pics, it's heli all the way. The most beautiful vistas I've ever witnessed were courtesy of helicopter rides from my Dad.

Planes are still really fun though.

[Pelon1]

Ideally, I'd like to find someone with whom I could give a pre-mapped out flight plan. I have a Utahoniphile friend who is a pilot here in CA who would love to spend an evening helping me plot a path.
When were you planning this trip, I am going to get current in the next month or so and would be willing to take you out of St George for half the rental.

[trackrunner]

I've heard of a groups out of Kanab that does flightseeing. But I'd take up the previous offer.

[ststephen]

Thanks for the suggestions and offers. As to helicopter vs. plane I wonder if the range of the flight is similar with the two? Anyway, I think I'll call around and get some ideas. It's just been too long (decades) since I've seen this wonderful country close up from the air!

Pelon1 - I'm not sure if doing this out of St. George works with the rest of my itinerary, but I'll consider it. I'm very constrained on time for this trip because my son is on a school trip and I need to return home when his trip ends.

[Cirrus2000]

Got nothin' to add, but very amused that when viewing this topic, the ad that came up at the bottom is recruitment for the company I work for...


:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/S2-jWBAnMYI/AAAAAAAAVJc/ATABeaLjPKg/NCad.jpg

Hope you have a great flight, whatever you end up doing!

[bbennett]

Got nothin' to add, but very amused that when viewing this topic, the ad that came up at the bottom is recruitment for the company I work for...


:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/S2-jWBAnMYI/AAAAAAAAVJc/ATABeaLjPKg/NCad.jpg

Hope you have a great flight, whatever you end up doing!

That's cool Kev. Are they similar to Serco?

[Cirrus2000]

Got nothin' to add, but very amused that when viewing this topic, the ad that came up at the bottom is recruitment for the company I work for...

That's cool Kev. Are they similar to Serco?
No, it's actually our national Air Traffic Services provider. Used to be part of the government until 1996. Imagine if all the controllers & towers, flight service specialists & stations, technicians & navaids broke off from the FAA - that's us, but broken away from the Aviation division of Transport Canada. Now TC is the regulator, but our not-for-profit non-share capital corporation provides the service, and charges fees to the users (mostly the airlines) for funding. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nav_Canada

[denaliguide]

from page i would think 2 hours would give you plenty to see buckskin, escalante, and even a look at rainbow bridge. if you want to seee the maze as well then i would add another 1 1/2 hour at least.

you could go out of moab and see the maze, escalante, dark canyon and the needles in probably 3 hours. won't see buckskin gulch on that flight however. i agree that you won't see much in buckskin anyway. escalante however is awesome from the air.

i think it's redtail aviation in moab. clint mcbeth is the guy you want to talk to. he could give you a better estimate of times required from moab.

[ststephen]

Just an update if anyone was interested:

Classic Aviation only does heli tours. Wow, the prices for helicopters are much higher than planes. They quoted me $1750/hr. Think I'll be passing up on that one!

American Aviation doesn't currently have the ability to offer anything other than a little flight out-and-back over Lake Powell. But they said they are working to change that and hoped to be able to offer me something by April. Their prices were in the range of $175-$350/hr. They also said if their license wouldn't allow them to offer a tour they would be able to refer me to some other folks.

[ststephen]

Just a quick update. I flew with American Aviation today. It was great! The pilot they had slotted to go with me, and who knew the area well, couldn't make it. The replacement was not as savvy on the terrain but I was able to figure out where everything I wanted to see was. We did a 2.3 hour loop heading up the Paria, following Buckskin then up north along the Cockscomb and Cottonwood roads to Kodachrome Basin. From there we hoped over to Escalante and followed the whole length of the river back to the lake and Page. Saw Stevens Arch and Rainbow bridge on the way back. I'll get my pics organized and up for all to see soon.

What a great way to end a trip!

[ststephen]

Finally getting a little report and some pictures up from our trip.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4513360945_2d139fb570.jpg

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Here's the airstrip alongside the town of Page

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4513360513_f341cc54aa.jpg

After takeoff the pilot was headed Northeast sort of towards Lone Rock. I wasn't sure if he was following some type of air traffic instructions but finally I said, "The Paria Canyon is over that way, isn't it?" pointing left. He had forgotten that I wanted to go there first but no worries we turned and headed that way. In a way it was cooler because now we entered the canyon by flying over the edge of the high walls of Navajo sandstone and suddenly the canyon and river were below us:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4513344011_2d090c9eae.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4513983690_047715e9b8.jpg

Here's the lower part of the river as it winds through colorful Chinle "dunes":

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/4513984326_68b4068c19.jpg

Here's a mid-part where the Chinle is gone but you can see Kayenta and Moenave:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/4513984326_68b4068c19.jpg

Here are some views of the upper narrows section of the Paria, but below Buckskin:

[IMG]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4513344703_d19ac86183.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/4513345367_803c2b9498.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4513345683_29d7dac6a7.jpg

As it started to get more narrow and less deep I was sure that we must have passed the Buckskin entrance. I wanted to head over towards the Cockscomb, where you turn off for Wire Pass from Hwy 89 so I told the pilot to head left. To my surprise I soon realized I had perfectly turned and we were now following Buckskin. Of course you can't see much in it, but it's clear this is it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4513986090_8005623287.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/4513346417_c86353de35.jpg

Next we followed the Cockscomb and Cottonwood road north. If anyone is interested I found this great article on the geology of the Cockscomb (http://www.utahgeology.org/pub28_pdf_files/Tindall.pdf).

I'll spare you all the detailed geology lesson, but here's a diagram of what's going on here:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4533851774_09e76cb9e8.jpg

And the real deal:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/4513346753_2c2c7129ac.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4513987026_fb8bc2018a.jpg

There looks to be some interesting canyons on the east side of Cottonwood road. I want to study some maps and try to figure out exactly where they are:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/4513347735_6a63d2ff96.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4513348145_b388727bbe.jpg

[ststephen]

Next we headed further east to checkout Kodachrome Basin:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4513988422_0da5498a5d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/4513988792_1cf66f0c35.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4513993404_6c2a56d3e0.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4513990156_1d1fae3e48.jpg

Then we had a bit of less photographic section where we headed northwest to the town of Escalante. Here is the edge of the town and the river entering the canyon just past town:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4513349715_44a373c008.jpg

Now the upper part of the Escalante River:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4513990528_f6092efc3a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/4513350885_2a3bea637b.jpg

I missed seeing where Hwy 12 cuts across the road. Earlier I had hoped to extend this flight and go up to Calf Creek, Burr Trail and even the Waterpocket Fold but we just didn't have enough time for all that. There's always the next trip! Instead we just followed the Escalante the whole way down:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2291/4513991452_e162cebe1c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2311/4513991142_dc3b6d8908.jpg

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http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4513994258_922432694f.jpg

I'm sure you all recognize this arch. Come to think of it, I don't know what "Stevens" it is named after. Anyone know? Unfortunately, the light was wrong for it. Perhaps I should have had the pilot circle it, but I was getting antsy about having enough time to drive to Vegas for our flight back to SFO.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4513354713_d27a347646.jpg

Looking up Coyote Gulch:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4513995118_9c4c4d8660.jpg

Now the lower part of the river; almost to the lake now:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/4513355537_8735416d0c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2381/4513996330_d52b281a24.jpg

[ststephen]

Now we were at the lake. It goes on for a long, long way. Robin was so surprised at the length of it that she asked me "what lake is this?" thinking it couldn't be the same lake near Page as it was so far.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/4513355845_ab3bc61918.jpg

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Had to find Rainbow Bridge of course. I've seen it twice now but both times like this. Someday I've got to see it from the ground:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4513997982_c4e5a05669.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4513998344_e110d77572.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/4513998656_901d11c3d5.jpg

Then it was just a little more deep blue lake shots. As much as a wish I could still experience Glen Canyon as it was before the lake, I have to say the lake sure is pretty.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4513998910_e6a34d6405.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/4513999172_9efcf7f562.jpg

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All too soon it was over and the town was back in view:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4513360309_a41845fc2e.jpg

All in all a very memorable and fun experience. If I can swing it I'll try to incorporate some flying into more of my trips to the Colorado Plateau. It really brings the whole place into perspective when you can see it this way, don't you think?

[Cirrus2000]

Wow, that really is incredible! I'd love to experience it that way some time. One of these days...

Thanks a lot for posting these, Paul! Lots of the shots: Paria, Buckskin, Coyote Gulch, Stevens Arch (and the sand slog & Crack in the Wall) - places I've seen and loved from the ground. Such a different perspective...

Did I see a bit of Yellow Rock here? Doesn't seem massive enough:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/4513347735_6a63d2ff96.jpg

Some of the arches and canyons are truly amazing from above.

Thanks again - pretty sweet! :2thumbs:

[denaliguide]

very nice! the view from the air really ties everything together so well. glad you had a good flight.

[Don]

Wow, sweet pics! I love that. Especially liked seeing Stevens and Coyote 'cause we're heading that way this weekend! Thanks for posting!

[ststephen]

Glad you're all enjoying them. As to the photo Kev asks about, I really don't know what that area is. It was about half way up Cottonwood road when this section of very yellow and orange rock appears west of the road. There was a wash which cuts through it. Here's another shot:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4513348145_b388727bbe.jpg

I'd like to figure it out and explore there sometime.

Speaking of the Crack-in-the-Wall slog: here's is a shot of it that's isn't much to look at but does zoom in on it. I remember checking out the view on either side of that sandstone fin before we descended. Man, that's one big pile of sand, eh?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4533517957_bdc60919bb.jpg

[oldno7]

Great report Paul. What was the final bill for the flight?(wondering if us poor folk can afford)
I believe you are looking at Hackberry Canyon, up the Cottonwood road.

[ststephen]

It was right around $400: 2.3 hours times $173/hour. It would be the same for up to 3 passengers, though the total weight of the passengers might start to limit how far you can go. Only the co-pilot's seat has access to a window that can open, which is very helpful for getting shots w/o any glare. But it tends to annoy the passenger(s) sitting in the back row!

Re: Hackberry: that sounds right. I'm not familiar with that but it sure looks worth exploring. That is the general area of Yellow Rock that Kev asked about but I might not have shot in the exact right direction to get it. I also saw where Grosvenor Arch must have been but it was off in the distance.

[trackrunner]

Nice TR :2thumbs:


What was the final bill for the flight?(wondering if us poor folk can afford)

[FONT=Verdana]Kurt, if only you knew someone in St. George who has his pilot license and let