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Canyons in California

109 canyons in California with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Los Angeles County has the most (18). The darkest skies are at Titus Canyon (Bortle 2).

Top canyons

Laurel CanyonCanyon
Laurel CanyonLos Angeles County
Arroyo SecoCanyon
Arroyo SecoLos Angeles County
Eaton CanyonCanyon
Eaton CanyonLos Angeles County
Titus CanyonCanyon
Titus CanyonInyo County
Tahquitz CanyonCanyon
Tahquitz CanyonRiverside County
Rainbow CanyonCanyon
Rainbow CanyonInyo County
Laguna CanyonCanyon
Laguna CanyonOrange County
Bommer CanyonCanyon
Bommer CanyonOrange County
Grand Canyon of the TuolumneCanyon
Grand Canyon of the TuolumneTuolumne County
Tenaya CanyonCanyon
Tenaya CanyonMariposa County
Bloody CanyonCanyon
Bloody CanyonMono County
Goat CanyonCanyon
Goat CanyonSan Diego County

Canyons by county

All canyons (109)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Laurel CanyonLos Angeles County—Universal City9
Arroyo SecoLos Angeles County—Pasadena9
Eaton CanyonLos Angeles County—Altadena8
Titus CanyonInyo County—Beatty2
Tahquitz CanyonRiverside County—Vista Santa Rosa4
Rainbow CanyonDeath ValleyInyo County—Lone Pine2
Laguna CanyonOrange County—Laguna Beach8
Bommer CanyonOrange County—Turtle Rock8
Grand Canyon of the TuolumneYosemiteTuolumne County—Yosemite Valley3
Tenaya CanyonYosemiteMariposa County—Yosemite Valley3
Bloody CanyonMono County—Mammoth Lakes2
Goat CanyonSan Diego County—Imperial Beach6
Chavez RavineLos Angeles County—Echo Park9
Deadman CanyonSequoia & Kings CanyonFresno County—Three Rivers2
San Timoteo CanyonSan Bernardino County—Redlands8
Silverado CanyonOrange County—Portola Hills6
Soledad CanyonLos Angeles County—Santa Clarita8
Last Chance CanyonKern County—California City3
Turnbull CanyonLos Angeles County—Whittier9
Aliso CanyonOrange County—Laguna Niguel7
Anderson CanyonMonterey County—Big Sur3
Black Star CanyonOrange County—Stonegate7
Chino CanyonRiverside County—Palm Springs6
Kern River CanyonKern County—Alta Sierra4
Owens River GorgeMono County—Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek2
San Clemente CanyonSan Diego County—Sorrento Valley7
Tapo CanyonVentura County—Piru6
Devil CanyonSan Bernardino County—Muscoy7
Temescal Canyon, Los Angeles CountyLos Angeles County—Pacific Palisades8
Willow Springs CanyonLos Angeles County—Green Valley5
Switzer CanyonSan Diego County—San Diego7
Lyell CanyonYosemiteMono County—Yosemite Valley2
Las Llajas CanyonVentura County—Santa Susana7
Niles CanyonAlameda County—Fremont8
Cheeseboro/Palo Comado CanyonSanta Monica MountainsLos Angeles County—Agoura7
San Francisquito CanyonLos Angeles County—Valencia8
Oriflamme CanyonSan Diego County—Julian4
Little Santa Anita CanyonLos Angeles County—Sierra Madre8
Doolan CanyonAlameda County—Livermore7
Cozy Dell CanyonVentura County—Meiners Oaks5
Alberhill CanyonRiverside County—Lake Elsinore6
Cajon CanyonSan Bernardino County—Oak Hills5
Horsethief CanyonSan Bernardino County—Crestline5
Reche CanyonRiverside County—Moreno Valley7
In-Ko-Pah GorgeImperial County—Seeley3
Devils CanyonSan Diego County—Campo3
Emerald CanyonOrange County—Laguna Beach7
Coldwater CanyonLos Angeles County—Beverly Hills9
Hatton CanyonMonterey County—Carmel-by-the-Sea6
Mayfield CanyonInyo County—West Bishop2
Santa Ana CanyonRiverside County—Corona7
Mohave CanyonSan Bernardino County—Desert Hills3
Spanish CanyonSan Bernardino County—Fort Irwin3
Big Sycamore CanyonVentura County—Casa Conejo5
Hill CanyonVentura County—Casa Conejo6
Sawpit CanyonSan Bernardino County—Crestline6
Rodriguez CanyonSan Diego County—Julian4
Carrizo CanyonSan Diego County—Pine Valley3
Bull CanyonRiverside County—Anza4
Gold CanyonNevada County—Nevada City3
Scripps CanyonSan Diego County—La Jolla7
Temescal CanyonRiverside County—Home Gardens8
Bohler CanyonMono County—Mammoth Lakes2
Walker CanyonRiverside County—Lake Elsinore6
La Panza CanyonSan Luis Obispo County—Shandon3
Feather CanyonPlumas County—Magalia3
Railroad CanyonRiverside County—Lake Elsinore8
Stilson CanyonButte County—Chico6
Wildcat CanyonContra Costa County—Kensington8
Amargosa CanyonOld SpanishInyo County—Pahrump3
Cherry Canyon HikeChannel IslandsSanta Barbara County—Isla Vista3
Las Flores CanyonSan Diego County19 mCamp Pendleton South5
Bell CanyonLos Angeles County581 mGlendora7
BerdooRiverside County265 mIndio5
Big CanyonEl Dorado County287 mPlacerville5
Bull CanyonSan Bernardino County796 mTwentynine Palms3
East Fork San Dimas CanyonLos Angeles County562 mLa Verne7
Falls CanyonOrange County459 mTrabuco Canyon6
Fern CanyonLos Angeles County787 mSan Antonio Heights7
Gillis CanyonSan Luis Obispo County352 mShandon3
Holland CanyonSan Luis Obispo County391 mShandon3
Holy Jim CanyonOrange County534 mTrabuco Canyon6
Hughes CanyonSan Luis Obispo County378 mShandon3
Hungryman GulchSanta Barbara County32 mChannel Islands Beach4
Ladies CanyonEl Dorado County298 mPlacerville5
Lodi CanyonLos Angeles County410 mLa Verne7
Malaga CanyonLos Angeles County2 mPalos Verdes Estates8
McDonald CanyonSan Luis Obispo County341 mShandon3
Mollie Gibson CanyonInyo County2,098 mBig Pine2
Noble CanyonSan Diego County1,142 mPine Valley4
Rose CanyonOrange County316 mTrabuco Canyon8
Ruby CanyonEl Dorado County1,310 mPollock Pines4
Scove CanyonSan Diego County1,128 mPine Valley4
Slocum CanyonSan Luis Obispo County348 mShandon3
Stump CanyonNevada County900 mNevada City3
Surprise CanyonInyo County512 mDeath Valley2
Thornburg CanyonAlpine County1,722 mGardnerville Ranchos3
Tin Pan CanyonSan Luis Obispo County377 mShandon3
Trabuco CanyonOrange County350 mTrabuco Canyon7
Tucker CanyonSan Luis Obispo County342 mShandon3
Wolfskill CanyonLos Angeles County527 mLa Verne7
Wilson CanyonSan Luis Obispo County568 mSanta Margarita3
Jacalitos CanyonFresno County338 mCoalinga3
Arkiansas CanyonStanislaus County323 mPatterson5
Deer Park CanyonStanislaus County344 mPatterson5
Smugglers CanyonSanta Barbara County94 mChannel Islands Beach4
Golden CanyonInyo County-35 mDeath Valley2
Smuggler CanyonSan Diego County252 mSan Clemente5
Del Dios GorgeSan Diego County98 mRancho Santa Fe6

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph canyons

Canyons need light from above: rims glow at sunrise and sunset, while deep or narrow sections are brightest near midday when reflected light bounces off the walls.

  • From the rim, sunrise and sunset side-light reveals layers; a telephoto picks out buttes and shadows.
  • In narrow canyons, reflected light creates orange and purple glows; avoid including bright sky in the frame.
  • Check flash flood forecasts before entering slot or narrow canyons — rain miles away can flood them.
  • Dust and sand are hard on gear; change lenses in a bag or with your back to the wind.
  • A long lens on a tripod handles the low light inside canyons better than raising ISO.

Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; summer monsoon storms bring dramatic skies but higher flood risk in the Southwest.