For Behind the Shot Part 6, we’re featuring photos and stories from Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark in California, Table Rock Lake in Missouri, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona, and many more destinations. Click here to participate in the 2027 Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Contest and be considered for a Behind the Shot feature.
David Kiel
Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark, California
2017 Ford F-350
2026 Phoenix Custom Flatbed
Camera Used – Sony A7 III
After picking up our new Phoenix flatbed pop-up camper in Denver, we set off on a three-month maiden voyage through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. On the drive between Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park, we decided to boondock at Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark in California.
The Trona Pinnacles rise from an ancient dry lakebed and feature hundreds of towering tufa formations. Their stark beauty and easy access make them a popular destination for overlanders and visitors from the Los Angeles area. We were glad we arrived early on a Friday and secured one of the better campsites next to the main group of tufa towers.
Both sunset and sunrise were spectacular. This photo was taken just before sunrise, giving our new truck camper a warm morning glow. After breakfast and a walk among the pinnacles, we packed up and headed to Death Valley for six days before continuing to the Alabama Hills, Manzanar, Mono Lake, Benton Hot Springs, and relatives near Mount Shasta.
Gary Freedman
Death Valley National Park, California
2019 Ford F-350
2020 Northern Lite 8-11 EX Limited Edition
Camera Used – Canon D600
There is so much to see in Death Valley that I don’t remember exactly where we stopped or what my wife, our Siberian Husky, and I hiked up to admire. As I paused to catch my breath, I turned around and saw this view.
I’m entering this photo not only because I like it, but also because it made it past the first round of voting when I submitted it four years ago. Maybe this time will be the charm.
Brady Lampert
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico
2024 GMC Sierra 2500
2026 Outpost 6.5
Camera Used – Sony A7R VI
We picked up our Outpost 6.5 truck camper earlier that day in Durango. Instead of taking the easy route home, we pointed it toward the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness in northwestern New Mexico. Thirty miles of washboard roads, deep sand, and rough dirt became the perfect introduction to our new home on wheels. Although the rig wasn’t fully built out yet, it performed incredibly well in the desert.
By the time we reached camp, it felt like we had the entire badlands to ourselves. There wasn’t another person in sight, just strange rock formations stretching to the horizon and a bright full moon lighting up the desert. We cooked our first meal in the camper and spent the evening watching the stars.
This photo was taken during that unforgettable first night, marking the beginning of countless adventures to come. It wasn’t just a beautiful place. It was where months of anticipation finally became reality.
Lynn Kabella
Mount Airy Casino, Pocono, Pennsylvania
2023 RAM 5500
2022 Host Yukon
Camera Used – Samsung Galaxy Phone
We stopped for an overnight stay at Mount Airy Casino in Pocono, Pennsylvania, when a storm started rolling in. We noticed a bright rainbow slowly appearing, followed by a second rainbow. It created a beautiful moment on the edge of the storm.
Larry Moonan
Lucia, California
2017 Ford F-350
2008 Lance 1055
Camera Used – iPhone 14 Pro
We’re fortunate to live just north of the Big Sur coast, so we occasionally take day trips or spend a night or two along the coastline. This photo was taken during an overnight stay at Lucia Lodge. Although the lodge lost its general store and restaurant to a fire several years ago, we bring our truck camper for meals and stay in one of its beautiful rustic cabins. The views are breathtaking!
Ellen Kearney
Mill Creek Campground, Table Rock Lake, Missouri
2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD
2020 Palomino
Camera Used – Phone
We waited almost six months to snag a reservation for this campsite on Table Rock Lake. It was worth every minute. We were treated to incredible sunrises, and it truly felt like a little slice of heaven.
Thomas Schramer
Grizzly Reservoir, Independence Pass, Colorado
2020 Toyota Tundra
2024 Northstar TC650
Camera Used – iPhone 16
Just a weekend camping at Grizzly Reservoir on Independence Pass between Aspen and Twin Lakes, Colorado. The pup was happy to be there, as usual.
Jon Rankin
BLM Land, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
2024 Ford F-450
2024 Arctic Fox 1150
Camera Used – Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
We first stayed here in a rented Lance truck camper while deciding whether this lifestyle was right for us. Once we bought our own Arctic Fox, we knew we had to come back.
This BLM campsite sits less than a quarter mile from the Colorado River canyon beneath the towering Vermilion Cliffs. At night, the only visible light was five or six miles away. Other than that, it was just us. It was spectacularly peaceful.
Audrey Ruccio
East Coast, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
2015 RAM 3500
2018 Lance 1172
Camera Used – Canon SX50
We were wandering along the east coast of Newfoundland, taking the smaller side roads that led to tiny settlements along the water. This was just one of many unnamed places where the road met the ocean and invited us to stop, take in the view, and enjoy the moment.
Garry Kernan
Kluane Lake, Yukon, Canada
2011 Ford F-250
1966 Avion C10
Camera Used – iPhone 16 Pro Max
Ever since we moved to Alaska in 2007, we had wanted to drive the Alaska Highway. We returned to Washington in 2019 for work and took the ferry instead. After I retired last year, my wife said, “We’re driving the Alaska Highway next year!”
By May 15, we had reached a secluded boondocking site on the shore of frozen Kluane Lake, just south of Destruction Bay in Yukon. I woke up just as the sun was rising and ran outside into the freezing cold to capture the scene. This photo was my favorite, showcasing the frozen lake, the mountains, and our home on wheels. I hurried back inside to warm up after discovering it was just 26°F outside.
Click here to see all of the photos entered so far in the 2027 TCM Calendar Contest. Enter your photos in the contest below!
