A Seaplane Journey Through Desert and Sky

Cedar Breaks National Monument | Ryan Salm

Experience Southern Utah's incredible canyons from above with photographer Ryan Salm in a Searey Elite seaplane.

For the last 28 years, I’ve wandered the canyons and deserts of Southern Utah, striving to piece together the puzzle of this dazzling landscape. On commercial cross-country flights, I’ve sat with my head pressed against the window, quietly naming the landmarks below.

On this journey, I’ve begun to fill in the middle layer between rock and atmosphere alongside pilot Clayton Linnemann. We embarked on a weeklong series of flights over canyon country in an attempt to photograph this vast and complex landscape.

Basing ourselves out of lesser-known airports and landing strips, we skipped across the surface of the state, packed like sardines in his tiny Searey Elite seaplane, searching for our favorite spots to shoot. At the mercy of the wind and weather, we soaked up the available hours, marveling at all Mother Nature had to offer until the fuel tank got low or the winds picked up. The result is this collection of images telling our story.

Taking off pre-dawn from Cedar City on day one was filled with anticipation. As we crested the highlands behind Cedar City, the winds dissipated, and we approached the eastern border of Zion National Park.

Photo: Ryan Salm

"When the first rays of morning sun lit up the layers of rock, we sat in awe and watched the landscape unfold before our eyes."

Being at the bottom of a canyon in Zion National Park is a truly special experience, with walls that reach toward the heavens and a profound sense of grandeur. The scale truly unfolds into obscurity when viewed from above, creating a puzzle that is unlikely to be solved.

Photo: Ryan Salm

The last time I visited Powell Point was on a bike with my friend, the late Kyle Smaine. We sweated our way up the Aquarius Hut Trail and stood in amazement, gazing back toward the direction from which this image was taken. On this day, I looked back in the other direction, remembering those good times.

Photo: Ryan Salm

"Springtime anywhere near Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is my happy place; the water, the colors, and those endless mazes of rock to explore. For over 25 years, I have wandered these canyons, and from the plane, I get to sit back and take it all in."

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Photo: Ryan Salm

The day before, on a morning too windy to fly, Linneman and I linked up an epic 15-mile cross-country hike to explore this feature of sand and rock. The following morning, we soared high above it, taking in a bird’s-eye view to complete our circle of exploration.

Photo: Ryan Salm

"Photos like this are the reason we embarked on this project. Many see Utah as the land of national parks, but outside the park gates, the landscape is just as magical. The lines, the patterns and the colors are some of the most unique on the planet. The earth makes art all its own."

In the area near to Capitol Reef National Park.

Photo: Ryan Salm

The plane offers us the ability to quickly change our elevation, thus completely altering our vantage point. Some zones look great from the top down, while others achieve perfection from a lower down, stacked perspective, like this one of the San Rafael Swell, Factory Butte and the Henry Mountains.

Photo: Ryan Salm

Linnemann has been flying this Southern Utah region for the last handful of years. One of his favorite spots is what he calls "Rainbow Road," a causeway of color, texture and light.

Photo: Ryan Salm

Unknown towers and pyramid peaks make the arid regions of Southern Utah special. With only faint outlines of double tracks in sight, we soar past these unknown monoliths, absorbing until the next one comes into view.

Photo: Ryan Salm

"Factory Butte is one of Southern Utah’s most iconic landforms. Anyone who has driven past it is sure to have shaken their head in disbelief."

Instead of circling the peak at the end of the previous day’s flight, we opted to start our third day of flying from Hanksville to catch the butte in its ethereal morning light. Its vastness is truly accentuated when viewed from the air.

Photo: Ryan Salm

"The morning light hits canyon country in different ways and at different levels. Some get woken up by the morning glow, while others get to sleep in."

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Photo: Ryan Salm

"So often in the desert, life becomes the search for water. Flying south from Hanksville, the landscape is arid. Buttes and valleys line our path as we continue down the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef. Like a mirage, the landscape morphs and water appears between the red rock landscape equipped with marinas, boats and recreation. The wonder that is Lake Powell is one that always stops me in my tracks."

An aerial view of Lake Powell.

Photo: Ryan Salm

The Searey Elite has an unbelievably tight turning radius. As we flew over the serpentine set of bends in a side canyon of Lake Powell, Linnemann kept us tight and turning until the sun found its perfect place, lighting the scene.

Photo: Ryan Salm

The winding curves of Lake Powell.

Photo: Ryan Salm

"As we flew over Lake Powell from east to west, the amount of water increased as the San Juan and the Escalante rivers merged into the main channel of water, ultimately culminating in these stunning stripes of blue and red, which will be forever etched in my imagination."

The red rock around Lake Powell casts a stark contrast to the dark blue water.

Photo: Ryan Salm

A Seaplane Journey Through Desert and Sky

About the Photographer – Ryan Salm

Ryan Salm never misses a moment to step completely out of his comfort zone and try and keep up with athletes who are in way better shape than he is. After all, how else would he gather the photographs and stories to tell afterward? Combining his passions with a deep client base and the ability to produce award-winning work keeps him continuously creating high-caliber content across genre lines. Follow him at ryansalmphotography.com and @ryansalmphotography.

What's Nearby

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Utah has the Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake City to the north, the salt flats and Great Basin Desert to the west, red rock country and national parks to the south — and mountains, rivers, forests and state parks everywhere in between. Wherever you're headed, there's a local community and basecamp town to provide you important amenities and insider knowledge along the way. Without a several-week road trip, it’s hard to experience it all, so pick a region and itinerary to start with, then come back again and again.

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Hiking, Cycling, History and Heritage, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Solitude, Native American, Camping & Backpacking

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A Seaplane Journey Through Desert and Sky

"When the first rays of morning sun lit up the layers of rock, we sat in awe and watched the landscape unfold before our eyes."

"Springtime anywhere near Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is my happy place; the water, the colors, and those endless mazes of rock to explore. For over 25 years, I have wandered these canyons, and from the plane, I get to sit back and take it all in."

"Photos like this are the reason we embarked on this project. Many see Utah as the land of national parks, but outside the park gates, the landscape is just as magical. The lines, the patterns and the colors are some of the most unique on the planet. The earth makes art all its own."

"Factory Butte is one of Southern Utah’s most iconic landforms. Anyone who has driven past it is sure to have shaken their head in disbelief."

"The morning light hits canyon country in different ways and at different levels. Some get woken up by the morning glow, while others get to sleep in."

"As we flew over Lake Powell from east to west, the amount of water increased as the San Juan and the Escalante rivers merged into the main channel of water, ultimately culminating in these stunning stripes of blue and red, which will be forever etched in my imagination."

A Seaplane Journey Through Desert and Sky

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What's Nearby

Capitol Reef National Park

Glen Canyon and Lake Powell

San Rafael Swell

Plan Your Trip

Farther Away From It All

Higher Octane

Hidden Secrets

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