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Canyons in Colorado

25 canyons in Colorado with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Mesa County has the most (4). The darkest skies are at Picture Canyon (Bortle 1).

Top canyons

Glenwood CanyonCanyon
Glenwood CanyonGarfield County
Royal GorgeCanyon
Royal GorgeFremont County
Left Hand CanyonCanyon
Left Hand CanyonBoulder County
Box CanyonCanyon
Box CanyonOuray County
Byers CanyonCanyon
Byers CanyonGrand County
Gore CanyonCanyon
Gore CanyonEagle County
Platte CanyonCanyon
Platte CanyonJefferson County
Poudre CanyonCanyon
Poudre CanyonLarimer County
Rattlesnake CanyonCanyon
Rattlesnake CanyonMesa County
Mee CanyonCanyon
Mee CanyonMesa County
Blue Creek CanyonCanyon
Blue Creek CanyonGunnison County
Northgate CanyonCanyon
Northgate CanyonJackson County

Canyons by county

All canyons (25)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Glenwood CanyonGarfield County—Glenwood Springs3
Royal GorgeFremont County—Cañon City6
Left Hand CanyonBoulder County—Boulder5
Box CanyonOuray County—Ouray1
Byers CanyonGrand County—Granby3
Gore CanyonEagle County—Kremmling2
Platte CanyonJefferson County—Roxborough Park6
Poudre CanyonLarimer County—Estes Park3
Rattlesnake CanyonMesa County—Loma3
Mee CanyonMesa County—Loma2
Blue Creek CanyonGunnison County—Montrose1
Northgate CanyonJackson County—Steamboat Springs2
Picture CanyonBaca County—Boise City1
Bull Canyon TrailDinosaurMoffat County—Rangely1
Canyon Rim Trail (Colorado National Monument)ColoradoMesa County—Fruita4
Englemann CanyonEl Paso County—Manitou Springs6
Aguaje CanyonLas Animas County—Trinidad1
Brice CanyonLa Plata County—Bayfield3
De Beque CanyonMesa County—Palisade4
Dolores River CanyonSan Miguel County—Monticello1
South Cheyenne CanonEl Paso County—Colorado Springs7
Penitente CanyonLas Animas County—Trinidad2
Phantom CanyonLarimer County—Laporte3
Fourmile CanyonTeller County—Cripple Creek3
Boulder CanyonBoulder County3,119 mNederland4

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.