Red Butte Garden, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. -- July 2005, Nikon D70, Cory Maylett
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40.7660° N111.8240° WBortle 7Denver

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum Photography Guide

Botanical Garden in Salt Lake County, Utah

  • Bortle 7 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 239°–303°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. C.Maylett assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is a botanical garden in Salt Lake County, Utah. It sits roughly 5.7 km (3.5 mi) E of Salt Lake City.

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum consists of a botanical garden, arboretum, and amphitheatre operated by the University of Utah, in the foothills of the Wasatch Range in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is open year-round to the public. Red Butte Garden contains over 100 acres (0.40 km2) of botanical gardens and several miles of hiking trails through native vegetation. Red Butte Creek runs within the northern part of the garden.From the Wikipedia article “Red Butte Garden and Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Salt Lake City
5.7 km (3.5 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 7
Suburban / urban transition
Clearest month
September
34% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
4.7 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:11 PM
sunset 6:48 PM

Light at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Live
Sunrise
7:45 AM
Sunset
6:41 PM
Golden hour AM
7:28 AM – 8:22 AM
Golden hour PM
6:03 PM – 6:58 PM
Blue hour AM
7:17 AM – 7:28 AM
Blue hour PM
6:58 PM – 7:09 PM
Full darkness
8:12 PM – 6:14 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
3:58 PM / 1:46 AM
Day length
10h 56m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Red Butte Garden and Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:31 AM90° E7:40 PM271° W49°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:57 AM58° ENE9:03 PM303° WNW73°15h 06m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:16 AM89° E7:26 PM271° W49°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:49 AM121° ESE5:04 PM239° WSW26°9h 15m

Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.

Golden hour & blue hour by month

Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:20 AM7:50 AM8:32 AM4:42 PM5:25 PM5:55 PM9h 35m
February6:54 AM7:22 AM8:01 AM5:24 PM6:02 PM6:31 PM10h 40m
March7:13 AM7:40 AM8:16 AM6:58 PM7:34 PM8:02 PM11h 54m
April6:21 AM6:49 AM7:26 AM7:30 PM8:07 PM8:35 PM13h 18m
May5:40 AM6:11 AM6:50 AM7:59 PM8:38 PM9:09 PM14h 27m
June5:23 AM5:56 AM6:37 AM8:20 PM9:01 PM9:34 PM15h 05m
July5:37 AM6:09 AM6:50 AM8:18 PM8:58 PM9:31 PM14h 49m
August6:09 AM6:38 AM7:16 AM7:49 PM8:27 PM8:56 PM13h 49m
September6:41 AM7:09 AM7:45 AM7:02 PM7:38 PM8:06 PM12h 29m
October7:11 AM7:39 AM8:16 AM6:11 PM6:48 PM7:16 PM11h 09m
November6:46 AM7:15 AM7:56 AM4:30 PM5:10 PM5:40 PM9h 55m
December7:14 AM7:45 AM8:29 AM4:18 PM5:01 PM5:32 PM9h 16m

Local time (America/Denver), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.

Milky Way & night sky

From Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:44 AM – 5:44 AM0.011°SE → SE
March4:55 AM – 6:05 AM1.217°SE → SSE
April2:55 AM – 5:05 AM2.220°SE → S
May12:51 AM – 4:11 AM3.320°SE → S
June11:07 PM – 3:47 AM4.720°SSE → SSW
July10:58 PM – 2:18 AM3.320°S → SW
August10:10 PM – 12:20 AM2.220°S → SW
September9:11 PM – 10:21 PM1.217°SSW → SW
October8:19 PM – 8:19 PM0.011°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-19°—

Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.

Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.54 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 34% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F505667748490969288796549
Low °F-23-28-14-68223631191-17-21
Precip. (in)2.01.81.82.31.91.11.01.21.71.71.72.3

Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.

Photography tips for this botanical garden

  • Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
  • Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
  • A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
  • Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
  • Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
  • Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.

Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.

Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, closest first.

International Peace GardensBotanical Garden
International Peace Gardens8.4 km away · Salt Lake County
Mill Creek CanyonCanyon
Mill Creek Canyon9.2 km away · Salt Lake County
Cave
Neffs Cave11 km away · Salt Lake County
Big Mountain PassMountain Pass
Big Mountain Pass16 km away · Morgan County · 2,264 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Ward Canyon Overlook16 km away · Davis County · 1,927 m
Waterfall
Hidden Falls17 km away · Salt Lake County · 1,929 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Centerville Canyon Overlook17 km away · Davis County · 2,332 m
Big Cottonwood CanyonCanyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon18 km away · Salt Lake County
Conservation Garden ParkBotanical Garden
Conservation Garden Park20 km away · Salt Lake County

Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Red Butte Garden and Arboretum?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
What time is golden hour at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:11 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:48 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:16 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 121° in December; sunset ranges from 303° to 239°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Red Butte Garden and Arboretum?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Red Butte Garden and Arboretum from Salt Lake City?
About 5.7 km (3.5 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.