Located in Moffat County, Colorado, Bull Canyon Trail is a canyon. It lies in or next to Dinosaur National Monument, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Rangely, about 42 km (26 mi) away (Bull Canyon Trail lies N of town).
From the National Park Service
CAUTION : Storm damage from August 2021 has altered and removed sections of the former trail. This unmaintained route contains several natural obstacles potential hikers must be prepared to navigate. This steep trail descends from the Yampa Bench Road to the Yampa River near the Harding Hole campsites. The trail provides dramatic views of Bull Canyon and the Yampa River. The Harding Hole campsites are reserved for river users during the high use season (see river rafting information). In the off-season, campsites are open to backpackers. River rafters can use the Bull Canyon Trail to access the sweeping views from Wagon Wheel Point.
Length: 1½ mile one way / 3 miles round trip. Not a loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult - Unmaintained Route
Trailhead Location: On the Yampa Bench Road, just east of Wagon Wheel Point Overlook, or from Harding Hole #1 campsite on the Yampa River.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bull Canyon Trail 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.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:20 AM | 90° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:46 AM | 58° ENE | 8:50 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:04 AM | 89° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:36 AM | 121° ESE | 4:53 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
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.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 8:19 AM | 4:32 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:44 PM | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:19 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:01 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:22 PM | 7:50 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:29 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 26m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:45 AM | 6:26 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:48 PM | 9:21 PM | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:26 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:38 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 47m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:44 PM | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:53 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:00 PM | 6:37 PM | 7:04 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:59 PM | 5:29 PM | 9h 57m |
| December | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:16 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:21 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 Bull Canyon Trail, 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 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:32 AM – 5:32 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:43 AM – 5:53 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:42 AM – 4:52 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:37 AM – 3:57 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:53 PM – 3:33 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:44 PM – 2:14 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 12:07 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:58 PM – 10:08 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:07 PM – 8:07 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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 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 37% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (66%). 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 | 54 | 59 | 73 | 82 | 95 | 98 | 101 | 98 | 95 | 82 | 67 | 52 |
| Low °F | -15 | -16 | 0 | 15 | 20 | 32 | 43 | 41 | 27 | 0 | 1 | -10 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
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 canyon
- 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.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Spring and autumn are comfortable; summer monsoon storms bring dramatic skies but higher flood risk in the Southwest.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Wide and telephoto lenses, Lens blower, Weather radio or app. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bull Canyon Trail, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Cave
Natural ArchNatural Arch
Dark Sky Place
Fire LookoutScenic Viewpoint
WaterfallScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Echo Park Campground14.7 km (9.1 mi) · reservable
- Deerlodge Park Campground27 km (17 mi)
- Deerlodge Park Campground27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Rainbow Park Campground29 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Rainbow Park Campground29 km (18 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bull Canyon Trail?
What time is golden hour at Bull Canyon Trail?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bull Canyon Trail?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bull Canyon Trail?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bull Canyon Trail?
How far is Bull Canyon Trail from Rangely?
Sources
Location data: National Park Service. 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.