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Canyons in Wyoming

24 canyons in Wyoming with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Teton County has the most (13). The darkest skies are at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Bortle 1).

Top canyons

Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneCanyon
Grand Canyon of the YellowstonePark County
Devil's GateCanyon
Devil's GateCarbon County
Avalanche CanyonCanyon
Avalanche CanyonTeton County
Golden Gate CanyonCanyon
Golden Gate CanyonPark County
Open CanyonCanyon
Open CanyonTeton County
Cascade CanyonCanyon
Cascade CanyonTeton County
Death CanyonCanyon
Death CanyonTeton County
Wind River CanyonCanyon
Wind River CanyonHot Springs County
Moran CanyonCanyon
Moran CanyonTeton County
Red CanyonCanyon
Red CanyonFremont County
Garnet CanyonCanyon
Garnet CanyonTeton County
Paintbrush CanyonCanyon
Paintbrush CanyonTeton County

Canyons by county

All canyons (24)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneYellowstonePark County—West Yellowstone1
Devil's GateCarbon County—Rawlins1
Avalanche CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Moose Wilson Road1
Golden Gate CanyonYellowstonePark County—West Yellowstone1
Open CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Moose Wilson Road2
Cascade CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Moose Wilson Road1
Death CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Moose Wilson Road2
Wind River CanyonHot Springs County—Thermopolis1
Moran CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Red CanyonFremont County—Lander2
Garnet CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Moose Wilson Road1
Paintbrush CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Snake River CanyonLincoln County—Hoback1
Snowshoe CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Waterfalls CanyonFremont County—Jackson1
Webb CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Granite CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Moose Wilson Road2
Leigh CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Valhalla CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Bear Aware (Canyon)YellowstonePark County—West Yellowstone1
Canyon Gas and Service StationYellowstonePark County—West Yellowstone1
Canyon Visitor Education Center Warming LobbyYellowstonePark County—West Yellowstone1
Silas CanyonFremont County—Lander1
Colter CanyonGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1

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.