Harkers Canyon — a canyon in Salt Lake County, Utah — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 5.0 km (3.1 mi) SSE of Magna.
Harkers Canyon is located 20 km (12 mi) west-southwest of downtown Salt Lake City, in Salt Lake County, Utah, US. The canyon empties into the Salt Lake Valley from its origin in the Oquirrh Mountains. The canyon is oriented primarily from southwest to northeast, with the middle third of the canyon descending from west to east. Harkers Canyon and surrounding land are owned and managed by the Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation and has been mined for copper.From the Wikipedia article “Harkers Canyon (Salt Lake County, Utah)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Harkers Canyon 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) | 7:33 AM | 90° E | 7:41 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:58 AM | 58° ENE | 9:04 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 05m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:17 AM | 89° E | 7:27 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:50 AM | 121° ESE | 5:05 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 15m |
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 | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:56 PM | 9h 35m |
| February | 6:55 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:25 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:32 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 7:14 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:35 PM | 8:03 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:31 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:00 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:10 PM | 14h 27m |
| June | 5:24 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:39 AM | 8:21 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:35 PM | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:38 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:51 AM | 8:19 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:31 PM | 14h 48m |
| August | 6:10 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:46 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:07 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:12 AM | 7:40 AM | 8:17 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:12 PM | 5:41 PM | 9h 56m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:30 AM | 4:19 PM | 5:03 PM | 5:34 PM | 9h 17m |
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 Harkers Canyon, 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 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 2:56 AM – 5:06 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:52 AM – 4:12 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 11:08 PM – 3:48 AM | 4.7 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:59 PM – 2:19 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 10:11 PM – 12:21 AM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 9:12 PM – 10:22 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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.9 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 33% average cloud cover) and December 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 | 60 | 61 | 74 | 84 | 95 | 99 | 104 | 101 | 97 | 87 | 71 | 56 |
| Low °F | -12 | 2 | 14 | 22 | 25 | 36 | 49 | 47 | 31 | 16 | 4 | -10 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
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
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Harkers Canyon, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Ghost Town
State Park
Rock Formation
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Canyon
Canyon
Botanical GardenCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Dogwood Day Use27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Ledgemere Picnic Area28 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Birches Picnic Area28 km (18 mi) · reservable
- Storm Mountain Day Use Area30 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Harkers Canyon?
What time is golden hour at Harkers Canyon?
Where does the sun rise and set at Harkers Canyon?
Can you see the Milky Way from Harkers Canyon?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Harkers Canyon?
How far is Harkers Canyon from Magna?
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.