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Low Level Aviation Photographs

By Alan Chadwick

Situated within the Death Valley National Park, Rainbow Canyon, or to give it the official name used by the US Air Force -the Jedi Transition is a route used by the USAF (and Navy, and Marines)  as they transit at low level between two valleys.  The Canyon is immediately adjacent to a main road and there are several vantage points overlooking the Canyon where spectacular photographs can be taken. The one slight disadvantage is that being on the edge of Death Valley, although some 4000ft higher, it can be very hot there and windows of photographic opportunity throughout the year are limited.

Of all the low level locations I have been fortunate enough to visit, Rainbow Canyon rates as one of my all time favourites. To get there their from the UK is a bit of a pilgrimage involving a long haul flight to either Los Angeles or Las Vegas. My later visits were all via Las Vegas, hiring a car and then a 3 hour drive across Death Valley, but the location and high likelihood of multiple passes more than compensated for this.

Sadly the Canyon was closed to military low flying following the crash of an aircraft in 2019.

RAINBOW CANYON - DEATH VALLEY - USA