Located in Salt Lake County, Utah, Thanksgiving Point is a botanical garden. It sits roughly 6.2 km (3.9 mi) NW of Lehi.
Thanksgiving Point is a 501(c)(3) non-profit indoor and outdoor farm, garden, and museum complex in Lehi, Utah, United States. Its five main attractions include Ashton Gardens, Butterfly Biosphere, Farm Country, Museum of Ancient Life, and Museum of Natural Curiosity. It also operates multiple dining options, event spaces, and gift shops. Each year, approximately 2.8 million guests visit Thanksgiving Point . Other businesses under separate management but located on Thanksgiving Point's campuses include Brick Canvas Studios, Holdman Studios and Glass Art Institute, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres, and Thanksgiving Point Golf Course. Thanksgiving Point also serves as an extension location of Utah State University.From the Wikipedia article “Thanksgiving Point”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Thanksgiving Point 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 302° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:32 AM | 90° E | 7:40 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:58 AM | 58° ENE | 9:02 PM | 302° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:16 AM | 89° E | 7:26 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:48 AM | 121° ESE | 5:05 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 17m |
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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 8:31 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:56 PM | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:03 PM | 6:31 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:13 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:02 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:08 PM | 14h 25m |
| June | 5:24 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:39 AM | 8:19 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:33 PM | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:17 PM | 8:58 PM | 9:30 PM | 14h 47m |
| August | 6:10 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:56 PM | 13h 47m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:06 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:12 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 57m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:28 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:34 PM | 9h 18m |
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 Thanksgiving Point, 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 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:45 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:56 AM – 6:06 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:55 AM – 5:05 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:50 AM – 4:10 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 11:06 PM – 3:46 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:57 PM – 2:27 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 10:10 PM – 12:20 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:11 PM – 10:21 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:20 PM – 8:20 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.08 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 50 | 56 | 67 | 74 | 84 | 90 | 96 | 92 | 88 | 79 | 65 | 49 |
| Low °F | -23 | -28 | -14 | -6 | 8 | 22 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 1 | -17 | -21 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
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
- 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.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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 Thanksgiving Point, closest first.
Canyon
Cave
Cave
Canyon
Botanical Garden
Waterfall
Mountain Peak
Waterfall
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Little Mill19.7 km (12.2 mi) · reservable
- Granite Flat (Utah) 22 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Timpooneke23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Altamont23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Tanners Flat23 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Thanksgiving Point?
What time is golden hour at Thanksgiving Point?
Where does the sun rise and set at Thanksgiving Point?
Can you see the Milky Way from Thanksgiving Point?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Thanksgiving Point?
How far is Thanksgiving Point from Lehi?
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.