Canyon Junction is a canyon in Washington County, Utah. It lies in or next to Zion National Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 24 km (15 mi) N of Hildale.
From the National Park Service
Canyon Junction The Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway and the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive meet here. On July 3, 1930, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway was officially dedicated and opened to the public. The completion of the highway made the once imagined "Grand Circle Tour" of Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Canyon National Parks a reality. From here, enjoy views of the Virgin River and Zion Canyon. Trails accessed from here: Pa’rus Trail (allows bicycles and leashed pets; access to Virgin River)
Shuttle Service When the Zion Canyon Shuttle is running, Canyon Junction is shuttle stop #3. Shuttles do not stop here when travelling up-canyon (towards the Temple of Sinawava). Shuttles only stop here travelling towards down-canyon (towards the Zion Canyon Visitor Center). Seasonal Closures In seasons when the shuttle bus is running, the gate at Canyon Junction is closed to private vehicles . This means that private vehicles may not access the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive during shuttle season . When shuttles are not in service, private vehicles may drive up the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. We monitor parking in the canyon, and may close the road when parking fills.
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Canyon Junction the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:36 AM | 90° E | 7:44 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 59° ENE | 8:56 PM | 301° WNW | 76° | 14h 44m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:20 AM | 89° E | 7:30 PM | 271° W | 53° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:43 AM | 119° ESE | 5:19 PM | 241° WSW | 29° | 9h 36m |
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 | 7:17 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:25 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:07 PM | 9h 53m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:12 PM | 6:39 PM | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:18 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:18 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:05 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:31 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:33 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:34 PM | 13h 09m |
| May | 5:55 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:25 PM | 14h 43m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:02 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 29m |
| August | 6:21 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:53 PM | 13h 36m |
| September | 6:49 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:14 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:21 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:45 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:51 PM | 10h 11m |
| December | 7:10 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:20 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:46 PM | 9h 37m |
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 Canyon Junction, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 5:30 AM – 5:50 AM | 0.3 | 14° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:36 AM – 6:06 AM | 1.5 | 20° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:29 AM – 5:19 AM | 2.8 | 24° | SE → S |
| May | 12:38 AM – 4:38 AM | 4.0 | 24° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:48 PM – 4:18 AM | 5.5 | 24° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:42 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.2 | 24° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:02 PM – 12:52 AM | 2.8 | 24° | S → SW |
| September | 9:10 PM – 10:50 PM | 1.7 | 20° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:23 PM – 8:43 PM | 0.3 | 14° | 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.78 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 26% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (52%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 60 | 64 | 72 | 80 | 90 | 97 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 81 | 70 | 57 |
| Low °F | -11 | -7 | 0 | 16 | 21 | 29 | 44 | 41 | 25 | 10 | 0 | -11 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
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 Canyon Junction, closest first.
Dark Sky Place
Mountain Peak
Scenic Viewpoint
Rock Formation
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Canyon
Rock Formation
Rock FormationCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- South Campground (Ut)2.1 km (1.3 mi) · reservable
- Watchman Campground2.5 km (1.5 mi) · reservable
- Lava Point Campground19.1 km (11.9 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Canyon Junction?
What time is golden hour at Canyon Junction?
Where does the sun rise and set at Canyon Junction?
Can you see the Milky Way from Canyon Junction?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Canyon Junction?
How far is Canyon Junction from Hildale?
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.