Elias Butler Photography

04/01/2026

Get yours here: https://www.eliasbutler.com/sleeves

02/18/2026

If you enjoy photography of the national parks, here’s a sleeve I’ve created to protect and customize your America the Beautiful National Parks Pass.

The sleeve displays the beauty of our national parks while keeping your pass safe and easily accessible. You can choose from four different national parks including Arches, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Grand Teton. The photographs come from my personal collection of images.

This is a perfect item for anyone who loves to visit America’s national parks and monuments. These sleeves are guaranteed to fit your National Parks Pass. The sleeve will not invalidate your pass. Shipping is free (USA only).
Link: https://www.eliasbutler.com/sleeves

12/05/2025

Thank you Representative Adelita S. Grijalva for introducing your first bill: The Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act.

It would stop the destruction of Oak Flat, AZ, a sacred site for the Western Apaches, and it would preserve rare and beautiful Sonoran Desert waters.

Earlier this month, I hiked the 4.5 mile route to the spectacular Five Waterfalls in the canyon adjacent to Oak Flat. This hike begins just east of Phoenix but few visit the falls. Resolution Copper plans to pipe toxic mining waste right over the canyon in this video. This cannot be allowed to happen.

11/12/2025

Unusual fall colors arrived last night at the San Francisco Peaks. The aurora borealis was visible to naked eyes for about 5 mesmerizing minutes. Clouds parted just long enough to catch the peak of the storm.

10/22/2025

Marble Viewpoint on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is now a moonscape. My friend Jason went there recently and sent a few photos, including this shot of a torched pinon pine at the point. I photographed the same tree prior to the Dragon Bravo Fire, years ago. In the distance the moonscape extends down to the Cockscomb and beyond.

09/19/2025

The San Francisco Peaks are wringing out moisture from the last bit of the monsoon. The highest peak visible at center is "Oomàwki," which means “Home of the Clouds” in Hopi.

08/21/2025

Contributed a photo to this story in Inside Climate News by Wyatt Myskow about the latest turn in the Oak Flat - Resolution Copper saga.

The Western Apache and a coalition of environmental groups have fought for years against the Resolution Copper mine, which would become one of the country’s largest at the cost of a site revered by the tribe.

08/19/2025

Good news at Oak Flat!

Hours before a disputed land swap was to take effect, an appeals court halted the process, giving copper mine opponents more time.

08/10/2025

Yesterday the Dragon-Bravo Fire went east over the edge of the Walhalla Plateau near Roosevelt Viewpoint and plunged into Kwagunt Canyon, burning almost down to the Colorado River. This is the deepest pe*******on the fire has made into Grand Canyon National Park.

Here is Atoko Point at the rim of Walhalla Plateau - burned. Also two images of Kwagunt Canyon - burned. These photos were made while I was off-trail hiking.

08/05/2025

It seems like a million years ago since that carefree day when my wife posed at this spot along the Pt. Sublime Road. The Dragon-Bravo fire is still spreading and has now reached this viewpoint overlooking Crystal Creek. The buttes known as The Dragon and Dragon Head are at left. Windy, dry conditions are forecasted to continue.

08/02/2025

The Dragon-Bravo wildfire at Tiyo Point and Dragon Creek on July 30. High winds blew smoke clouds across the plateau. A butte named "The Dragon" is at far left in the fire glow.

This quote from Nancy Brian's book River to Rim (1992) addresses the Dragon theme:

"Dragon Head, Dragon Creek, and Little Dragon: These are descriptive names for the geologic formations which resemble a sleeping dragon. The tail separates the body from the North Rim, the east ridge of the mesa is the backbone, and the head rises to a pyramid-shaped butte at 7,764 feet.

The mesa appears to breathe fire, as it is the site of many lightning-caused wildfires due to its high fuel load, which is greater than any other site on the North Rim."

07/29/2025

Yesterday the Dragon fire torched the beloved Marble Viewpoint and North Canyon on the Kaibab National Forest. Also the popular East Rim viewpoints.

The beauty and remoteness of these places made them indescribable. You had to take the time to go there and stay awhile. The main order of business was watching the sky and canyons and plateau. Clouds, thunderstorms, ravens, and the great crack in the Earth became natural cinema. And Marble Viewpoint was one of the best places to find fossils of sea creatures.

Forest service Road 610 that led to Marble Viewpoint went through large grassy meadows bordered by thick alpine forest. Here are a few photos.